Understanding Xinqiao
"Xinqiao" is a common Chinese place name, and it appears in several parts of the country. For a visitor, the most useful thing to know is that the name is shared by many different towns, townships, subdistricts, and transport facilities, so the practical travel advice depends entirely on which Xinqiao you are heading to. The most prominent transport-related use of the name is Hefei Xinqiao International Airport, the main airport serving Hefei in Anhui Province. There is also a Xinqiao railway station on the Shanghai–Kunming Railway in Songjiang District, Shanghai, and metro stations called Xinqiao on the Chongqing and Wenzhou rail systems. If your trip involves Hefei, the guidance below on getting around and reaching the city from the airport will be the most relevant.
Getting Around Hefei
Hefei's urban public transport system combines a developing metro (subway) network with an extensive bus system, supplemented by taxis and ride-sharing services. Public transport cards are available, which is the simplest way to pay across modes without handling cash for every trip. The metro is described as developing, so it is worth checking the current network before you rely on it for a specific journey, but together with the buses it forms the backbone of everyday movement around the city.
Rail, Metro and Trams
Hefei is served by three main railway stations: Hefei Railway Station, South Railway Station, and West Railway Station. Each has a different role, and knowing which one you need matters when planning a trip.
- Hefei Railway Station sits in the New Railway Station Comprehensive Development Experimental Zone and handles trains to major destinations including Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Chengdu, and Nanchang.
- South Railway Station, located between Huizhou Avenue and Luzhou Avenue, mainly serves high-speed trains.
- West Railway Station is at the west end of Wangjiang Road.
Both Hefei Railway Station and South Railway Station connect to neighbouring Anhui cities such as Anqing, Bengbu, Wuhu, Haozhou, and Huangshan. High-speed rail also links Hefei to cities including Shanghai and Beijing, making the train a practical option for regional travel.
Buses and Other Public Transport
Buses are a major part of getting around Hefei, and each railway station is served by its own set of city bus routes, which makes bus travel a convenient way to connect between the rail hubs and the rest of the city.
- Hefei Railway Station is served by city buses no. 10, 40, 47, 114, 129, 159, 504, 517, 682, 701, and 705.
- South Railway Station is served by buses no. 4, 9, 11, 16, 31, 51, 57, 65, 99, 108, 131, 156, and 703.
- West Railway Station is reachable by city bus no. 111 from the Railway Station.
Because public transport cards are available, a visitor can load a card and use it across the bus and metro systems rather than buying individual tickets each time. If you are arriving by train and need to reach another station or a hotel, these bus routes are a low-cost way to do it, though a taxi or ride-hailing trip may be easier with luggage.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Taxis and ride-sharing services operate in Hefei alongside the metro and buses. They are a useful fallback when bus routes do not line up with your destination, when you are carrying bags, or when you are travelling late. As with any Chinese city, having your destination written in Chinese characters is helpful for taxi drivers, and ride-hailing apps let you set the destination directly.
Walkability
In practice, walking is best suited to short trips within a neighbourhood or between nearby stops and attractions, while longer journeys across the city are more comfortably made by metro, bus, taxi, or ride-hailing. If you are staying near a railway station, the surrounding area is likely to be walkable for immediate needs, with public transport for anything further afield.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Hefei Xinqiao International Airport (HFE) is the main airport serving Hefei, Anhui Province, and it is located some distance from the city centre. It handles domestic flights to cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Lijiang, and Guilin, as well as international and regional flights to Taipei, Singapore, Cheju (Jeju), Hong Kong, Macau, Seoul, and Bangkok. The airport's official website is https://www.hfairport.com/, which is the best place to confirm current ground transport options before you travel.
To reach the city from the airport, the practical choices are the same modes that serve the rest of Hefei: metro, bus, taxi, or ride-hailing. Because the airport lies well outside the centre, allow generous time for the transfer, especially at peak hours. If your onward journey is by train, note that Hefei has three railway stations — Hefei Railway Station, South Railway Station, and West Railway Station — so confirm which one your train departs from before heading into the city, and use the bus routes listed above or a taxi to connect to it.
Practical Tips
- Confirm which Xinqiao you are visiting — the name refers to many different places across China, including a Shanghai railway station and metro stations in Chongqing and Wenzhou, as well as Hefei's airport.
- In Hefei, pick up a public transport card to simplify paying for buses and the metro.
- Check which of Hefei's three railway stations your train uses; South Railway Station mainly handles high-speed services.
- Use the airport website to verify ground transport before arrival, since the airport is a fair distance from the city centre.
- Keep taxi and ride-hailing as a backup for luggage-heavy or late-night trips.