Things to do in Jiujiang

The phrase "I don't know the true face of Mount Lu" led us to Mount Lu. This season is the off-season, avoiding the crowds, but it wasn't as beautiful as I'd imagined. Personally, I preferred Mount Sanqing. The arduous climb to San Die Quan (Three Cascades Spring) was a disappointment; I guess my expectations were too high. The scenery of the four peaks of the Five Old Men Peaks was decent. Aside from that, we missed the beautiful mist at Hanpokou, and the setting sun at Xiaotianchi (Small Heavenly Pool) was obscured by clouds. As for Datianchi (Big Heavenly Pool), the cats we encountered were quite cute, and behind Jinxiu Valley, we met a very calm and collected monk. Perhaps Mount Lu is more suited to cultural sites. A line from a poem—"A fairy cave born of nature"—is a tourist attraction; another—"The most beautiful scenery is found on the most dangerous peaks"—is a tourist attraction; yet another—"The flowers of April have all faded"—is a tourist attraction; and yet another—"A waterfall plunges three thousand feet"—is a tourist attraction. Great figures held meetings, stayed overnight, took photos, and swam—all of these are tourist attractions. The staff on the mountain were very kind and helpful. Maybe in a few years we should try escaping the summer heat and seeing the snow and rime ice in winter.

Lushan Mountain, if you have enough time, you really should spend three or four days exploring it at a leisurely pace. I only had an afternoon and a morning for a rushed tour. East Route: Three-Tiered Spring (2600 steps up and down, a real challenge!), Five Old Men Peak (you absolutely must climb to the top; I recommend climbing from one to five in order, try it and see!), Hanpokou, Dakou Waterfall (the water volume in the off-season is really...😅😅😅), Lulin Lake, Lushan Museum (Mao Zedong's former residence). West Route: Ruqin Lake, Fairy Cave, Bai Juyi's Thatched Cottage, Flower Path, Meilu, Lushan Conference Site. For meals, head to the main street of Guling Town; there are so many good places to eat! Food? Tonight you absolutely must watch "Romance on Lushan Mountain," a classic old movie that connects all the scenic spots of Lushan. It's a short film, perfect for a Guinness World Record attempt! On the road, the sightseeing cable car and shuttle bus are must-buys; walking will leave you exhausted. The shuttle bus is 70 yuan for 7 days—a great price! The drivers are generally very friendly, and since it's the off-season, there seem to be more buses than people, so there's no need to wait excessively or queue. 🫰🫰🫰 For the return trip from Lushan, there's a direct bus from the lower cable car station to the Lushan High-Speed ​​Railway Station for 10 yuan, a 20-minute ride.

The San Die Quan Waterfall truly lives up to its reputation. The scenery is completely different from Huang Guo Shu Waterfall. Climbing nearly 3000 steps up and down, my legs were shaking. But the feeling of the waterfall's mist splashing on you after reaching the top was truly magical.

This is the world's largest golden statue of Maitreya Buddha, two meters taller than the Statue of Liberty, and 30 kilometers of gold were poured into its body. A straight staircase leads directly to the statue. Worshippers should walk on the right side, where the wooden flooring makes it easy to bow. Tourists should walk on the left side, where the terrazzo flooring is tiled. This scenic area is free, built with donations from believers from around the world. However, entry is restricted after 5:30 PM, so it's recommended to visit early in the morning.

Xunyang River Scenic Area, located in Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, is a scenic spot where history and nature blend seamlessly. Upon entering the scenic area, the first thing that catches the eye is the Pipa Pavilion, famous for Bai Juyi's poem "The Song of the Pipa," as if one can hear the pipa's sound echoing through time. Strolling along the riverbank, the majestic Suojiang Tower and Suojiang Pagoda stand tall in the distance, having withstood centuries of wind and rain. Xunyang Tower, with its simple yet elegant architectural style, particularly captivated me. Climbing the tower, I gazed upon the shimmering Yangtze River, where water and sky merged seamlessly. I also took a cruise on the Xunyang River, gliding across the water and experiencing the idyllic feeling of "a boat sailing on emerald waves, a person traveling in a painting." This trip to Xunyang River Scenic Area left me captivated by its profound cultural heritage and beautiful natural scenery, making me reluctant to leave.

This is a place with a story. We visited to learn about its history and to teach the children. There was a Sichuan opera face-changing performance, but I don't know why Jiujiang would include it. Then there was a brief explanation of the origin of Song Jiang's rebellious poem. The last part was what I found most distasteful: a former calligrapher wrote some calligraphy. He kept saying it wasn't for sale, only for the audience member who cheered the loudest. I immediately recognized the sales tactic. What I disliked was that during the May Day holiday, people from all over brought their children to visit. The children were innocent and focused, listening intently and looking forward to it. When you tell them it's a scam, it's negative, and they won't leave until the end. In the end, it was obvious they wouldn't give it away for free; they charged 200 yuan for the writing. In other words, the calligraphy was written and given away for free; the artwork wasn't actually framed, just a simple scroll with the writing on it. They charged 200 yuan to the viewers. Finally, the children realized it was a scam, learned a lesson about society, and left unhappy. This part was definitely a mistake in this old historical building. Society has developed; even selling calligraphy and paintings using this tactic is outdated. If they had just added more creative souvenirs, fridge magnets, and ice cream, the price would probably have been higher than this, even with more tourists.

Although it's a man-made scenic area created by a dam, it's absolutely worth the price. The water and sky blend seamlessly, islands are scattered like stars, and floating bridges and boats are very convenient. The weather was perfect when we went, and everything was just right.

After much hesitation, I finally chose Lushan West Sea as the last stop on my trip to Jiangxi. I had read many online reviews praising its beauty but also criticizing its management, citing issues like an inefficient itinerary and long wait times for boats. However, my visit today was a pleasant surprise. On October 3rd, it was drizzling at West Sea, and the misty, dreamlike atmosphere while strolling in the rain was simply wonderful. First, I took a boat to the Yudao Islands, but my main focus was on the Nine-Linked Islands. I continued by boat to Sangtian Island, then visited Sangtian Island, Canghai Island, Mingzhu Island, the Wooden House Town, West Sea Star, Ruoxi Island, and Goddess Island, finally returning to the Sima Visitor Center from Yunju Island Wharf. The scenery here is breathtaking, especially the panoramic view from the West Sea Star. Capturing the beauty with a drone, it evoked a feeling reminiscent of Qiandao Lake, but with a different kind of beauty. The boardwalk connecting Huaguo Mountain and Ruoxi Island resembled a giant dragon stretching across the lake, winding and magnificent. Not only does it offer beautiful scenery, but it also boasts excellent service. Staff members are stationed at every island, main road, intersection, and bridgehead, providing warm, polite, and attentive directions and assistance to tourists. In short, this trip to Lushan West Sea was well worth the visit and I would definitely go again.

It's better to take the cable car up and walk down; it saves energy and allows you to see everything you need to see. Unfortunately, we went on a foggy day with low water levels, so we couldn't fully appreciate the atmosphere described in Li Bai's poem. We'll come back during the rainy season.

It was great! I went back after ten years. There was a free shuttle bus at the entrance of the scenic area to take you to the entrance of the academy. It was fantastic! There were also activities such as pitch-pot, chess, and lacquer fan making at the entrance of the scenic area.