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Things to Do in Huai'an (2026)
Begin your visit at the Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall, located at 1 Yan'an East Road. It's open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and admission is free. The memorial honorsβ¦ ποΈ Start at Zhou Enlai Memorial
Begin your visit at the Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall, located at 1 Yan'an East Road. It's open daily from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, and admission is free. The memorial honors the life of China's first premier with exhibits, a bronze statue, and a replica of his former residence.
π€ Cruise the Grand Canal
Huai'an sits along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, and a boat tour offers a unique perspective on the city. The Qingjiangpu Canal Scenic Area runs evening cruises from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, costing around 60 CNY per person. You'll glide past ancient bridges, pagodas, and modern light displays.
π¦ Taste Huaiyang Cuisine
Huai'an is a birthplace of Huaiyang cuisine, one of China's four great culinary traditions. For an authentic meal, visit Laozhai Restaurant at 88 Huaihai South Road, where a braised lion's head meatball costs about 48 CNY. Don't miss the soft-shelled turtle soup or the famous Huai'an salted duck.
ποΈ Explore Tieshan Temple
Tieshan Temple, located on Tieshan Mountain in the western suburbs, is a serene Buddhist complex dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The temple is open from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with an entrance fee of 30 CNY. The surrounding forest trails offer a peaceful escape from the city.
ποΈ Visit the China Water Transport Museum
This museum at 66 Canal South Road delves into the history of China's inland waterways. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and tickets are 40 CNY. Interactive exhibits and a large ship model make it engaging for all ages.
π Stroll Along Li Canal
The Li Canal Cultural Square, near the city center, comes alive in the evening with fountains and traditional architecture. It's free to enter and best visited after sunset when the lights reflect on the water. Local vendors sell snacks and souvenirs along the promenade.
π Getting Around Huai'an
Huai'an's public bus system covers most attractions, with fares starting at 1 CNY. Taxis are affordable, with a base fare of 8 CNY for the first 3 kilometers. For a more local experience, rent a bicycle from one of the many public bike stations scattered around the city.
ποΈ Shop at Huai'an Old Street
Huai'an Old Street, located on East Street near the Grand Canal, is a pedestrian-friendly area lined with shops and teahouses. It's open all day, but most stores operate from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Pick up local specialties like Huai'an dried tofu or hand-painted paper fans.
nice list, covers the essentials pretty well. if you have a free morning, walk through the wenmiao temple area on dongmen street - it's a small confucian temple from the ming dynasty, entrance is like 15 yuan and the courtyard has these old ginkgo trees that are stunning in late october. it's way less crowded than tieshan temple and the neighborhood around it has some decent street food stalls, i usually grab a bowl of ι³ζ₯ι’ (plain noodles in broth) from a little shop just outside the gate for about 8 yuan
for the canal cruise, try the 7pm departure if you can, the sunset light on the bridges is nicer than the full dark show later on. the audio guide is only in chinese though so maybe have a translation app ready if you don't speak it
yeah this guide gets it right, especially the canal cruise. one thing i'd add is that the water transport museum has a decent little cafe inside now, opened last year i think, with surprisingly good coffee for like 15 yuan. good spot to sit and look at the canal through the big windows if you need a break from the exhibits
for the old street, go on a weekday afternoon if you can. weekends get packed with tour groups and the shops feel rushed. i found a tiny calligraphy shop on a side alley near the east end, old guy runs it and will let you try writing with a brush for free if you chat with him a bit, bought a nice fan there for 20 yuan
also the bus system is fine but the app for the electric scooters is called "meituan bike" if you want to scan and go, they're everywhere around the canal area
This is a solid guide and covers the main spots well. I would add that if you go to the Zhou Enlai Memorial, the nearby Zhou Enlaiζ
ε±
(former residence) on Fuma Lane is a separate site worth seeing too, and it gives a more personal feel than the main hall. It's also free but closes a bit earlier at 4:30 PM.
For Huaiyang food, I actually prefer a smaller place called Wenlou Restaurant over Laozhai. It's tucked away on a side street off Huaihai South Road, and their θ½―ε
ιΏι±Ό (soft-shelled eel) is the best I've had in the city, around 60 CNY. The atmosphere is quieter and feels more local.
One thing the guide doesn't mention is the Huai'an Museum on Jiankang West Road. It's free and has a good collection of Han Dynasty artifacts, plus a small exhibit on the city's old city walls. It's a nice way to spend an hour if the weather turns or you want a break from walking.
Shanghai hidden gems beyond the Bund?
honestly skip the bund crowds and head to the former french concession around wukang road. grab a coffee at some random lane spot, the whole area has these old lane houses that feel way more real than the skyline. also check out the rock bund art museum near the south bund, it's in this old industrial building with killer views and barely any tourists last time i was there. if u want food, go to tianzifang but skip the main alleys and wander into the side lanes, you'll find a tiny dumpling place that's like 15 yuan for 10 pieces
if you're around on a weekend morning, hit up the antique market on dongtai road before it fully gentrifies. it's mostly gone now tbh but there's still a few stalls tucked near the intersection with liuhe road, you'll find old propaganda posters and weird mao-era knickknacks for like 20 kuai. also the shanghai natural history museum in jing'an is underrated, the building itself is this wild spiral shape and the dinosaur skeletons are legit impressive, plus it's like 30 yuan entry. for a quiet evening walk i'd do the suzhou creek path near the north bund but go west from the waibaidu bridge, past the old post office building, there's a stretch where the lights hit the water just right and nobody's around
yeah if you want something totally different check out the long museum (long museum west bund) it's this massive space with rotating contemporary art, way less crowded than the power station of art. also walk the suzhou creek trail near the north bund, it's kinda rough around the edges but you get these weird views of old factories mixed with new towers