Huai'an, which in Mandarin means Everlasting Peace of the Huai River, is located on the Subei Plain of Jiangsu Province. The name Huai'an first brings to mind China beloved Zhou Enlai, the First Premier of the People's Republic of China. Zhou was born in Huai'an and lived there for 12 years of his childhood. The Zhou Enlai Memorial now stands on the site of the former residence of the Zhou family and has become one of the city's major landmarks. In its 2,000 or more years of history, Huai'an has been the hometown of other Chinese notables, including the militarist Han Xin of the Han Dynasty, Wu Cheng'en, author of the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West, and the noted Beijing Opera actor Zhou Xinfang. Huai'n is also known for Hongze Lake and being the place where the imperial Huaiyang cuisine originated, which is noted for its sweet, light taste.
Like many other Jiangsu Province cities, Huai'an has a civilization that can be traced back to what was probably the first dynasty in China, the Xia Dynasty (2205 - 1806 B.C.). Archaeologists have found evidence of human inhabitants in this region that date back to the New Stone Age, about 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Along with the opening of the Imperial Canal, today known as the Grand Canal, the town experienced an economic boom during the 6th and 7th century.
One of Huai'an's main attractions is Hongze Lake, the third largest freshwater lake in China. Occupying an area of 2,069 square kilometers, Hongze has been dubbed the Lake of Treasures because of its abundant resources, particularly the crab that inhabits the lake shallow waters. In September and October every year, people come from all over China to indulge in crab delicacies at the Hongze Golden Autumn Crab Festival.
Located near Hongze Lake are the Underwater City of Sizhou and the First Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty, which houses the remains of the father, grandfather, and great grandfather of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Both Sizhou and the mausoleum remained under water for over 300 years following a flood and re-emerged in 1963, 1993, and then in 2001 during a drought.
Huai'an is also noted for its local delicacies, including the renowned Wenlou Steamed Dumplings and Pingqiao Bean Curd. With dishes like these, it is no surprise that the notable imperial Huaiyang cuisine originated here.
Huai'an has been proclaimed a national historical and cultural city by the China State Council. Its economy is booming and it has established multiple ties with more than 100 different countries and regions. Huai'n industrial sectors are currently expanding, including chemical, mechanical, textile and bio-technology, among others. Due to recent improvements in infrastructure, more national and international investors are choosing Huai'n.
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