Hexia Ancient Town
河下古镇
A canal town where Ming and Qing salt merchants lived, packed with stone-paved streets, time-honored shops, and former residences of famous figures. Wenlou soup dumplings and tea sanzi are must-tries.
Hexia Ancient Town is located northwest of Huai'an District on the ancient Grand Canal. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the salt trade made it prosperous, and merchants gathered here. It produced dozens of jinshi (imperial scholars) and top scholars, earning it the nickname 'Hometown of the Jinshi.' Stone-paved streets such as Huzui Street are well preserved. Along them are the former residence of Wu Cheng'en, the author of Journey to the West, the Liang Hongyu Shrine, Zhuangyuan Tower, and many old houses. The town is also known for Huai'an specialties, including Wenlou crab roe soup dumplings, tea sanzi, and spicy soup. The old town is free to enter. It is especially pleasant to stroll in the evening when the lanterns are lit, and you can also visit nearby Xiaohu Lake.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Former Residence of Wu Cheng'en
- Wentong Pagoda & Shaohu Lake
- Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall
- Huai'an Prefecture Office
- Former Residence of Zhou Enlai
- China Grain Transport Museum
- Zhenhuai Tower
- Ciyun Temple (Huai'an)