Southern Jiangxi Grand Loop: Hakka Heritage & Danxia Landforms
Starting from Ganzhou, this self-drive loop covers terraced fields, Danxia landforms, revolutionary sites, the source of the Dongjiang River, and Hakka walled villages.
This is the most comprehensive route through southern Jiangxi (Gannan), linking the Shangbao Terraces, the Danxia landforms of Shicheng in Ningdu, the historic sites of Ruijin, Mount Sanbaishan, and the Hakka walled houses of Longnan. The pace is manageable, though it requires daily driving. Sights are scattered and public buses are infrequent, making a self-drive the best option. Perfect for road-trippers who have already visited northeast Jiangxi and want a deep dive into Hakka culture. Mount Yashan in Dayu and Quannan are omitted.
The Shangbao Terraces are filled with water in spring and turn golden in autumn. Shicheng's lotuses bloom in mid-summer; adjust your timing accordingly.
Day by day
Day 1 · Walking Tour of Ganzhou Song Dynasty Town
Ganzhou Old City（Yugu Terrace、Bajing Terrace & Song Dynasty City Wall、Ganzhou Ancient Pontoon Bridge、Zaoer Lane & Yaoyaqian、Fushou Ditch Museum）
The core sights of the old town are highly concentrated; walk between the ancient city wall, the pontoon bridge, and Zhao'er Lane.
Stay: Old City–Song Dynasty Area
Day 2 · Tongtian Rock to Yangming Lake
Ganzhou Old City（Tongtianyan Grottoes） → Chongyi & Shangyou（Yangming Lake (Doushui Lake)）
Depart from Ganzhou and visit Tongtian Rock first, then take the expressway for about 1 hour to Yangming Lake in Shangyou. Reach Chongyi by evening.
Stay: Chongyi County Town
Day 3 · Mount Yangmingshan to Shangbao Terraces
Chongyi & Shangyou（Yangmingshan National Forest Park、Shangbao Terraces）
Ascend Mount Yangmingshan from Chongyi county seat. After midday, drive about 1.5 hours along mountain roads to Shangbao. Stay near the terraces to watch the sunset.
The terrace scenic area stops admissions at 17:00. The viewing platforms offer the best light during sunrise and sunset.
Stay: Shangbao Terraces
Day 4 · Terrace Sunrise & Return to Ganzhou
Ganzhou Old City（Qili Ancient Town）
After watching the sunrise, drive back to Ganzhou (approx. 140 km, around 2.5 hours).
Stay: Old City–Song Dynasty Area
Day 5 · Head North to Ningdu via Bailu
Ganzhou Old City（Bailu Ancient Village） → Ningdu（Ningdu Uprising HQ Site & Ningdu Museum）
Drive from Ganzhou to Ningdu via Xingguo (approx. 193 km). Including a detour to the ancient village of Bailu, the drive takes 3 to 4 hours in total.
Stay: Ningdu County Town (Cuigang)
Day 6 · Cuiwei Peak & Donglong to Shicheng
Ningdu（Cuiwei Peak、Donglong Ancient Village）
Visit Cuiwei Peak in the morning and Donglong Ancient Village in the afternoon. The drive from Ningdu to Shicheng is about 117 km (approx. 2 hours).
Stay: Shicheng County Town (Qinjiang)
Day 7 · Tongtianzhai & South to Ruijin
Shicheng（Tongtianzhai、Dashe Village Lotus Fields）
Drive about 5 km from the county seat to Tongtianzhai. After the visit, head south to Ruijin (approx. 104 km, nearly 2 hours).
Stay: Shazhouba around Red Well
Day 8 · Ruijin: Revolutionary Sites
Ruijin（Red Well, Shazhouba、Second National Soviet Congress Hall、History Museum of the Central Revolutionary Base、Ruijin Revolutionary Sites）
Using Shazhouba as your base, the drives between Yeping, the Red Well, and the museum are all under 15 minutes.
Stay: Shazhouba around Red Well
Day 9 · Hanxianyan & Dongsheng Walled House to Mount Sanbaishan
Ruijin（Hanxianyan Scenic Area） → Longnan（Dongsheng Wei）
Drive south from Ruijin through Huichang to Anyuan (approx. 2.5 to 3 hours), arriving at the foot of Mount Sanbaishan by evening.
Stay: Around Sanbaishan Scenic Area
Day 10 · Source of the Dongjiang River to Longnan
Longnan（Sanbai Mountain、Yuzaitan Wei）
Spend 3 to 4 hours in the morning hiking Mount Sanbaishan (using the round-trip cable car). Drive to Longnan in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour 40 minutes).
Ticket sales for the cable car route close early in the afternoon. If taking the one-way traverse, plan how you will return to retrieve your car.
Stay: Liren Walled House Lodge
Day 11 · Guanxi New Walled House & Yanyi Walled House
Longnan（Guanxi Walled House、Xichang Wei & Penggao Wei、Yanyi Wei）
Drive about 30 minutes from Liren to Guanxi, and another 30 minutes to Yanyi Walled House. Head to Longnan Railway Station in the afternoon for departure.
Some areas of the walled houses are private residences; do not enter private quarters without permission.