Huai'an, an immersive travel guide

As an experienced traveler, you surely understand: Huai'an is not just the "birthplace of Huaiyang cuisine," but the heart of the Grand Canal, the city where the Canal Transport Governor resided, a key hub where southern boats meet northern horses, and the hometown of Premier Zhou Enlai — with a 2,500-year city history layered with the spirit of Wu and Yue, Chu and Han, Ming and Qing charm, and revolutionary soul. Over five days and four nights, we have crafted a truly in-depth itinerary that truly understands Huai'an, based on compact geography, deep history, and a route with zero detours: no rushing, no ticking off spots, just immersion. 🌊 Five-day route: Enter the city via the river, trace the canal to the mausoleum (entirely by bus + walking + short taxi rides) Day 1｜Canal Origin · Li Canal Cultural Corridor + Qingjiangpu Scenic Area Stay near Qingjiangpu Old Street (recommended: All Seasons/Selected Home Inn, 220 RMB/night). In the afternoon, take a leisurely walk along the [Li Canal Cultural Corridor] (free): stroll along the ancient Grand Canal’s north bank trail, see the Qianlong Imperial Wharf, Wu Gong Temple, and Ciyun Temple; climb the [Qingjiangpu Tower] to overlook the bustling "Nine Provinces Thoroughfare"; in the evening, take a painted boat (50 RMB/person) to enjoy the light show on both banks and listen to Huaihai opera tunes. Day 2｜Canal Transport Hub · China Canal Transport Museum + Qingyan Garden Close to Metro Line 2. In the morning, visit the [China Canal Transport Museum] (free): the world’s only canal transport-themed museum, with immersive exhibits that are stunning, focusing on Qing Dynasty canal boat models, canal sand table, and original canal grain account books; next door is [Qingyan Garden] (30 RMB entrance): the top official garden in Jianghuai, named by Emperor Qianlong, with pavilions and terraces reflecting in clear water, perfect for spring cherry blossoms and autumn lotus. Day 3｜Culinary and Cultural Roots · Hexia Ancient Town + Wu Cheng’en Former Residence + Shaohu Park Take a direct bus to [Hexia Ancient Town] (free): a thousand-year-old salt merchant town with bluestone streets, Wenlou (birthplace of crab roe soup dumplings), and the silent Liang Hongyu Shrine; in the afternoon, visit [Wu Cheng’en Former Residence] (40 RMB entrance), the origin of Journey to the West culture, with swaying bamboo shadows; in the evening, stroll through [Shaohu Park] (free), climb Zhenhuai Tower for a distant view, and watch local elders practicing Tai Chi and singing Huai Opera. Day 4｜Red Heritage · Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall + Zhou Enlai Former Residence Reachable by metro. Visit the [Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall] (free, reservation required): one of the nation’s most solemn and dignified memorial sites for a great leader, with a main hall dome shaped like a giant sail, symbolizing the Premier’s lifelong journey to serve the world; a 5-minute walk takes you to the [Zhou Enlai Former Residence] (free), with blue bricks and black tiles, a still-warm desk, spring crabapple blossoms filling the courtyard, and winter wintersweet fragrance. Day 5｜Culinary Finale · Periphery of Xuyi Mingzuling + Local Market Experience If you prefer nature: take a 30-minute high-speed train to [Mingzuling] (60 RMB entrance), the ancestral tomb of Zhu Yuanzhang’s great-grandfather, with a grand stone statue group; the surrounding sacred path is free to stroll; we also recommend visiting [Chengde Road Market] (not a tourist spot) before heading back, to buy Huai'an tea crisps (15 RMB/pack), pu cai (spring seasonal vegetable, 8 RMB/jin), soft-shelled long fish dried (55 RMB/jin), and pack a bowl of Pingqiao tofu soup (12 RMB) for the trip. 🍲 Culture and Spending Tips Core culture: Canal transport culture (Ming and Qing national canal transport command center), Huaiyang cuisine culture (national banquet standard, the "First Banquet of the Founding of the Nation" is Huaiyang flavor), Journey to the West culture (Wu Cheng’en’s hometown), red culture (Zhou Enlai’s hometown), canal intangible heritage (Huaihai opera, Ten Drums, Jinhu paper-cutting); General spending: total attraction tickets about 130 RMB/person (including former residences + Qingyan Garden); dining 40–60 RMB per person (Pingqiao tofu 12 RMB, soft-shelled long fish 38 RMB/portion, tea crisps 15 RMB/pack); bus 2 RMB/ride, taxi single trip ≤18 RMB; Avoid pitfalls: ① Hexia Ancient Town’s "Ming Dynasty silver ingots" and "Qing Dynasty land deeds" are replicas; ② Don’t trust "consecrated jade" outside Qingjiangpu Scenic Area; ③ For Xuyi crayfish peak season, look for the "Xuyi local" label, prices inside scenic areas are high, better to go to [Chuzhou Crayfish Food Stalls] (a local gathering spot). The beauty of Huai'an lies in its calmness and responsibility — the oars of the Li Canal still echo, the lotus breeze of Qingyan Garden is rising, and the sunlight on the window lattice of Zhou Enlai’s former residence remains as gentle as the morning in 1910 when that young boy left home. Five days of slow travel will let you truly feel the backbone and heartbeat of a "Canal City."