Xuzhou

Xuzhou sits at the northwestern corner of Jiangsu, China, and is one of the oldest cities in the province, historically tied to the Han dynasty. About an hour from Huai'an by high-speed train, it makes a rewarding if full day trip. The city is known for the Han dynasty heritage that includes the Xuzhou Museum, the Han Stone Reliefs, the Lion Mountain Chu King Tomb and the Terracotta Warriors Museum, which displays Han-era figures that are smaller than the Qin army of Xi'an but notable for their detail. Other draws include the Yunlong Lake scenic area and the Pengzu garden. The trip is simple: trains run from Huai'an East to Xuzhou East in around one hour, with second-class fares of about ¥65-92 (about $9-13); book on 12306 or Trip.com. Slower coaches also run from the Huai'an bus stations. A one-day arc takes an early morning train and goes first to the Terracotta Warriors Museum, then the Han Culture sites in the middle of the day, saving Yunlong Lake for the late afternoon. Local cooking leans toward the northern style, with dishes such as dog-meat stew, sha soup and pancakes and sautéed pork; visitors can also find lake fish and lamb in the city's older streets. The best windows are April to May and September to October, when temperatures are mild and the lakeside is pleasant. Summers are hot and winters can be cold and dry. Arriving by late morning is the latest practical start for a day trip, and the return train should be booked ahead.