Huai'an, which in Chinese means everlasting peace of the Huai River, is located on the Subei Plain of Jiangsu Province. In its 2,000 or more years of history, Huai'an has been the hometown of some Chinese notables, including the militarist Han Xin of the Han Dynasty, Wu Cheng'en, author of the Chinese classic novel Journey to the West, the noted Beijing Opera actor Zhou Xinfang, and the the First Premier of the People's Republic of China, Zhou Enlai.
Like many other cities in Jiangsu Province, civilization of Huai’an can be traced back to the first dynasty in China, the Xia Dynasty (2205 - 1806 B.C.). Along with the opening of the Imperial Canal (Grand Canal), the town experienced an economic boom during the 6th and 7th century.
Main attractions of Huai’an are: Hongze Lake (Lake of Treasures), famous for crab delicacies at the Hongze Golden Autumn Crab Festival. First Mausoleum of the Ming Dynasty, which houses the remain of the grandfather of Zhu Yuanzhang (1368-1398). 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.