Huainan's history is dominated by two great figures from the Western Han Dynasty: Liu An, the Prince of Huainan, and his court of scholars. Liu An's greatest legacy is the "Huainanzi," a comprehensive philosophical text covering cosmology, astronomy, politics, and alchemy — one of the most important works of early Chinese thought.
The invention of tofu at Bagong Mountain around 164 BCE is a story of serendipity. Liu An, seeking immortality through alchemy, experimented with soybeans and accidentally produced curdled soy milk. The result was nutritious, delicious, and soon spread throughout China.
Shou County, originally the capital of the Chu State during the late Warring States period, has over 2,500 years of history. The current city wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) but incorporates older foundations.
In the 20th century, Huainan developed as a coal mining and energy centre, exploiting rich coal deposits beneath the Huai River plain. The city became one of China's important energy bases, though it has been diversifying its economy in recent decades.
