Explore Huai'an day and night! Follow the complete guide to eating, staying, and traveling in the "Canal Capital" ?
1|Huai'an District: Footsteps of Great Figures × Ancient Town Nightscape
🌟08:30 Arrive at Huai'an Station/Lianshui Airport → Metro/taxi 20 min to hotel in Huai'an District (Recommended to stay at riverside homestay in Hexia Ancient Town, super convenient for walking and viewing lights at night~)
📸09:30 Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall (free, reservation required) 2h
Address: No. 6 Fuma Lane, Huai'an District, Huai'an City
Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 (closed on Mondays)
4A-level scenic spot, a panoramic review of Premier Zhou’s life, the lake outside is perfect for photos! White walls and black tiles, showcasing Chinese aesthetics 🏯
🍴12:00 Lunch at "Wenlou Crab Roe Soup Dumplings"
Address: No. 56 Huaxiang, Hexia Ancient Town, Huai'an District
Business hours: 7:00-19:00
Thin skin, juicy soup, paired with shredded ginger and fragrant vinegar for an explosion of flavor 💥 A century-old shop featured on CCTV!
🏮13:30 Walk 5 min to Hexia Ancient Town (free) 2-3h
2,500-year-old salt transport street, less crowded than Jiangnan! Along the way check in at:
✓ Wu Cheng'en Former Residence: birthplace of "Journey to the West"
✓ Zhuangyuan Mansion: exam base for Jiangnan scholars
This stone-paved road is great for photos, recommended to wear a mamen skirt for photo check-ins!
🌉16:30 Xiaohu Lake boat ride (30 min) to see ancient bridges at sunset
Boat ticket 20 yuan, sit on a rowboat watching the sunset reflect on the lake, with "Blue and White Porcelain" playing as background music ✨
🍜18:00 Ancient town night snacks all-in-one:
① Huai'an Tea Crisp (crispy, delicious dipped in soy milk or eaten dry)
② Changyu Noodles (eel freshly sliced, soup rich and flavorful)
③ Wenlou Soup Dumplings (mini version exclusive for night snacks, 15 yuan/basket)
Day 2|Qingjiangpu District: Canal Corridor × Amusement Park Carnival
🚢08:30 After hotel breakfast and checkout, taxi 15 min to Inner Canal Cultural Corridor
🌊09:00 Inner Canal boat tour (daytime 50 min)
Ticket 45 yuan, see Qingjiangpu Tower, Neon Water Street, and the mural stories on both sides of the canal are full of atmosphere!
⛩10:30 China Canal Transport Museum
Address: No. 1 Caoyun East Road, Qingjiangpu District
Opening hours: 9:00-17:00
Learn how ancient "water express delivery" operated! The VR experience is incredibly cool 💥
🍲12:00 Lunch at "Old Huai'an · Huaiyang Cuisine Restaurant"
Must order:
✓ Crab Meat Lion’s Head Meatballs (one is enough for two)
✓ Pingqiao Tofu (hot and soft, melts in your mouth)
✓ Soft-belly Eel (eel segments so tender you’ll scream)
🎢13:30 Taxi 20 min to Huai'an Journey to the West Amusement Park (ticket 220 yuan) 4h
Address: No. 1 Binshui Avenue, Huai'an District
Opening hours: 9:30-21:30
Must check in:
✓ Lotus Peak Drop Tower (highest in East China, scream level 100%)
✓ Night Glow Float Parade (starts at 17:30)
✓ Light and Fireworks Show (starts promptly at 20:30)
🦞19:30 Dinner inside the park:
Thirteen-spice Xuyi crayfish + beer, watching fireworks while eating crayfish, this is just perfect!
Day 3|Hongze Lake: Lake Fresh Feast × Wetland Sunset (best by self-drive/car hire)
🚴08:30 Depart 40 km → Hongze Lake Ancient Dam Scenic Area
Bike/ sightseeing car (bike rental 20 yuan) to see the thousand-year-old flood control iron ox, also a divine spot for sunset photography!
🐟11:30 Hongze Lake Fisherman’s Bay "freshly picked and cooked" lake fresh feast
① Hongze Lake hairy crabs (fat and juicy in October)
② Steamed white fish (fresh and tender without fishy smell)
③ Silverfish steamed egg (one bite and you’re hooked)
🌿13:30 30 km → Jinhu Lotus Pond
Summer has tens of thousands of lotus flowers (June-August), autumn has vast reed flowers (September-November), every shot looks like a blockbuster!
Souvenir list 🛍️:
✓ Huai'an Tea Crisp (crispy, salty, and fragrant)
✓ Hongze Lake Salted Duck Eggs (rich and sandy)
✓ Dried Reed Shoots (perfect for stewing soup)
Travel Tips 💡
✓ Best seasons: October-November crab season / March-May willow fluff season
✓ Accommodation recommendations:
Cost-effective: Riverside homestay in Hexia Ancient Town (200-400 RMB)
Luxury upgrade: Huai'an Wanda Realm / Dingli International
✓ Budget reference: 3 days per person ¥1200-1500 (all-inclusive for food, accommodation, and transport)
✓ Transport tips: Direct high-speed rail from Nanjing/Yangzhou is super convenient
With this "stomach + eye" double satisfaction guide, come to Huai'an to experience canal culture and delicious flavors! 😋