Hongze Lake — China Travel

The star of the western shore is the Hongze Lake Ancient Dam, a monumental stone embankment whose origins stretch back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (roughly equivalent in age to Roman Britain's later fortifications). Successive dynasties reinforced it over 1,800 years until it formed the longest ancient stone seawall in China—a 70-kilometre ribbon of carefully fitted granite that once held back the Yellow River's southern incursions and protected millions of acres of farmland. In 2014, the dam was inscribed as part of the Grand Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognising its role alongside Europe's medieval waterworks as a masterpiece of pre-industrial civil engineering. At the dam's heart lies Shuifucheng, or "Water Cauldron City," a recreation of a Northern Song-era market quarter inspired by the legendary scroll *Along the River During the Qingming Festival*. Think of it as China's answer to a reconstructed medieval European burgh—complete with grey-brick town walls, tiled gate towers, and a warren of teahouses and craft shops—but distinctly Jiangnan in character, with curved bridges spanning narrow canals rather than cobbled lanes crossing cobblestone squares. The cultural layer runs even deeper. Two on-site museums—dedicated to Chinese seals and to the lake's fishing heritage—display centuries of flood-control steles and folk artefacts. Emperor Qianlong, who visited the dam four times during his six southern tours in the 18th century (much as Louis XV sent expeditions to inspect France's canal works), left behind several imperial steles still readable today. Families will appreciate the playful Guandan Paradise, where children can try the local card game beloved across the Huai River region. Practical matters are refreshingly straightforward. The ancient dam and its scenic overlook at Zhouqiao Datang Moon Pool are free to enter, while the Shuifucheng complex, Fisherman's Bay, and themed pavilions charge modest fees of roughly 30–60 RMB per attraction. From Huai'an city centre, the drive takes about 40 minutes, with ample parking and visitor services near the entrance. Allow at least half a day, ideally combining it with the nearby Jiangba Ancient Water Town, where waterfront restaurants serve the area's signature lake feast. For a striking counterpoint, drive about an hour westward to the Sihong Wetland Park (a national 5A scenic area)—the largest freshwater wetland in eastern China. Board boats through towering reed mazes, glide past the Thousand-Lotus Garden, and from October onward witness the spectacular arrival of tens of thousands of migratory cranes, geese, and swans returning from Siberia. Bring binoculars; the scale rivals the Camargue or the Wadden Sea in sheer ornithological drama. No visit is complete without sampling the lake's bounty. The Hongze hairy crab rivals those from Yangcheng Lake when in season, while silver fish, freshwater snails, and the legendary Jiangba Whole-Fish Banquet—a parade of preparations from a single catch—offer an authentic taste of Huai River cuisine rarely found outside Jiangsu. Pair it all with a local rice wine, and you have a meal that lingers long after the lake mist has cleared.