Suqian was once best known as playing an important role in China’s infamous drinking culture, being a centre for the production of “baijiu”. Today, however, that image is being shed in favour of something altogether more healthy, as manifest in places such as Luoma Lake.
Connecting with the Grand Canal, Luoma Lake is one of the four major freshwater lakes in Jiangsu. At 375 square kilometres in area, the Lake resembles the back of a big horse, together with its tail which sweeps further north to Xuzhou City.
Formed tectonically, Luoma Lake became enlarged as the course of Yellow River merged temporarily with those of the Si and Huai rivers sometime between the Song and Qing dynasties. Flooding brought mineral-rich sediment into the lake that now gives rise to the abundance of local aquatic products.
Among these, freshwater crab, shrimp, whitebait and lobster are the best.
Luoma Lake whitebait is white and transparent like jade; it has been widely distributed to elsewhere in Asia, Europe and the Americas. The Lake’s freshwater shrimp is green and plump, making it famous far and wide, while local crabs are huge; the males with white fat, the females golden.
Somewhat of a local celebrity, Luoma Lake crab was also named as the “Overlord Crab” in 2019, in reference to Xiang Yu*, known as “Overlord of Western Chu”. Xiang was the Hegemon-King of Western Chu during the Chu–Han Contention Period, between 206 and 202 BCE. Born in Suqian, he became a prominent warlord, so much so that he is found in the book of woodcut prints, “Table of Peerless Heroes” by Jin Guliang.
First printed in 1694, the book contains biographies and imagined portraits for 40 of China’s notable heroes from the Han Dynasty to the Song Dynasty.
Crabs aside and away from the dining table, foreign visitors shall be drawn to the International Yacht Wharf, with a huge range of attractions therein.
Tourists come to experience the thrill of sailing clippers and braving aquatic parachutes, or to enjoy the more sedate fun of diving and swimming among the fish.
As the sun goes down, some choose to watch the sunset while fishing. Others take to the high-end hotels nearby, many of which offering rooms that provide guests with a panoramic view of the vista that is today’s Luoma Lake, awaiting you.
What else to See in Suqian?
Qianlong Temporary Palace
Well-preserved palace on the banks of Luoma Lake. Built in the 17th-century as a temporary palace for the Qing Dynasty’s Emperor Qianlong, he visited only three times to pray in his dedicated retreat.
Zhangshan Hill Forest Park
Designed for pedestrians and cyclists, themed areas show hundreds of tree and plant species, a landscaped bridge crosses a huge field of flowers and picnic areas; camping site and golf course accompany.
* King Xiang’s Hometown
In Xiang Yu’s ancestral temple, a recorded tour in many languages automatically starts and stops as you enter or leave the many buildings. Check out the movie about the overlord’s military might.
Getting to Suqian
With the high-speed rail network expanding all over Jiangsu, Suqian is easily accessible from all directions.
Nanjing-Suqian
G8383 / 2 hours 3 minutes
Huai’an-Suqian
G3296 / 28 minutes
Xuzhou-Suqian
G8275 / 32 minutes
Beijing-Suqian
G2575 / 3 hours 55 minutes
