Huai'an City features a topography that is higher in the west and lower in the east. Except for the hilly terrain found in Xuyi County in the southwestern part of the city, the majority of the area consists of flat plains. The region is interwoven with rivers and lakes, forming a complex network of waterways. It boasts 9 rivers flowing through it, including the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, the Huaishu River, the Northern Jiangsu Irrigation Canal, the Huaihe River Waterway to the Yangtze River, the Huaihe River Waterway to the Sea, the Ancient Yellow River, the Liutang River, the Yanhe River, and the main course of the Huaihe River. Additionally, a significant portion of Hongze Lake, one of China's five largest freshwater lakes, is situated within the city. The plain areas of Huai'an City make up 69.39% of the total area, the lake areas account for 11.39%, and the hilly downland areas comprise 18.32%.