Jinzhai
Known as the 'Cradle of the Red Army and Hometown of Generals', with the Tiantangzhai waterfalls in the Dabie Mountains' main peak area, the Yanzi River Grand Canyon and Meishan Reservoir, all linked by the Red Ridge Highway road trip past historic revolutionary towns.
Jinzhai County lies in the southwest of Lu'an, Anhui, deep in the Dabie Mountains where Hubei, Henan and Anhui meet. It produced the second-largest number of generals of any county in China, earning it the name 'Cradle of the Red Army, Hometown of Generals'. Within its borders are Tiantangzhai (1,729 m), one of the main peaks of the Dabie Mountains, and two large reservoirs, Meishan and Xianghongdian. The county divides into three areas for visitors: in the south, the Tiantangzhai–Yanzi River area is all old-growth forest, waterfalls and canyons, forming the core of the Dabieshan UNESCO Global Geopark and ideal for hiking, rafting and escaping the summer heat; around the county seat of Meishan Town are Red Army Square, the County Revolutionary Museum, Meishan Reservoir and the Dabieshan Jade Garden; in the west, Tangjiahui, Banzhuyuan and Jingangtai hold a cluster of revolutionary sites linked to the Lixia Uprising and the Hubei–Henan–Anhui Soviet Area, while the northeast has the broad waters of Xianghongdian Reservoir. The 'China Red Ridge Highway' runs across the county connecting the main sights, making this best explored by car. The best times to visit are Apr–May for azaleas and tea picking, Jul–Aug for cool mountain air and rafting, and Oct–Nov for autumn foliage; in winter, mountain roads may ice over and close. Getting there: Jinzhai Station on the Hefei–Wuhan high-speed line is about 15 km from town, Hefei is about 2 hours' drive away, and the mountain road from town to Tiantangzhai takes about 1.5 hours. Allow 2–3 days: one for the revolutionary sites in town and Meishan Reservoir, one for Tiantangzhai, and one for the Yanzi River Grand Canyon or the revolutionary towns in the west. Mountain roads are full of bends and rockfalls are a risk in the rainy season; ticket prices and opening hours often change seasonally, so check the official WeChat accounts before you go.
Top sights
- Tiantangzhai – A national 5A scenic area and one of the main peak areas of the Dabie Mountains, dotted with primeval forests and waterfalls, with a cable…
- Jinzhai Red Army Square & Revolutionary Museum – A classic national red tourism site, where the Martyrs' Monument, Revolutionary Museum and Generals' Museum are clustered in Meishan Town…
- Yanzihe Grand Canyon – 4A canyon scenic area about 5.8 km long, with steep cliffs, strange rock formations, deep pools and waterfalls along the way. It is a cool…
- Meishan Reservoir – Multi-arch dam reservoir built during the 1950s Huai River harnessing project. The dam sits close to the county town, and the winding bays…
- Mazong Ridge – Primeval forest mountain within the Tianma National Nature Reserve, with ancient trees, streams, waterfalls and alpine azaleas. It is quiet…
- Dawan Village – National key village for rural tourism, surrounded by more than 4,000 mu of tea gardens. Visitors can experience Lu'an Guapian tea picking…
- Xianghongdian Reservoir – Large arch dam reservoir on the upper Pei River, with a wide water surface and surrounding mountains. It suits lakeside driving and boat tr…
- Tangjiahui Red Tourism Town – Town at the foot of Jingang Terrace with more than 60 revolutionary sites. It is known as a “complete Soviet city” and Jinzhai's “Little Ya…
- Jingangtai Mountain – Famous red mountain on the Henan–Anhui border, where Red Army women soldiers sustained three years of guerrilla warfare. It offers hiking a…
- Banzhuyuan Red Town (Lixia Uprising Sites) – Site where the forces of the 1929 Lixia Festival Uprising united. It preserves the Zhu Clan Ancestral Hall, the “Red Army Tree” and a museu…
- Dabieshan Jade Expo Garden – 4A jade culture park in the new urban district, with a jade museum, a Lu'an Guapian tea culture museum and a jade trading market.
- Longjin Xidi Scenic Area – 4A stream valley scenic area in Liangshan and Qianlong villages, Quanjun Township, with streams, bamboo groves and waterside trails. It sui…
- Tianshuijian Rafting – Canyon rafting at the foot of Tiantangzhai, about 3.8 km long with a large elevation drop. It is a popular summer activity for cooling off.