The Anhui Provincial Library is housed in a striking contemporary building in the Zhengwu cultural district — one of the more architecturally ambitious public buildings in Hefei. The exterior is a flowing concrete form meant to evoke the calligraphic brushstroke, and it works better than such conceits usually do. Inside, the reading rooms are well-lit and generously proportioned, and the exhibition spaces on the lower floors host rotating displays on Anhui history and culture.
Visitors without a library card can access the public reading areas and the exhibition spaces. The surrounding cultural district has the Anhui Grand Theatre and several other cultural institutions, making it a reasonable afternoon destination if you want to see Hefei's more recent architectural ambitions.