The South-to-North Water Diversion Project is a significant strategic initiative aimed at resolving severe water scarcity issues in northern regions of China. Building upon the foundation of the diversion from the Yangtze River to the northern part of Jiangsu Province, the Eastern Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project supplements water sources to the eastern regions of the North China Plain and the Shandong Peninsula by diverting water from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. This project, implemented in three phases, has currently completed the first phase, effectively alleviating the water supply-demand conflicts in the provinces of Jiangsu and Shandong, particularly the continuous droughts faced by the Shandong.Building upon the experiences derived from the construction and operation of the first phase, this paper considers the macroeconomic and social development plans at the national, provincial, and basin levels. It focuses on the comprehensive evaluation of proposals for the engineering layout from the Yangtze River to Hongze Lake, Hongze Lake to Luoma Lake, and Luoma Lake to Nansihu Lake within Jiangsu province. The selection of layouts caters to the dual objectives of water quantity and quality, with optimization factors favoring layouts that minimize overall impacts. This approach not only adheres to the overarching national strategy for inter-basin water diversion but also safeguards Jiangsu's reasonable rights and interests in terms of water security, water resources, and water management. It proposes a specialized water conveyance plan towards the western regions.