Huai'an (Chinese: 淮安; Hanyu Pinyin: Huái'Ä?n), known as Huaiyin (Chinese: 淮阴; Hanyu Pinyin: HuáiyÄ«n) before 2001, is a prefecture-level city in northern Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China. It borders Suqian to the northwest, Lianyungang to the north, Yancheng to the east, Yangzhou to the southeast, and the province of Anhui to the southwest.
Ancient China
The area of Huai'an spans over ancient canal of Huai River and the name of Huai'an takes the hope of the residents for lasting peaceful Huai River.
Pre-History
It is said in ancient Chinese mythology that Yu the Great, the Chinese legendary on the ability of flood control techniques, was ever taming the Huai River here in Huai'an area.
The trail of activities of ancient Chinese living in about 5000 to 6000 years ago was found in the area and the most famous one is the Qingliangang Hill Civilization.
Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasty
The borough area had been properly developed, and "was leading China in convenience of transportation and irritation". Gangou Drain (the section between Huaiyin and Yangzhou of the Grand Canal of China) connected the Yangtze River and the Huai He delta region and Qian Road and Shan Road on the land reached Southern and Northern China. So Huaiyin was critical area for several strong states in Spring and Autumn period. The region was occupied by Wu, Yue and Chu state one by another.
Qin and Han Dynasty
After Qing Dynasty consolidated all states in China, County System was promoted throughout China. Huaiyin County (Matou Town of Huaiyin District today), Xuyi Country (Northern town of Xuyi County today), Dongyang (Maba of Xuyi County today) was built in the region today.
In the movement by rebelling farmers during the later years of Qing Dynasty, the people of Huai'an supported the rebel force, including the famous militia Han Xin who got many honors by his bravery and credit.
In the epoch of West Han Dynasty, Huaipu County (Western Lianshui County today), Sheyang County (Southeast of Chuzhou District today) and Fulin County (under the water of Hongze Lake today) were built.
During the period of Qing and Han Dynasty, great improvements, especially in the condition of irritaion, were made to the agriculture and manufacture. The Governor of Guanglin in the later years of East Han Dynasty, Cheng Deng, built Gaojiayang Levees (Hongze Lake Levees today), 30 miles in total, to constrain the flood and protect farm lands. He also built Pofu Pool for farm irritation. Iron-made apparatus and bull-farming were widely spread. So agriculture made fairly progress though a few of wars and battles took place there. Meanwhile, transportation and logistics kept improvement. The express way built by the Emperor I of Qing Dynasty went through the region and Cheng Deng also built West Way of Gaogou Drain and make more convenience for the traffic between Yangtze and Huai He area.
Since then, handy crafts and business were developed and culture and arts were in high level, too. Home-teaching and private schools were flourished in Han Dynasty and lots of famous artists appeared, for example, the Han-text composers Mei Chen and Mei Gao, and Chen Lin, one of the Seven Scholars of Jian'an.
District of Huaiyin was established on April 21, 1949, operating 10 counties, which were: Huaiyin, Huaibao (built of west parts of Huai'an and Baoyin section of the Grand Canal of China and county office located at town of Chahe), Siyang, Shuyang, Guanyun, Suqian, Suining, Xin'an (built of parts of Shuyang and Suqian and county office located at town of Xin'an), Pisui (built of southern Longhai Road of Pixian and northern Suining and county office located at town of Tushan) and Lianshui. The district office was at Huaiyin County.
Huaibao County was dissolved on May 12, 1950 to Huaiyin, Huai'an and Baoyin County (belonging to District of Yangzhou). And District of Huaiyin had 9 counties then.
The city area of Huaiyin County was separated as Qingjiang City on December 18, 1950 and District of Huaiyin then had 1 city and 9 counties.
With the establishment of Jiangsu Province in January 1953, District of Huaiyin was transferred to the province. Xin'an County was renamed to Xinyi County and county office of Pisui was moved to town of Yunhe. District of Huaiyin then had Qingjiang City and 9 counties, Huanyin, Lianshui, Guanyun, Siyang, Shuyang, Xinyi, Suqian, Pisui and Suining. The district office was sited at Qingjiang City. Later in the year, Suining, Pisui and Xinyi was given to District of Xuzhou and then District of Huaiyin had one city and six counties.
Qingjiang City was promoted to prefectual level of Jiangsu Province though was still operated by District of Huaiyin. Soon the district was joined by Huai'an County from District of Yancheng and in December by Sihong County from District of Suxian and Xuyi County from Disctrict of Chuxian in Anhui Province. The amount of all counties belonging to District of Huaiyin was 9.
In 1956 Hongze County was created from parts of Sihong, Huaiyin and Xuyi County with the county office sited at town of Gaoliangjian. The amount of counties then was 10.
In 1957 Xin'an Administrative Office was built from joint parts of Guanyun and Lianshui County and soon later renamed to Guannan County. The counties number reached 11.
Huaiyin County was merged in 1958 to Qingjiang City which was renamed to Huaiyin City and operated by District of Huaiyin, which had one city and 10 counties then.
However in 1964, Huaiyin City was renamed back to Qingjiang City and Huaiyin County was restored but the county office was sited in Qingjiang City.
Xuyi County was transferred to District of Luhe in 1966 and District of Huaiyin then had one city and 10 counties.
Huaiyin Region
Distrcit of Huaiyin was renamed to Huaiyin Region in 1970 with the region office sited at Qingjiang City, operating Qingjiang City and 10 counties, which were Guanyun, Guannan, Shuyang, Suqian, Siyang, Lianshui, Huaiyin, Huai'an, Hongze and Sihong.
Xuyi County was returned by Luhe Region in 1971 as well as new transferred Jinhu County. Then one city and 12 counties belonged to Huaiyin Region.
In 1975 the office of Huaiyin County was relocated at the town of Wangyin.
Huaiyin City
Qingjiang City was renamed to Huaiyin City again in 1983 and operated directly by Jiangsu Province with the end of Huaiyin Region. Meanwhile 11 counties, which were Guannan, Shuyang, Suqian, Siyang, Lianshui, Huaiyin, Sihong, Huai'an, Hongze, Xuyi and Jinhu, was transferred to new Huaiyin City while Guanyun County to Lianyungang City. The municipal area of Huaiyin City was splitted into two distrcts, Qinghe and Qingpu. Then 11 counties and 2 districts were belonging to Huaiyin City.
Suqian and Huai'an County was promoted to county-level cities in December 1987 by the order approved by Department of State, then renamed to Suqian and Huai'an City respectively. At the moment, Huaiyin City was operating 2 cities, 9 counties and 2 districts.
Suqian City was promoted to prefectual level of Jiangsu Province in 1996 and Shuyang, Siyang and Sihong County was transferred to Suqian City while Guannan County to Lianyungang City. After the adjustment, Huaiyin City had 5 counties, which were Huaiyin, Lianshui, Jinhu, Hongze and Xuyi, and 2 districts, Qinghe and Qingpu and was operating Huai'an City.
Huai'an City
By the order approved by Department of State on December 21, 2000, Huaiyin City was renamed to Huai'an City with the city office sited at Qinghe District while Chuzhou District was established from original Huai'an City with the district office at town of Huaichen and Huaiyin District was established from original Huaiyin County with the district office at town of Wangyin. The county borders were also be slightly modified.
Now Huai'an City are operating over 4 districts, Qinghe, Qingpu, Chuzhou and Huaiyin, and 4 counties, Xuyi, Lianshui, Jinhu and Hongze.
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