Huai'an travel guide - where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.
Huai'an is one of the cradles of Huaiyang cuisine, one of China's four great regional schools, and is a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy. The cooking is built on river fish, eel, cattail shoots and soup dumplings, seasoned lightly with a gentle sweetness. The dish most associated with the city is soft-pocket eel (软兜长鱼, ruandou changyu), eel that is boiled, filleted and stir-fried with garlic and onion; the Huai'an banquet also leans on Pingqiao tofu, cattail meatballs and crab-roe soup dumplings.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Noodles
Huaiyang Snacks
Food tours & tastings in Huai'an
Eat your way through Huai'an with a guide.
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Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Hexia Ancient Town snack streets
Stone-slab lanes with morning-tea houses, tea-twist stalls and soup-dumpling shops.
1415 Cultural and Commercial Block
Redeveloped canal-side block designated as a night-economy quarter with a planned Chinese food street and riverside bar street.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Search the Chinese name on Dianping (大众点评), Meituan (美团) or Amap (高德地图); small shops list opening hours there.
Morning tea (早茶) service runs early; soup dumplings at Wenlou are best in the morning.
Huaiyang cooking tends to be sweet and light; ask for less sugar (少放糖, shao fang tang) if preferred.
Most shops accept Alipay or WeChat Pay; carry some cash in notes as a fallback.
Soup dumplings: bite a small hole, drink the broth, then eat the wrapper; the broth is very hot.
Hexia Ancient Town is in Huai'an District (old city) and Qingjiangpu is the modern centre; allow 30-40 minutes by taxi between them.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | ¥50-90 (~$7.50-13) per day: noodles at ¥23-37, wonton and snacks at ¥11-16. | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |