The Huai River, formerly romanized as the Hwai, is a major river located in East China. It spans approximately 1,110 kilometers (690 miles) in length and possesses a drainage area of about 174,000 square kilometers (67,000 square miles).
Situated roughly midway between the Yellow River and the Yangtze River—China's two longest rivers and largest drainage basins—the Huai River has undergone significant geographical shifts. While it historically drained eastwards directly into the Yellow Sea, erosion from floods eventually altered its course, resulting in its current primary discharge into the Yangtze River. The river remains notably vulnerable to flooding.