Official English-language news is an important resource for constructing and communicating Chinese urban images internationally. Drawing on Conceptual Metaphor Theory and cognitive framing theory, this study analyzes 40 reports on Anhui’s cities published by Anhui News in 2024. Using the Metaphor Identification Procedure, it identifies 13 cognitive frames, with JOURNEY, ARCHITECTURE, and ECOLOGICAL GROWTH predominating. Together, these frames portray Anhui’s cities as progressive, innovative, well-governed, environmentally responsible, culturally rooted, and regionally connected. However, the reports privilege institutional achievements over residents’ experiences and inter-city differences. The study recommends more distinctive, human-centered, and culturally accessible narratives for Anhui’s international communication.