淮安市

Why this place

Huai'an sits where the Grand Canal crosses the Huai River, and it was a great canal city in the Ming and Qing — the grain tax administration was based here. It is also the birthplace of Zhou Enlai, China's first premier, whose residence is a museum.

What to see

• The Zhou Enlai Memorial and former residence
• The canal-side old town and the Huai'an government office complex
• Hongze Lake, one of China's largest freshwater lakes, east of the city

What to eat

• Huaiyang cuisine — one of China's four great culinary traditions, refined and lightly seasoned
• Crab and shrimp from Hongze Lake

Best time

April–May and September–October