Huainan, prefecture-level city in Anhui, China
Huainan is a city in Anhui Province in eastern China, situated on flat land near the Huai River. The city is shaped by apartment buildings, older neighborhoods, markets, shops, and factories, with tall smokestacks from coal mines and power plants dominating the skyline.
The city received its name during the Han Dynasty and was long an important farming and trading center. With the discovery of coal deposits, it transformed into an industrial and energy center, with mining shaping the city for generations.
Huainan takes its name from the Han Dynasty, referring to the southern side of the Huai River. The city takes pride in its tofu tradition, a local product made here for generations and celebrated at festivals and in neighborhood restaurants.
The city is easily reached by high-speed rail, buses, and taxis, with a bridge crossing the Huai River and making travel between different parts simple. The best time to explore is autumn or spring, as summers are very hot and winters are dry.
Huainan is often overlooked despite being a center of Chinese energy production, with large power plants and tall smokestacks visible from far away. Many visitors do not realize the city is a major supplier of electricity to many parts of China.
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