Huai'an

About Huai'an

Huai'an grew up where the Grand Canal met the Huai River, and for centuries the empire's grain barges passed through its locks on their way north to Beijing. The officials who ran that vast water transport system were based here, leaving a canal city of government offices, gardens and merchant towns. Today about four and a half million people live across the city in northern Jiangsu.

Across China it is best known as the hometown of Zhou Enlai, the first premier of the People's Republic, whose childhood home and memorial hall draw visitors from all over the country. Wu Cheng'en, author of the classic novel Journey to the West, was born in the canal town of Hexia, where his house still stands. Huai'an also lends half its name to Huaiyang cuisine, one of the great schools of Chinese cooking, prized for fine knife work and light, fresh flavors.

Hongze Lake, one of China's largest freshwater lakes, lies just to the west. High-speed trains run from Huai'an East station to Nanjing and Xuzhou, and Huai'an Lianshui airport serves the city.