Get to know Huai'an
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- Administrative area
- Prefecture-level city · 地级市
- Part of
- Jiangsu
- Chinese name
- 淮安市
- Local areas
- 7 local areas
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 9,950.00 km²
- Population · 2020 census
- 4,556,230
- Administrative seat
- Huai'an District
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Long an important regional center, Huai'an lies on and is named for the Huai River, the historical boundary between northern and southern Chinese culture. Once much closer to the East China Sea, it now lies in the middle of Jianghuai, the vast alluvial plain created by silt from the Huai and the Yellow River, which flowed nearby for centuries prior to the massive floods in the mid-19th century which returned it to its old course north of Shandong. Huai'an is known as the birthplace of Han Xin, a famed general who helped found the Han dynasty and overwhelm Xiang Yu in the Chu-han Contention; Wu Cheng'en, the Ming dynasty author of Journey to the West; and Zhou Enlai, a prominent Communist leader who served as premier of the PRC from 1949 until his death in 1976.
Culture
The people of Huai'an are generally ethnically Han Chinese. The local culture is known as "Jianghuai", referring to its position between the Huai River and the Yangtze, long known poetically in China as simply "The River" (江, Jiāng). The local dialect is a form of Jianghuai or Lower Yangtze Mandarin. Similarly, the local cuisine is Jianghuai or Huaiyang cuisine, historically considered one of the four chief styles of true Chinese cooking.
Transportation
Huai'an is served by the Xinyi-Changxing railway, which has a station in Huaiyin District.
Being at the intersection of the Grand Canal and Huai River Huai'an is an important inland port.
Explore Huai'an
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Former Residence of Zhou Enlai 周恩来故居
China Water Transport Museum 中国漕运博物馆
Huai'an Government House 淮安府署
Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall Huaian 周恩来纪念馆
Hongze Lake Ancient Weir 洪泽湖古堰
Zhou Enlai Former Residence and Memorial Hall 周恩来故居与纪念馆
Hexia Ancient Town 河下古镇
Qingjiangpu Li Canal 清江浦里运河
Ming Ancestral Mausoleum 明祖陵
Tieshan Temple 铁山寺
Jinhu Water Forest 金湖水上森林
Huai'an District 淮安区
Huaiyin District 淮阴区
Qingjiangpu District 清江浦区
Hongze District 洪泽区
Lianshui County 涟水县
Xuyi County 盱眙县
Jinhu County 金湖县
Places to explore around Huai'an
Courtyard of Zhou Enlai's former residence, Huai'an · 淮安周恩来故居院落 Photograph date recorded by the source: 28 December 2011.Former Residence of Zhou Enlai周恩来故居
Zhou Enlai’s former residence in Huai’an preserves a Qing-period domestic compound associated with his childhood. Eastern and western sections contain rooms and displays about his family, education and later commemoration.
Read the place guide →
China Water Transport Museum illuminated at night, Huai'an · 淮安中国漕运博物馆夜景 Photograph date recorded by the source: 10 August 2024, 19:41:52.China Water Transport Museum中国漕运博物馆
China Water Transport Museum examines Huai’an’s role in the movement of grain to the imperial capital along the Grand Canal. It stands on the archaeological site of the grain-transport governor’s office at Caoyun Square, linking…
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Main hall of Huai'an Government House · 淮安府署大堂 Photograph date recorded by the source: 7 November 2019, 13:32:59.Huai'an Government House淮安府署
Huai’an Government House preserves the scale and internal hierarchy of a prefectural yamen. Its central sequence runs through gates and clerks’ offices toward the Great Hall and Second Hall, with residential and service spaces…
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Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall Huaian · 周恩来纪念馆Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall Huaian周恩来纪念馆
The Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall in Huai'an is a purpose-built memorial complex in the Taohuayin area. Its museum displays and monumental landscape complement the separate former-residence site in the historic city.
Read the place guide →
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Hongze Lake Ancient Weir洪泽湖古堰
Hongze Lake Ancient Weir centres on the Hongze section of Gaojiayan, the historic embankment whose stone walls helped shape and contain the lake.
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A single-storey grey-brick house with a tiled roof and slightly upturned eaves, a black-boarded central doorway with a life-size figure in a brown robe standing inside it, two latticed windows with small tiled awnings, a potted shrub behind a low timber fence at the left and a herringbone brick-paved courtyard in the foreground.Zhou Enlai Former Residence and Memorial Hall周恩来故居与纪念馆
Zhou Enlai's former residence and memorial museum are two separate places in Huai'an District: a traditional home in Fuma Lane and a purpose-built memorial complex at Taohuayin.
Read the place guide →
A stone-carved gateway reading "He Xia Ancient Town" opens onto the old street in Huai'an · 淮安河下古镇老街入口石刻 Source-recorded photograph date: 2023-04-24.Hexia Ancient Town河下古镇
Canal and salt-trade town in Huai'an, with Ming–Qing streets, the Cheng merchants' legacy and the birthplace of Wu Cheng'en.
Read the place guide →
Qingjiangpu Li Canal · 清江浦里运河Qingjiangpu Li Canal清江浦里运河
The Li Canal through Qingjiangpu is the historic urban waterway that helped turn this part of Huai'an into a centre of grain transport, boatbuilding and trade.
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The South Red Gate (南红门) at Ming Ancestral Mausoleum (Ming Ancestral Tombs) in Xuyi County, Huai'an · 淮安市盱眙县明祖陵南红门 Source-recorded photograph date: 2011-05-03 17:29:09.Ming Ancestral Mausoleum明祖陵
Tomb complex built from 1385 for Zhu Yuanzhang's ancestors in Xuyi, drowned by Hongze Lake in 1680 and found again in 1963, with 21 pairs of statues.
Read the place guide →
The temple gate of Tieshan Si, Xuyi County · 盱眙县铁山寺禅寺山门 Source-recorded photograph date: Taken on 1 October 2008.Tieshan Temple铁山寺
Tieshansi in Xuyi combines a reconstructed Buddhist temple with wooded hills, streams and the reservoir landscape of Tianquan Lake.
Read the place guide →
AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非该地点实拍）Jinhu Water Forest金湖水上森林
Jinhu Water Forest is a planted wetland woodland at Tanggang in Yintu Town, where stands of metasequoia and pond cypress rise beside water channels and reed beds.
Read the place guide →Local life & food
Huai'an local specialties
淮安市特色美食 · 12 specialties to discover
Gaogou tied pork hock 高沟捆蹄AI illustration · AI 示意图
The slices combine firm lean meat with a slightly gelatinous edge and concentrated savory seasoning. They are more structured than a falling-apart hot braised hock.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Huai'an soft eel strips 软兜长鱼AI illustration · AI 示意图
The texture is tender and supple, with a rich coating and aromatic seasoning. It is a relatively delicate treatment despite the deep savory flavor.
Source ↗Read the dish guide →
Pingqiao Tofu in Rich Broth 平桥豆腐Reference photo of a similar dish · 同类菜品参考照片
Pingqiao Tofu in Rich Broth (平桥豆腐) is named for Pingqiao (平桥), a town in Huai’an (淮安) on the eastern bank of the Grand Canal. Its finely cut tofu sits in a rich, savoury broth.
Read the dish guide →
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Wenlou Soup Buns 文楼汤包Reference photo of a similar dish · 同类菜品参考照片
Wenlou Soup Buns (文楼汤包) are large, thin-skinned soup dumplings filled with crab and set pork-and-chicken stock, first made at the Wenlou (文楼) restaurant in the old town of Hexia (河下) in Huai'an (淮安), Jiangsu.
Read the dish guide →
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Huai'an Fine Fried Dough Twists 淮安茶馓AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Huai'an Fine Fried Dough Twists (淮安茶馓) are golden, thread-like strands of fried dough traditionally eaten with tea between meals.
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Qingong Pork Meatballs 钦工肉圆
Qingong Pork Meatballs (钦工肉圆) are springy balls of pounded lean pork from Qingong (钦工), a market town in the northern countryside of Huai'an District (淮安区), Huai'an (淮安).
Read the dish guide →Photo adjustments
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Xuyi Crayfish 盱眙龙虾AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Xuyi Crayfish (盱眙龙虾) is the crayfish of Xuyi County (盱眙县) in Huai'an (淮安), Jiangsu, which grows and breeds in the county's own rivers, lakes and ponds and is cooked with a specially made thirteen-spice seasoning, shisanxiang (十三香).
Read the dish guide →
Zhuqiao Soft-Shell Turtle 朱桥甲鱼AI illustration · AI 示意图（仅供参考，非实拍）
Zhuqiao Soft-Shell Turtle (朱桥甲鱼) is the turtle cooking of Zhuqiao town (朱桥镇) in Huai'an (淮安), Jiangsu, best known through Zhuqiao turtle soup (朱桥甲鱼羹), a thick soup that the Huai'an CPPCC history site counts among the representative turtle dishes of Huaiyang cuisine (淮扬菜).
Read the dish guide →All dish names · 全部菜名 (12)
- Gaogou tied pork hock · 高沟捆蹄
- Huai'an soft eel strips · 软兜长鱼
- Pingqiao Tofu in Rich Broth · 平桥豆腐
- Wenlou Soup Buns · 文楼汤包
- Huai'an Fine Fried Dough Twists · 淮安茶馓
- Qingong Pork Meatballs · 钦工肉圆
- Xuyi Crayfish · 盱眙龙虾
- Zhuqiao Soft-Shell Turtle · 朱桥甲鱼
- Matou Goat Soup · 码头羊肉汤
- Huaiyang Lion's Head Meatballs · 淮扬狮子头
- Pork Stewed with Cattail Shoots · 蒲菜炖肉
- Chaopai Flatbread · 朝牌饼
More dishes from across Jiangsu are in the Jiangsu food guide.
Counties & districts in Huai'an
7 areas belong directly to Huai'an.
7 areas
Huai'an District淮安区
Huai'an District (simplified Chinese: 淮安区; traditional Chinese: 淮安區; pinyin: Huái'ān Qū) is one of four districts of the prefecture-level city of Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictHuaiyin District淮阴区
Huaiyin District (simplified Chinese: 淮阴区; traditional Chinese: 淮陰區; pinyin: Huáiyīn Qū) is one of four districts of the prefecture-level city of Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, China.
Explore the area →DistrictQingjiangpu District清江浦区
Qingjiangpu District is one of four urban districts in the prefecture-level city of Huai'an in China's Jiangsu Province. It was established on 8 June 2016.
Explore the area →DistrictHongze District洪泽区
Hongze (simplified Chinese: 洪泽; traditional Chinese: 洪澤; pinyin: Hóngzé) is one of four districts (a former county) of the prefecture-level city of Huai'an, Jiangsu Province, China.
Explore the area →Show fewer areas
Lianshui County涟水县
Lianshui County (simplified Chinese: 涟水县; traditional Chinese: 漣水縣; pinyin: Liánshuǐ Xiàn) is under the administration of Huai'an, Jiangsu province, China.
Explore the area →CountyXuyi County盱眙县
Xuyi is a county under the administration of Huai'an Prefecture in central Jiangsu Province in eastern China. The southernmost of Huai'an's county-level divisions, it borders the prefecture-level cities of…
Explore the area →CountyJinhu County金湖县
Jinhu County (simplified Chinese: 金湖县; traditional Chinese: 金湖縣; pinyin: Jīnhú Xiàn; lit. 'golden lake') is under the administration of Huai'an, Jiangsu province, China with 289,456 inhabitants (2020 census).
Explore the area →No areas match this name.
Plan your visit
Getting there
Search for 淮安市 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →Build your route
Former Residence of Zhou Enlai and China Water Transport Museum are less than 1 km apart. The linked place guides have entrance and visit details.
Continue with Jiangsu →More in Jiangsu
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Background text adapted from Huai'an — Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been shortened and reorganized; source revision 1365181907.
Photo: Former Residence of Zhou Enlai · Nnu-12-22100547 · Nnu-12-22100547 — Zhou_Enlai1.jpg — CC BY-SA 3.0 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: China Water Transport Museum · Yumeto · Yumeto — Zhongguo_Caoyun_Bowuguan.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Huai'an Government House · ScareCriterion12 · ScareCriterion12 — 淮安府衙大堂2019.jpg — CC BY-SA 4.0 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall Huaian · 西安兵马俑 · CC BY-SA 4.0. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Zhou Enlai Former Residence and Memorial Hall · ScareCriterion12 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
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Photo: Hexia Ancient Town · Kmchang28 · CC BY-SA 4.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Qingjiangpu Li Canal · Source photographer · License not provided. EXIF orientation normalized; resized without changing aspect ratio; converted to WebP. No subject edits.
Photo: Ming Ancestral Mausoleum · 梓地 · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
Photo: Tieshan Temple · WeelStone · CC BY-SA 3.0. Full frame retained; proportionally resized and converted to WebP. No retouching or changes to the photographed subject. Card displays may crop the view.
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