Holiday in Huai'an

About Huai'an

Huai'an is located in the north of Jiangsu Province and is primarily known as the birthplace of Zhou Enlai — the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, regarded as one of the most popular and respected politicians in Chinese history. The Zhou Enlai Memorial and his birthplace are significant pilgrimage sites for millions of Chinese visitors. The city is a key figure in the history of the Grand Canal (Jing-Hang Canal), which, at over 1,776 kilometers, is the longest artificial waterway in the world and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. For centuries, Huai'an was a central hub for the salt and grain trade between northern and southern China. The Grand Canal Museum impressively documents this 2,500-year-old engineering achievement. The Huai cuisine (Huaiyang Cai) is one of the four great culinary traditions of China and originates from this region. It is characterized by fine, elegant preparation: fresh ingredients, precise cutting techniques, and balanced flavors. Huai cuisine was served at the state banquet for the founding of the People's Republic in 1949 and is considered China's diplomatic cuisine. Hongze Lake, the fourth largest freshwater lake in China, lies directly west of the city and offers fishing villages, lotus fields in summer, and a 108 km long historic dam. The old neighborhoods along the canal with traditional Ming and Qing architecture, the Huaiyin Marquis Tomb of the famous general Han Xin, and the Qingliang Temple are further historical highlights.