The Zhou Enlai Memorial Hall is a large, serious museum dedicated to China's first premier, who was born in Huai'an in 1898. The complex is set in parkland north of the city centre and covers Zhou's life from his Huai'an childhood through his central role in the Long March, the founding of the People's Republic, and his death in 1976. The exhibits are substantial and professionally arranged, with photographs, documents, replica furnishings, and an extensive collection of gifts received from foreign leaders.
Admission is free. The visit is most useful to visitors with some knowledge of modern Chinese history, who will find the documentation of Zhou's diplomatic career and his relationship with Mao genuinely illuminating. Those with no background in the period will find the context thin, as the exhibits assume familiarity with the major events.