Tong Qing Lou (Huaqiang Wuyue Plaza)

Tong Qing Lou is an Anhui banquet-style restaurant on the 3rd and 4th floors of Huaqiang Wuyue Plaza, at the junction of Changjiang Middle Road and Yinhu South Road in Wuhu's Jinghu District, Anhui province, China. It belongs to a brand founded in 1925, and the listing describes it as a reliable sit-down choice for Hui classics, with a top rating of 5.0 on Trip.com. Hui cuisine, from the Huizhou area of Anhui, is known for braising, stewing and the use of local mountain ingredients, and the menu here covers its best-known dishes. The signature dishes on the listing are squirrel-shaped mandarin fish (songshu guiyu), stinky mandarin fish (chou guiyu) and steamed hairy crab in a bamboo steamer (yuanlong zheng dazhaxie). Squirrel-shaped fish is scored, deep-fried and finished with a sweet and sour sauce, while stinky mandarin fish is a fermented Huizhou speciality with a strong aroma and a delicate flesh that has become one of Anhui's most emblematic dishes. The hairy crab is a seasonal item, normally associated with autumn. The restaurant is in a modern shopping mall, so the dining rooms are comfortable and air-conditioned, with a more formal feel than the street-food stalls nearby; it suits family dinners and business meals, and noise levels are moderate. Average spending is about ¥93 per person, a mid-range price for the city. There is no notable wine programme published, but diners can usually order tea, beer and baijiu. Reservations are recommended for dinner and for groups, and can be made via Dianping, Meituan or by telephone on +86 553 5909777. Booking a day ahead is a sensible precaution on weekends, and several days ahead is advisable for large groups or during autumn crab season. Hours on the Trip.com listing are 10:30-13:30 and 16:30-21:00, and visitors are advised to confirm on Dianping.