Liyuanhe, a section of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, meanders from the urban area to the old town of Huai’an District. The Liyuanhe Cultural Corridor scenic area currently refers to the section from near Zhongzhou Island to Yue Xiu Bridge. The riverside is adorned with green belts, featuring ancient residences as well as modern city skyscrapers, and several exhibition halls, making it an excellent sightseeing route. A leisurely stroll along the river or a cruise on the canal might offer a deeper understanding of this city, which once flourished due to grain transport.
Zhongzhou Island, located in the heart of the river, is connected to the mainland and houses several venues including the Huai’an Canal Museum. The Ancient Canal Cruise Terminal on the south bank faces Zhongzhou Island across the river, with operating hours from 8:00 to 21:00. The daytime cruise ticket is 50 yuan (round trip included), and along the route, you can see the Qingjiang sluice, Qingjiangpu Tower (Huai’an City Canal Couplet Pavilion) at the eastern end of Zhongzhou Island. North of Qingjiangpu Tower, there are the former residences of Cheng Xinnong and the Sanfan Memorial Hall, while on the south bank, there is the Chen Pan Er Gong Ci, followed by the Ji’an Water Dragon Bureau and other attractions, eventually reaching the He Xia Ancient Town to the southeast. The one-way trip from Zhongzhou Island to He Xia Ancient Town takes about one hour, and the cruise will wait for about two hours at the He Xia Imperial Wharf before returning to the city. During the waiting time, visitors can explore He Xia Ancient Town. The nighttime cruise ticket is 30 yuan, not visiting He Xia Ancient Town, and only navigating within the city, with a duration of about 40 minutes. The route is from the Ancient Canal Cruise Terminal to Yue Xiu Bridge, then to North Gate Bridge, and back to the Ancient Canal Cruise Terminal. The lighting effects at night are quite spectacular, rivaling those of Yangzhou’s Ancient Canal and Nanjing’s Confucius Temple Qinhuai River, offering beautiful night views. If you choose not to take a cruise, you can walk and visit the attractions the cruise passes. However, He Xia Ancient Town is quite far, and it is not part of the Liyuanhe Cultural Corridor scenic area. You can walk about 500 meters north from Zhongzhou Island to Huaihai East Road and take bus routes 8 or 69 to He Xia Ancient Town. The area is open all year round, with varying opening times for individual attractions: Lantern Fair: 13:00 – 22:30; Cruise: 9:00-21:00; Three halls on the first floor (Chen Pan Er Gong Ci, Wu Gong Ci, Dou Mu Palace, Qingjiangpu Tower) + Qingjiangpu Memory Hall: Open from Tuesday to Sunday, Morning: 09:00-11:00, Afternoon: 13:30-16:30 14:00–17:00 (Daylight Saving Time).
