Essential Anhui Daily Life Resources for Foreign Residents: 2026 Guide

Moving to Anhui — whether for work, study, or business — is an exciting step into one of China’s most dynamic and rapidly developing provinces. With Hefei (Héféi 合肥) as its capital and a growing international community, settling into daily life here is smoother when you know where to turn for essential services. This comprehensive resource directory covers everything from police registration to mobile plans, healthcare to expat social groups, so you can build a comfortable routine in Anhui with confidence.

Police Registration and PSB Exit-Entry Administration

Within 24 hours of arriving in Anhui — or within 24 hours of checking into a non-hotel residence — every foreign national must register with the local Public Security Bureau (PSB; Gōng’ān Jú 公安局). Your building management or landlord can assist, but you will also need to visit the PSB Exit-Entry Administration (Chūrù Jìng Guǎnlǐ Jú 出入境管理局) for visa extensions, residence permits, and re-entry endorsements.

• Hefei PSB Exit-Entry Administration: 66 Xingang Road, Baohe District, Hefei. Tel: 0551-6262-7073. Open Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM.
• Wuhu PSB Exit-Entry: 8 Chizhu Road, Jinghu District, Wuhu. Tel: 0553-293-2110.
• Bengbu PSB Exit-Entry: 133 Ziyang Road, Bengbu. Tel: 0552-306-2530.

Bring your passport, visa, accommodation registration form (usually provided by your landlord or hotel), and a recent passport photo. Appointments can be booked via the 移民局 (Yímín Jú — Immigration Bureau) WeChat mini-program.

Setting Up Utilities: Water, Electricity, Gas, and Internet

Upon signing a rental lease, utilities typically need to be transferred into your name or set up from scratch. Each utility is handled by a separate state operator, but most payments can now be made through Alipay (Zhīfùbǎo 支付宝) or WeChat Pay (Wēixìn Zhīfù 微信支付).

• Water (自来水 Zìláishuǐ): Contact the local water group. In Hefei, Hefei Water Group (0551-6442-2666) handles new connections and billing.
• Electricity (电力 Diànlì): State Grid Anhui (Guójiā Diànwǎng 国家电网) manages power. The 24-hour hotline is 95598. Download the State Grid app for meter readings and payments in Chinese — or simply scan the QR code on your meter bill via Alipay.
• Gas (燃气 Ránqì): Hefei Gas Group (0551-6513-3333) covers the capital. For other cities, ask your landlord for the local gas company number. Annual safety inspections are mandatory.
• Internet (宽带 Kuāndài): The three major telecom providers — China Telecom (Zhōngguó Diànxìn 中国电信), China Unicom (Zhōngguó Liántōng 中国联通), and China Mobile (Zhōngguó Yídòng 中国移动) — all offer broadband packages. Fiber optic plans start at around ¥50–¥100/month for 100–200 Mbps. China Telecom is generally the most reliable in Anhui cities.

Mobile Phone Plans for Foreigners

Getting a local SIM card is one of the first things you should do. All three carriers officially support foreign passport registration. Visit a flagship store (营业厅 Yíngyètīng) with your passport and visa.

China Mobile’s 10086 hotline offers a basic English service menu. For more complex issues, visit a store in Hefei’s international areas such as the Wanda Plaza (Baohe) or the Shushan district, where staff are more accustomed to serving foreign customers.

Housing and Rental Resources

Anhui’s rental market is well organized, with both Chinese-language platforms and agencies that cater to expats. The most popular online platforms are Ziroom (Zìrú 自如) and Beike (Bèiké 贝壳), which offer verified listings, 3D virtual tours, and online contracts. For longer-term leases with English support, consider a local real estate agent who specializes in the foreign community.

• Ziroom: App available in Chinese. High-quality apartments, mostly in Hefei (Shushan, Baohe, Luyang districts). Rental prices: ¥2,500–¥6,000/month for a one- to two-bedroom.
• Beike (Lianjia): Larger inventory, including older housing stock. Also accessible via the Beike app. Platform fee applies.
• Local agents for expats: Agencies like Anhui Realty (合房网) and HelloAnhui Property have bilingual agents. Expect a half-month rent as commission.
• Short-term rentals: Airbnb-style homes via Tujia (Tújiā 途家) or Xiaozhu (Xiǎo Zhù 小猪) are common for 1–3 month stays.

Always verify that the lease is registered with the local housing authority and that your landlord provides the official accommodation registration form (住宿登记表) required for your PSB registration.

Healthcare and International Clinics

Anhui has a growing number of hospitals and clinics with international services. Hefei, as the provincial capital, offers the best options. For non-emergency care, an international clinic can save you the long waits of public hospital queues.

• Anhui Provincial Hospital (安徽省立医院): 17 Lujiang Road, Hefei. Tel: 0551-6228-3114. International medical center with English-speaking doctors — appointment recommended.
• The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC (中科大附一院): 218 Jixi Road, Hefei. Tel: 0551-6228-3999. Offers VIP outpatient services for an additional fee (about ¥300–¥500 per visit).
• Hefei Binhu Hospital International Clinic: 2300 Yunnan Road, Binhu New District. Dedicated international wing with English-speaking staff.
• Global Doctor Hefei Clinic: A private clinic in the Shushan district, popular with expats. Tel: 0551-6512-0777. Walk-ins accepted for general practice, dental, and travel medicine.
• Pharmacies (药店 Yàodiàn): Major chains like Da Sheng Lin (大盛林) and Guo Da (国大药房) are everywhere. Bring your passport to purchase certain prescription medications.

Foreign residents should maintain valid health insurance — either through their employer or a private international plan such as Cigna Global or Aetna — as public hospital bills can be steep without coverage.

Emergency Contacts and Helplines

Expat Social Groups and Communities

Building a social network in Anhui is easier than ever. Several vibrant expat communities organize events, share housing tips, and offer support for newcomers.

• WeChat Groups: The most essential social tool in China. Join groups such as “Hefei Expats,” “Anhui Foreign Teachers Network,” and “Wuhu International Friends.” Ask at international schools, universities (USTC has a large international student body), or your local PSB registration office for QR codes to scan.
• Meetup (via VPN): The Hefei International Club runs monthly cultural exchange events, language tandems, and hiking trips to Anhui’s famous Huangshan (Huáng Shān 黄山) mountains.
• InterNations Hefei: A professional expat network with regular dinners, brunches, and networking evenings. Membership is free for basic access; premium accounts unlock all events.
• Facebook Groups: “Expats in Hefei” and “Anhui Life” are active communities where members post everything from used furniture sales to job openings.
• Language Exchange: Tandem events at cafés like UNESCO Coffee in the Shushan district draw both Chinese locals and foreigners. Great for practicing Mandarin (Pǔtōnghuà 普通话).

Legal Assistance and Translation Services

Whether you need a visa consultation, rental contract review, or representation for a business matter, several law firms in Anhui serve the foreign community.

• Anhui Yingtai Law Firm (安徽英泰律师事务所): 5/F, Jinshui Building, 128 Changjiang West Road, Hefei. Tel: 0551-6262-7700. English-speaking lawyers specializing in immigration law and contract review. Consultation fee: ¥800–¥2,000/hour.
• Beijing DHH Law Firm — Hefei Office: 35/F, Huarun Tower, 111 Susong Road, Hefei. Tel: 0551-6618-5099. Handles visa disputes, rental disputes, and corporate registration.
• Anhui Translation Association: Accredited translators for document certification (护照翻译, hùzhào fānyì). Tel: 0551-6287-1122. Certified translations cost approximately ¥150–¥300 per page.
• Online Translation Apps: Pleco (for Chinese character lookup and sentence translation), Google Translate (via VPN), and iFlytek Input — developed by Anhui-based iFlytek (Kēdà Xùnfēi 科大讯飞) — excel at real-time voice translation.

Essential Mobile Apps for Daily Life in Anhui

Your smartphone is arguably the most important tool for navigating daily life in Anhui. Here are the must-have apps:

• WeChat (微信 Wēixìn): Messaging, payments, mini-programs for utilities, taxi hailing, food delivery — you will use this for almost everything.
• Alipay (支付宝 Zhīfùbǎo): Mobile payments, bill splitting, and utility top-ups. Link a foreign credit card (Visa/Mastercard) or a Chinese bank card.
• Didi Chuxing (滴滴出行): The Chinese Uber. Available in English mode. Covers all Anhui cities.
• Meituan (美团 Měituán): Food delivery, movie tickets, hotel booking, and grocery delivery. Chinese-only interface but image-search friendly.
• Gaode Maps (高德地图 Gāodé Dìtú): Navigation with real-time traffic, public transit routes, and English place names. More accurate for walking and driving than Google Maps in China.
• Pleco: Offline Chinese-English dictionary with OCR (optical character recognition) — point your camera at a sign and get instant translation.
• 12306 (铁路 12306): The official China Railway app. Book high-speed train tickets to and from Hefei, Wuhu, Huangshan, and beyond. English version available.

Essential Services Quick-Reference Table

Final Tips for a Smooth Settlement

Anhui is a welcoming province with a rapidly modernizing infrastructure. The key to a smooth transition is preparation: register with the PSB within 24 hours, activate a local SIM card in your first week, and join at least one WeChat expat group before you arrive. Keep digital copies of your passport, visa, and accommodation registration on your phone at all times — and always carry the original when visiting government offices.

As you settle in, explore beyond Hefei. Anhui’s natural beauty — from the UNESCO-listed Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) to the ancient villages of Hongcun (Hóngcūn 宏村) and Xidi (Xīdì 西递) — is world-class. With the right resources and a proactive mindset, your time in Anhui can be both productive and deeply rewarding.

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