Lu Shan, a mountain town situated in the northern reaches of Jiangxi province, is best known for its cool summer days, abundant flora and spectacular views over the Jiangxi plains. Set amongst mist-cloaked peaks, with Buddhist and Taoist temples blending seamlessly with the rugged landscape, its no wonder the area was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Lu Shan is an ideal place to get off the beaten track and explore. After a short walk in almost any direction you're likely to find one of the 200 odd historical buildings scattered about the mountain's craggy outcrops. Dragon Head Cliff to the west of town is a natural rock platform perched atop a cliff which plunges several hundred meters to the ground.
The mountain itself has 99 separate peaks, the highest of which are hidden by clouds for most of the year. Hanyang Peak, standing 1,474m above sea level offers views of the sea of clouds below that have inspired countless generations of Chinese poets, artists and spiritual leaders.
Lu Shan's mild climate make it ideal for hiking, but if you're on a tight schedule taxis are the best way to get around. For full details on getting to, from and around Lu Shan, visit the Lu Shan transportation page.
History
Lu Shan began its emergence as a place of cultural and religious significance during the Han Dynasty in around 300 BC. In subsequent years, it became home to the monk Huiyuan, who founded the Jingtu sect of Buddhism, and monk Jianzhen, who took the teachings of Buddhism to Japan.
In later centuries, Lu Shan's reputation as a center of religious study attracted various other sects of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity to set up centers there.
In more recent history, Chairman Mao chose Lu Shan as the destination for several Communist Party conferences, the topics of still shrouded in mystery today.
Climate
Due to its proximity to Poyang Lake, the largest fresh water lake in China, Lu Shan's weather is quite humid for most of the year, but has four distinct seasons.
During the summer months it is blessed with cool days and fresh mists, high temperatures cap out at around 32°C (90°F). Autumn is chilly and tends to be the driest season but highlights the mountains many deciduous trees. Frigid northerly winds can be expected in winter and traveling is not highly recommended until spring.
The Lu Shan Mountain scenic area is a tourist resort with a well developed hotel industry. Lu Shan and its downhill neighbor Jiujiang (1 hour by bus) have all kinds of hotels and guest houses, from low-end rooms with squat toilets and shared bathrooms to luxury 4 and 5 star rooms or cottages hidden in pine forests.
Hotel rates vary dramatically during the year, with peak season commanding the steepest prices. Many establishments offer sizable discounts to Ctrip cardholders.
Over its years as a relatively famous tourist destination, Lu Shan has developed its own unique edible specialties. These range from characteristic snacks to the well renowned Lu Shan "3 stone" dishes. Stone chicken is succulent wild foul, stone fish are caught in the streams and pools around waterfalls in the area while stone fungi are large, round flat fungi harvested from the mountain peaks.
Eating out in Lu Shan can be expensive so it's a good idea to scan through the menu before committing to a restaurant.
Getting Around
The most convenient way to get around Lu Shan is by taxi. The base rate is RMB 10 for the first two kilometers and RMB 1 for every additional kilometer. Some taxis don't have meters, so remember to bargain before you get in.
A tour company at the foot of Lu Shan offers tour buses each day for tour groups. If you travel there individually, you can choose to take the buses at the Jiujiang Long-Distance Bus Station or just take a taxi there.
To and from Lu Shan
Air
Located 28 km away from Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang Changbei International Airport has both domestic and international flights with flight destinations including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Nanning, Guangzhou, Xiamen, Haikou, Singapore and Bankok. Travelers can fly to Nanchang first and take a long-distance bus heading for Lu Shan.
Train
Lu Shan is situated at the central part of Jingjiu Railway Line, convenient to Beijing, Jilin, Liaoning, Heilongjiang in the north, and Guangdong, Shenzhen, Hong Kong in the south. You can take a train directly to Lu Shan stopping at Lushan station or Jiujiang station, or to Nanchang station first and then take a long-distance bus to Lu Shan.
Bus
The Nanchang Long-Distance Bus Station (0791 622 6000) sends three buses to Lu Shan each day at 8:20 a.m., 11:05 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. The RMB 45 trip to the summit takes about three hours.
Buses from Jiujiang Long-Distance Bus Station (0792 858 2369) start from 6:50 in the morning and run until 4:30 in the afternoon with nearly one bus every hour. The trip takes about one and a half hours and costs about RMB 8.
All these buses arrive at Lu Shan Bus Station (0792 828 1099) on the mountain, which sends four buses back to Jiujiang Long-Distance Bus Station in the afternoon each day.
Although there are nearly 1,000 commercial outlets in Lu Shan, the shopping experience can leave something to be desired. There's a shopping mall in Kuling with a wide range of commodities and souvenirs, but the Lu Shan shopping market is the main tourist market and offers various locally-produced souvenirs, foods, alcoholic drinks and tobacco products.
Yunwu Tea is a popular choice for Chinese visitors as it is believed to have medicinal properties such as the ability increase physical and mental health while lowering blood pressure and aiding digestion.
There's not a great deal to in Lu Shan aside from the hiking and sightseeing. If you'd like to boast that you've contributed to a world record, head to the local theater and buy a ticket to see "Romance of Lushan Mountain" (Lushan Lian) which has been running continuously since July, 1980. Ticket numbers reflect the actual number of tickets sold, now in excess of 140 million.
The Lu Shan Museum also houses a number of historical photographs of Chairman Mao and other officials taken during his last Communist Party Conference in 1970 as well as a collection of Li Bai's poems.