A bird's-eye view of Haohe River. [Photo provided by Ban Xia to en.nantong.gov.cn]

The 5-kilometer Haohe River in Nantong, Jiangsu province, is the important cultural symbol of the poetic and picturesque city.

"Hao" is the ancient name for a moat, and its history dates back far earlier than the city walls. If viewed from above, the winding Haohe River stretches for 5 km, encircling the ancient city, clearly outlining the "gourd" pattern of this city.

The moat is divided by the Changqiao Bridge, with the large head of the gourd in the north representing the ancient city and the small head in the south representing the new city. Although called the "new city", it has a history of 426 years.

Haohe River in Nantong. [Photo provided by Ban Xia to en.nantong.gov.cn]

For over 1,000 years, the moat of Nantong has always been called the "Haohe River", witnessing the vicissitudes and changes of this land.

With its unique natural landscape extending for thousands of years, the Haohe River winds past several historic and cultural districts and numerous museums, such as Nantong Museum and Nantong Bonsai Park, becoming a must-visit place for people to understand the city's culture.

In 2002, Nantong's Haohe River won the "Jiangsu Province Livable Environment Award" for its livability, cleanliness, uniqueness, inclusiveness, and vitality. In 2005, the river was honored with the "China Livable Environment Model Award", the highest honor in the field. In 2012, the Haohe River Scenic Area was designated a national 5A-rated tourist attraction, the highest ranking in China.