Huaian Travel Guide, China

Huaian, Travel Guide – Location

Located in eastern China, Huaian is a fascinating city with thousand of years of history and wonderful landscapes. All you need to know before visiting this city you will find in Huaian travel guide.

Huaian, Travel Guide – Topography and Climate

The city is set in a low area with an even topography represented by alluvial plains at an average elevation of 15m above sea level. The flatness of the topography is broken by the presence of the immense water flow and its green banks which bring some of the nature into the grey city landscape.

Local climate in Huaian is strongly influenced by the monsoon and has four seasons with significant differences in temperature and precipitation. Winters are usually cold with abundant snowfall while summers are hot and dry with annual average temperatures reaching 17ºC.

The region is famous for its water resources represented by lakes and the Huai River which also crosses the city. The river always played an important role throughout the city’s history especially for its economy, creating good connections with the East China Sea.

Huaian, Travel Guide – Flora and Fauna

The region in which Huaian is located has a great natural potential represented by a diverse flora and fauna, picturesque fresh water lakes, Huai River, the Grand Canal and more. The city is also well known for its green farms where locals cultivate vegetables, cereals and fruits, farms which nowadays are slowly replaced by industrial centers and urban settlements. The once vast agricultural areas will be soon completely replaced by modern buildings, broad boulevards and only few green areas will remain for recreational purposes like the famous Qingyan Garden or the Chinese Rose Garden. Other important attractions within the city are the Subei Yieshen Zoo and Zhongxi Aquarium, very popular among children and not only.

Huaian, Travel Guide – Population

Descendants of some of the most famous Chinese dynasties, with a tradition of thousands of years, people in Huaian still make sustained efforts to evolve and improve their every day life. Huaian houses about five million people which make the city one of the largest in eastern China. Locals are mainly of Han origin and speak mandarin Chinese as well as English and other languages but in smaller circles.

Huaian, Travel Guide – Culture and Arts

The city has a very active cultural and artistic life with numerous events and with countless cultural tourist attractions. The unique architecture of the mausoleums, pagodas and other such places attract tourists from all over the world and transform the city into a very important tourist stop.

For all the major art exhibitions and other cultural events in the city there is only major host, the Grand Canal Plaza. The large number of such events organized here transformed the place into the main centre of arts in Huaian.

Huaian, Travel Guide – Transport

The local transportation system in the city is quite well developed with five modern highways crossing Huaian, other local roads and a railway station. The nearest airport is the Nanjing Lukou Airport which can be reached by bus or by car at very reasonable prices, so you can easily get to cities like Yancheng and Xuzhou. Within the city the bus is the best option to travel for both tourists and locals, numerous bus lines connecting all important tourist spots.

Huaian, Travel Guide – Festivals

The main festivals in Huaian are usually connected to national holidays, traditions, seasons or religion. One such great event in the city is Hongze Golden Autumn Crab Gourmet Festival, which takes place every year in autumn usually October, and is inspired by the Hongze Lake and its abundant aquatic life. Crabs are the most famous inhabitants of the lake, a delicacy for the locals and enough to inspire an entire festival. The endless ways in which this treat is served and the multitude of consumers has determined a continued growth of its importance. So if you are a fan of this delicacy autumn is the place to visit Huaian and its surroundings.