Huaishang District 淮上区

Setting and landscape

The Huai River forms the southern boundary, with Longzihu (龙子湖区), Bengshan (蚌山区) and Yuhui (禹会区) districts on the opposite bank. Wuhe County (五河县) lies to the east, Guzhen County (固镇县) to the north and Huaiyuan County (怀远县) to the west. The district measures about 38 km from east to west and 16 km from north to south, and the government calls it an important water-conservation area for Bengbu.

History

Huaishang District was set up in March 2004, with State Council approval, when Bengbu expanded across the river. In May 2014 Mohekou town (沫河口镇) was transferred to it from Wuhe County.

What to see

The Shuangdun site (双墩遗址) in Shuangdun village, Xiaobengbu town (小蚌埠镇), is a Neolithic terrace settlement about 7,300 years old, with the Huai about 4 km to the south and the Beifei River (北淝河) about 2.5 km to the north. Found in 1985 and excavated in 1986, 1991 and 1992, it yielded 607 carved symbols on pottery and other objects, and gave its name to the Shuangdun culture (双墩文化) in 2005. It became a national key protected site in 2013. Finds include a pottery human head with a tattooed-face pattern. The district government regards the symbols as one of the sources of Chinese writing, and a Shuangdun national archaeological site park received its plaque in 2025.

The tomb of Bai (柏), a ruler of the Zhongli state (钟离国) of the Spring and Autumn period, was named one of China's top ten archaeological discoveries of 2008 for its chime bells, ding cauldrons, weapons, chariot fittings and unusual burial practice. The district also lists a site where Cao Cao (曹操) is said to have camped his troops.

The Sanchahe National Wetland Park (三汊河国家湿地公园), approved in 2016 and rated a national 3A scenic area, lies where Caolaoji (曹老集) and Meiqiao (梅桥) towns meet, about 5 km from central Bengbu. It occupies an old course of the Fei River (淝河), runs about 7 km from north to south, covers some 800 hectares, and its reeds stretch for several kilometres. Lotus, gorgon nut (芡实) and water bamboo (茭白) grow in the wetland, and it has wood-style boardwalks and two bird-watching platforms.

Getting oriented

The Beijing–Taipei (京台) and Nanjing–Luoyang (宁洛) expressways meet in the district, which has five expressway interchanges including Bengbu North (蚌埠北).

Highlights

• Shuangdun site 双墩遗址: Neolithic site about 7,300 years old with 607 carved symbols; national key protected site since 2013.
• Shuangdun Spring and Autumn tomb 双墩春秋墓: Tomb of Bai, ruler of the Zhongli state, among the top ten archaeological discoveries of 2008.
• Sanchahe National Wetland Park 三汊河国家湿地公园: Reed-bed wetland on an old course of the Fei River, approved in 2016 and rated 3A.