Holiday in Huai'an
City in China — tips, highlights & best time to visit
Country
China
Type
City
Best time to travel
April to May and September to November (15-25 °C, pleasant). July/August for lotus blooming at Hongze Lake. Summer is humid.
Budget/day
40-80 €
Getting there from Germany
Flight to Huai'an Lianshui (HIA, approx. 13-17 h with connections via Shanghai or Beijing). High-speed train from Nanjing takes about 1.5 h.
Deals for Huai'an:
What makes Huai'an special as a destination?
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.
What are the top highlights in Huai'an?
The top highlights in Huai'an include Zhou Enlai Memorial, Grand Canal (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Hongze Lake, Old Town by the Canal, Qingliang Temple.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Zhou Enlai Memorial
Impressive memorial for China's first Premier: museum, birthplace, and memorial park — a pilgrimage site for millions.
Grand Canal (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Longest artificial waterway in the world (1,776 km): Huai'an was a central trading hub, Grand Canal Museum documents 2,500 years of history.
Hongze Lake
Fourth largest freshwater lake in China: fishing villages, lotus fields in summer, and 108 km historic dam.
Old Town by the Canal
Traditional Ming and Qing architecture along the old canal neighborhoods: teahouses, craft shops, and historical atmosphere.
Qingliang Temple
Historic Buddhist temple with a tranquil garden: a place for meditation away from tourist paths.
Hotels in Huai'an
Compare thousands of hotels, apartments and resorts on Expedia – with price guarantee, free cancellation and reward points.
* You will be redirected to Expedia.de. Their terms of use apply.
Reise-SIM für Huai'an
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Huai'an?
The best time to visit Huai'an is April to May and September to November (15-25 °C, pleasant). July/August for lotus blooming at Hongze Lake. Summer is humid.. 27-35 °C, humid with heavy rainfall in June/July In winter: -2 to 7 °C, cold and damp, occasional snow
Recommended travel time
April to May and September to November (15-25 °C, pleasant). July/August for lotus blooming at Hongze Lake. Summer is humid.
Summer
27-35 °C, humid with heavy rainfall in June/July
Winter
-2 to 7 °C, cold and damp, occasional snow
How much does a holiday in Huai'an cost?
Budget travellers: 15-35 €/day, mid-range: 40-80 €/day, luxury: 90-200 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
15-35 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
40-80 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
90-200 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Huai'an?
Flight to Huai'an Lianshui (HIA, approx. 13-17 h with connections via Shanghai or Beijing). High-speed train from Nanjing takes about 1.5 h.
Book a package holiday to Huai'an
Compare thousands of package holidays to Huai'an and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Huai'an?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Visa required — Germans need a China visa. 144-hour transit visa applies for Jiangsu. Apply in advance at the embassy.
Chinese Yuan (CNY) — 1 € ≈ 7.8 CNY. WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate, cash for rural markets at Hongze Lake.
Visit Zhou Enlai Memorial early — very crowded on holidays and weekends. Fewer visitors in the morning, entrance is free.
Make sure to try Huaiyang cuisine — Huai'an is the origin of one of the four great cuisines of China. Look for restaurants with a traditional menu.
Hongze Lake in summer — July and August are ideal for lotus blooming. Boat tours to the fishing villages are available.
What should you eat in Huai'an?
Typical specialities in Huai'an: Ruankou Dazhagao — soft rice cake, steamed and served in slices: Huai'an's most famous traditional dessert since the Qing Dynasty., Qianlong Doufu — tofu in broth with shrimp and bamboo shoots: allegedly named after Emperor Qianlong, who loved Huai cuisine., Pingqiao Doufu — silky tofu in a strong broth: signature dish of Huaiyang cuisine, fine as silk and elegantly seasoned., Hongze Xianyu (Hongze Lake Fish) — fresh freshwater fish braised or steamed: the lake has provided the best ingredients for centuries., Wenlouge Gao — layered cake with sweet bean paste: named after a historic pavilion, traditional festive pastry..
These specialties you must try!
Ready for Huai'an?
Plan your Huai'an holiday now with our free tools.
