Mount Lu

A World Cultural Landscape with cloud and mist, Sandie Spring and the old villas of Kuling. A famed summer-retreat mountain celebrated in poems by scholars of every age.

Mount Lu lies in Jiujiang in northern Jiangxi, bordered by the Yangtze to the north and Poyang Lake to the east. The massif sits between Lushan City (formerly Xingzi County) and Jiujiang's Lianxi District, and its main peak, Hanyang Peak, rises 1,474 m. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1996 as a “cultural landscape” and is also a UNESCO Global Geopark. It is both the mountain of poetry, from Li Bai's “a cascade plunging three thousand feet” to Su Shi's “unable to know Mount Lu's true face,” and a stage of modern history. In the late 19th century Englishman Edward Little developed the Kuling lease, leaving more than 600 old villas in styles from many countries. Chiang Kai-shek and Mao Zedong both worked and lived here, and the Lushan Conference site and Meilu Villa are must-sees for history lovers. The climate is mountain climate: the summit is 7–10°C cooler than downtown Jiujiang, with Jun–Aug averaging around 22°C, making it the most important summer retreat in the middle Yangtze and also the cloudiest, mistiest season. October–November brings red leaves and clear weather, the best time for sightseeing and hiking. December–February has rime ice and snow, but mountain roads ice over easily and some attractions close. March–May is often rainy and foggy, with a high chance of seeing no views at all. The core sightseeing area centers on Kuling Town on the summit and divides into an east route (Hanpokou, Five Old Men Peak, Sandie Spring, the Botanical Garden) and a west route (Flower Path, Brocade Valley, Immortal Cave, Great Heavenly Pool, Dragon Head Cliff), with attractions linked by scenic-area shuttle buses. Getting there: from Jiujiang Station or Lushan Station (high-speed and conventional rail), go to the transfer center at the foot of the mountain (Weijia/North Gate or South Gate) and take a scenic-area bus up, about 40 minutes; you can also take the Lushan cable car (Weijia Station to Kuling). In peak season, out-of-town cars must transfer at the foot of the mountain. Tickets: about CNY 160 in peak season (Apr–Nov) and about CNY 135 in low season; the 7-day shuttle-bus pass is about CNY 90; Sandie Spring, Meilu Villa, the Lushan Conference site and others charge separately. We suggest 2 days, staying in Kuling Town: day 1, the west route (Flower Path, Brocade Valley, Immortal Cave, Meilu Villa, Kuling Street); day 2, the east route (sunrise at Hanpokou, then Five Old Men Peak or Sandie Spring). Tips: mountain weather changes fast and cloud rolls in without warning, so bring a windproof jacket and rain gear. Sandie Spring involves more than 1,400 steps round trip, so pace yourself. Accommodation in Kuling Town is tight in peak season, at 2–3 times the price down the mountain. Specialties include Lushan Yunwu tea and the “three stones”: stone chicken, stone fish and stone ear.

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