In recent years, Huai'an City has conscientiously implemented the requirements of the General River Chief Order. From demonstration and guidance to full-area construction, the river-related construction projects have achieved significant results. To date, a total of 281 projects have been completed. The work details are as follows.

First, strengthening overall coordination and collaboration. Huai'an has strictly implemented the river and lake chief system, with chiefs at both the municipal and county levels overseeing deployment and proactive coordination. The city has positioned the river-related construction projects as a crucial measure for advancing the river and lake chief system while focusing on resolving governance challenges. The Municipal River Chief Office has fully played its coordinating and facilitating role by effectively integrating cross-departmental and cross-sector resources and establishing a collaborative and co-managed work mechanism.

Second, focusing on task implementation. By aligning with annual objectives, Huai'an has scientifically allocated resources and ensured robust funding. The city has undertaken a series of projects, including river dredging, waterfront enhancement, and ecological corridor development. In 2025, 49 new rivers and lakes were built. The Xuyi section of the Huaihe River mainstream has been successfully established as a "Happy River" in the Huaihe River Basin and promoted by the Huaihe River Commission of the Ministry of Water Resources.

Third, supporting regional development. Huai'an City has fully leveraged the radiating, driving, and clustering effects of the river-related construction projects. Specifically, the Luoliu River cruise project in Hexia Ancient Town has successfully transformed the "river chief protection" initiative into a tangible and engaging cultural tourism experience. Relying on Hongze Lake, the Jiangba River Snail Food Tourism Season attracted over 1.6 million visits, boosting tourism revenue to exceed RMB 85 million. A 164.115-kilometer-long Hongze Lake Tourism Highway has been completed, linking scenic spots such as ancient weirs and towns into a continuous route. Capitalizing on the popularity of Huajie Street, inspired by the TV drama Northward, the "Canal+" model is driving the integration of waterway and tourism, transforming the millennium-old Grand Canal into a truly "tangible living museum."