Northern Jiangsu

Xuzhou, Lianyungang, Huai'an, Yancheng and Suqian: Han dynasty heritage, Flower-Fruit Mountain, the canal capital, and Yellow Sea wetlands with migratory birds.

Northern Jiangsu is one of the three official regions of Jiangsu, referring to the plain north of the Huai River basin and along the Yellow Sea. It includes five prefecture-level cities: Xuzhou, Lianyungang, Suqian, Huai'an and Yancheng. Xuzhou is a major center of Han dynasty culture; the Han terracotta warriors, the Guishan Han tombs, the Shizishan Chu King Tomb and Yunlong Lake form the main thread of a city visit, and the Yaowan Ancient Town in Xinyi also belongs to Xuzhou. Flower-Fruit Mountain in Lianyungang has deep ties to Journey to the West, and the Lian Island seaside beach is one of the few island beaches in Jiangsu. Huai'an is the hometown of Zhou Enlai; the Zhou Enlai Memorial, Hexia Ancient Town, Qingjiangpu and the China Grain Transport Museum show the character of the canal capital, and it is also an important birthplace of Huaiyang cuisine. Yancheng has the Yellow Sea wetlands UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, the most representative sights being the red-crowned crane reserve and the Dafeng Milu deer reserve. Suqian has the Hometown of Xiang Yu and Luoma Lake, while the Hongze Lake wetlands are shared by Huai'an and Suqian. A classic route links two days in Xuzhou, a day and a half in Lianyungang, one day in Huai'an and one to two days in Yancheng, for five to seven days in total, by self-drive or high-speed rail. For transport, airports are spread across the region, including Xuzhou Guanyin, Lianyungang Huaguoshan, Huai'an Lianshui and Yancheng Nanyang; the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway passes through Xuzhou, and railways such as the Xuzhou–Lianyungang, Lianyungang–Huai'an–Yangzhou–Zhenjiang, Xuzhou–Suqian–Huai'an–Yancheng and Yancheng–Nantong lines form a network. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit; for winter birdwatching, be prepared for cold, windy tidal flats; in summer the Lianyungang seaside is lively, but keep an eye on typhoon weather.

Destinations

Itineraries