Location: Huaibei is situated in the north of
Anhui Province, located at the
hinterland of East China in the linking area among Jiangsu, Shandong,
Henan and Anhui.
History: Circa 4,000 years ago, city was established
in present downtown Huaibei. During the Xia (21st - 16th century
BC) and Shang (16th - 11th century BC) dynasties, it was named as
Xiangcheng governed by Xuzhou. In Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220),
it was the capital of the Pei State, and it was gradually declined
since the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Physical Features: Huaibei slopes downwards from
northwest to southeast, and over ninety-five percent of its territory
is occupied by plains. The peak of the city lies in Suixi County
with an altitude of 362 meters (1,188 feet) and the Huaibei city
proper is built on the Xiangshan Mountain.
Climatic Features: Enjoying a temperate monsoon
climate, Huaibei has an annual average temperature of 14.8
C
(58.6
F).
Spring and autumn are distinctly shorter than summer and winter.
Its winter is cold and dry. Summer is both the hottest period and
the rainy season.
When to Go: in spring and autumn
Special Local Products: Kouzi Liquor, Huangli
megranate, Badou apricot, grape, watermelon, Bangbang Cha (a kind
of tea)
Local Highlights: Huaibei Flower Drum Opera (Hua
Gu Xi) is derived from the folk songs and dance of this region,
being the most popular local entertainment.
Scenic Spots:
Xiangshan Mountain, winding on the Huaibei Plain,
gathers multitude of beautiful sights of the city. Xiantong Temple
is the most important scenic spot of the mountain. This temple
was first constructed during the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316),
and rebuilt in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The stele inscription
by the Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty and the cliffside
inscriptions on the Shenshui Crag (Shenshui Ya), together with
the ancient buildings, are all the highlights of the temple.
Linhuan Ancient Tea Town: Linhuan Town, 37 kilometers
(23 miles) southwest of the Suixi County on the north bank of
the old huanshui River. The town has a history of more than 3,000
years and it has been over 600 years since the uprising of tea
cultural in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In the 500 meters (547 yards)
long central street stand no less than sixteen teahouses.
Tourist Tips:
1. Having the aid of Xuzhou Guanyin Airport in Jiangsu Province
which is only about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the city, Huaibei
is much more accessible from other cities by air.
2. From the Huaibei bus station located in Gucheng Road, Xuzhou
can be reached within two hours. But it is quite farther to the
capital city of the province, Hefei. Distance between them is over
300 kilometers (184 miles), and the journey between these two cities
may cost no less than four hours.