Stand on the south bank of the Huai River near the city centre and you can watch the ferry cross to the rural north bank, with Gaotang Lake away to the east and forested hills rising to the south. Huainan is a coal and power city on the plain, and it is also considered the hometown and birthplace of tofu, which shapes how it eats and what it celebrates.
This guide suits travellers who are passing through north-central Anhui and prefer archaeological sites, Republic-era streetscapes and local food culture to polished visitor attractions. The places below are the ones the source material identifies by name, so you can plan around them without guesswork.
Top things to do in Huainan
1. Shouzhou Kiln Site
A National key cultural relics protection unit, and the strongest single stop for anyone interested in the region's craft history. Give it unhurried time rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.
It pairs naturally with the rest of Shou County, which lies to the west of the urban centre, so plan it as part of a longer westward day rather than a detour.
2. Huainan Japanese Army Atrocities Site
Also a National key cultural relics protection unit, and the second of the two nationally protected sites in the city. It is a solemn stop, and worth setting aside quiet time for.
Because it carries the same national designation as the Shouzhou Kiln Site, you can reasonably group the two as the core of a heritage-focused visit.
3. Jiulonggang Republic-era Buildings
A cluster of Republic-era architecture in Datong District, protected at provincial level. It rewards attention to the buildings themselves rather than to any single address.
Datong District sits on the city's east side, so combine this with the other Datong District site, Huandeng Site, in the same outing.
4. Huandeng Site
An archaeological site in Datong District and an Anhui provincial cultural relics protection unit. It suits travellers who are already in the eastern part of the city.
Visit it on the same trip as the Jiulonggang Republic-era Buildings, since both are in Datong District.
5. Huangnigu Mound (Huang Xie's Tomb)
A mound site in Xiejiaji District, listed as an Anhui provincial cultural relics protection unit. The tomb association gives it a clear focus for a short visit.
Xiejiaji District holds several of the sites in this list, so build a single loop through the district rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
6. Lisan Mound Tomb Group
A group of tombs in Xiejiaji District, protected at provincial level. The value here is in the grouping as a whole.
Pair it with Huangnigu Mound (Huang Xie's Tomb), also in Xiejiaji District, to make one coherent half-day.
7. Laishan Mosque
A mosque in Xiejiaji District and an Anhui provincial cultural relics protection unit. It is a useful change of register among the mound and tomb sites.
It sits in the same district as Majia Mound, so the two fit together in a single Xiejiaji District itinerary.
8. Majia Mound
A mound site in Xiejiaji District, protected at provincial level. Like the other mounds here, it is best understood as part of the district's wider archaeological landscape.
Combine it with Laishan Mosque and the other Xiejiaji District sites rather than visiting it alone.
9. Weijia Ancient Mound Site
An ancient mound site in Tianjia'an District, listed as an Anhui provincial cultural relics protection unit. Tianjia'an is central, which makes this one of the easier sites to reach on foot or by a short ride.
Pair it with Dagu Mound Ancient Tombs, the other Tianjia'an District site, in the same visit.
10. Dagu Mound Ancient Tombs
Ancient tombs in Tianjia'an District, protected at provincial level. A compact stop that fits neatly alongside the district's other listed site.
Do Weijia Ancient Mound Site and Dagu Mound Ancient Tombs together, since both are in Tianjia'an District.
11. Xiaosungang Site
An archaeological site in Panji District and an Anhui provincial cultural relics protection unit. Panji lies away from the main cluster of sites, so treat this as a separate trip.
Note that Panji District is not conurbated with the rest of the built-up area, so allow for the journey rather than slotting it between central stops.
12. Tofu
Huainan is considered the hometown and birthplace of tofu, and the city hosted the 17th China Tofu Cultural Festival in September 2010, which included the National Bean Products Exhibition. Eating tofu here is a way of engaging with the city's identity, not just a meal.
Build a meal around it rather than treating it as a side dish, and look for it in the central districts where you are already spending time.
13. The Huai River ferry and riverside
The urban centre sits on a plain on the south bank of the Huai River, and near the city centre a ferry connects to the rural north bank. The crossing gives you the plain, the river and the farmland on the far side in one short trip.
Go when you want a break from sites and streets; the north bank is rural, so treat the ferry as the point of the outing rather than a means to an attraction.
14. Gaotang Lake and the forested hills
The city borders Gaotang Lake on the east and a forested hill area on the south. These are the two natural edges of the urban centre and the obvious places to go when you want open air.
Choose the lake side or the hill side depending on which part of the city you are already in, rather than trying to cover both in one stretch.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in Tianjia'an District with Weijia Ancient Mound Site and Dagu Mound Ancient Tombs, which sit in the central district and are the easiest of the protected sites to reach. Then walk or take a short ride to the Huai River and take the ferry across to the rural north bank for a change of scene.
Afternoon: Move east to Datong District for the Jiulonggang Republic-era Buildings and Huandeng Site, which belong together. If time allows, continue west into Xiejiaji District for Huangnigu Mound (Huang Xie's Tomb) and Lisan Mound Tomb Group.
Evening: Return to the central districts and eat tofu, the food the city is known for, before finishing at Gaotang Lake on the east side or the forested hills to the south if you still have daylight.
Frequently asked questions
What is Huainan known for?
It is known for its coal industry and thermal power plants, and it is considered the hometown and birthplace of tofu. It also hosted the 17th China Tofu Cultural Festival in September 2010.
Which sites in Huainan have national protection status?
Two: the Shouzhou Kiln Site and the Huainan Japanese Army Atrocities Site, both listed as National key cultural relics protection units.
Where are the provincial-level sites concentrated?
Several are in Xiejiaji District, including Huangnigu Mound (Huang Xie's Tomb), Lisan Mound Tomb Group, Laishan Mosque and Majia Mound. Tianjia'an District has Weijia Ancient Mound Site and Dagu Mound Ancient Tombs, Datong District has the Jiulonggang Republic-era Buildings and Huandeng Site, and Xiaosungang Site is in Panji District.
How do I get to Huainan?
By rail, Huainan railway station is the terminus of the Fuyang–Huainan railway and Huainan Railway, while Huainan East railway station and Huainan South railway station handle high-speed services. By road, the city is served by the S17 Benghe Expressway, the S12 Chuxin Expressway and National Highway G206.
Pick the sites that match your interests, group them by district so you are not crossing the city twice, and start planning your days around the ferry, the mounds and a proper tofu meal.