Sometimes, when I tell people where I am from, they are perplexed. But when I explain that I come from the same place as the late Premier Zhou Enlai, most people know what I am talking about.
I was born and raised in Huai'an, hometown of our beloved founding premier of the People's Republic of China. Located in the hinterlands of north Jiangsu province, Huai'an is a peaceful city nurtured by the Grand Canal, Huaihe River and Hongze Lake. These waters have likely helped cultivate great people like Zhou, whose name, photos, and statues can be found everywhere in the city. His former residence, his relics' exhibition hall and memorial hall are popular tourist sites.
Huai'an is also the cradle of many other significant historical figures, such as Han Xin, a great military leader from the Western Han (206 BC-AD 24); Wu Cheng'en, author of the Chinese classic Journey to the West, and Peking Opera master Zhou Xinfang.
While Huai'an may appear to be solemn, on account of its great men, the city is essentially a place of relaxation and ease.
To recommend some places to have fun, my first choice is always the park on Cherry Blossom Island. When I was in primary school, I often went to Cherry Blossom Island with my little buddies. The labyrinthine woods gave us a perfect spot to play hide-and-seek, and we used to camp and play games near the cherry trees. The gigantic rockery, refined sculptures of animals, and of course, dazzling cherry blossoms, brought me great pleasure at that time.
Today, Cherry Blossom Island is still a popular hangout for youngsters, and almost every primary school in Huai'an will organize a spring outing to the park.
Another popular park is Bochi (Bowl Pool) Hill Park, featuring fine examples of Taoism architecture. At the foot of the hill stands a 9-m-tall bronze statue of Taoist philosopher Laotzu, whose belly is completely hollow. Inside the hollow part, the script of Tao Te Ching (Dao De Jing), the most influential Taoist text, is carved in the form of the Taoist symbol for yin and yang, as the letters constitute a circle with a curved line down the middle.
It is said if you go into the empty space of the statue to pick up Laotzu's writings, you will become a wise man. Last year, when I took a look at the statue, I found that the hollow belly was crowded with people. And there were still hordes of tourists waiting outside, so I had to queue up for a long while to enter and become "smart".
Bochi Hill Park is also a terrific public place to do physical exercise. Many senior residents go there to jog, practice shadowboxing and swim, even on a freezing winter morning.
For local delicacies, I strongly recommend la tang (spicy soup), an appetizer served at any snack bar in the city. Its basic ingredient is wheat gluten, mixed with sliced kelp and coriander leaves that give extra flavor. This humble soup is particularly popular in winter, as it will warm your body and soul.
If you go to a restaurant, don't hesitate to order the famous Huaiyang dish stir-fried fresh water eels. Its soft texture and fragrant smell may encourage you to stay in the city even longer.