Lushan West Sea
The clear, island-studded waters of Zhelin Lake – with boat trips to the islands from Sima, water-based resorts at Jinkou, Zhenru Temple on Yunju Mountain and the Wuning lakeside road – make up a lake-and-island holiday area.
Lushan West Sea lies in southwestern Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, spanning Yongxiu and Wuning counties. It comprises the Zhelin Reservoir (Zhelin Lake), created by damming the Xiu River in the 1970s, and Yunju Mountain, a renowned Chan (Zen) Buddhist mountain. A national 5A-rated scenic area (China's top tourism rating), it takes its name from its location west of Lushan. The vast lake is dotted with islands and its waters are clear and green, earning it a reputation as one of "China's most beautiful island lakes". The main activity is a boat trip from the Sima Visitor Center in Yongxiu to islands such as Yunju Island, Goddess Island and the Star of the West Sea, taking 6–7 hours in total. On the north shore, Jinkou has a water park and lakeside resort area; to the southeast, Zhenru Temple on Yunju Mountain is one of the ancestral temples of the Caodong school; at the western end, West Sea Bay in Wuning town and the lakeside road are great for driving and cycling, with Changshui Village, Wulingyan rafting and Shangtang Hot Springs nearby. Apr–Oct is best for lake trips and water sports; at the height of summer the lake and mountain stay cool, while in winter the lake looks bleak but hot springs beckon. It's about 1–1.5 hours by car from Jiujiang or Nanchang, and the Yongxiu–Wuning Expressway runs along the north shore. Shuttle buses serve the scenic area, but sights around the lake are spread out, so self-driving is recommended. Allow 2–3 days: one for the Sima boat trip, one for Yunju Mountain and the Zhelin Dam, and one for Wuning's West Sea Bay, the lakeside road and Changshui Village.
Top sights
- Lushan Xihai Island Cruise (Sima) – Take a boat from Sima Pier to cruise the thousand islands of Zhelin Lake, visiting Yunju Island, Goddess Island and more. The clear, emeral…
- Yunju Mountain & Zhenru Temple – One of the ancestral temples of the Caodong school of Chan Buddhism. This thousand-year-old temple sits in a mountain basin, with the Hundr…
- Jinkou Scenic Area – A resort area on the north shore of Lushan West Lake, with Jinkou Water World, West Lake fleet cruises, Huaqian Valley and lakeside hotels.
- Zhelin Dam – A large earth-and-rock dam completed in the 1970s. Its crest overlooks the Lushan West Lake, the starting point of Zhelin Lake.
- Lushan Xihai Hot Spring – A cluster of hot-spring resort hotels on the lakeshore in Zhelin Town. Lake-view pools make it a good place to spend a night relaxing after…
- Wuning Xihai Bay – A lakefront waterside scenic area on the edge of Wuning County Seat, with wetlands, promenades and night views, the showcase of what has be…
- Changshui Village – A national 4A rural scenic area at the foot of Wulingyan in the Jiuling Mountains, with ancient red yew trees, valleys and mountain guestho…
- Wulingyan – A forest and mountain scenic area in southeastern Wuning. Its gorge rafting is one of the longest in northern Jiangxi and is busiest in sum…
- Shangtang Hot Spring Town – A hot-spring wellness town in Shangtang Township, western Wuning, with farmhouse hot springs, a traditional oil-pressing workshop and red-h…
- Luxi Cave – A karst cave in Luxi Town, northern Wuning, with stalagmites and an underground river, enjoyable even on rainy days.