Mount Lu (Lushan National Park) - World Heritage Site

A Promised Land of Natural Scenery

Covering an area of about 2820 square kilometers, Mount Lu (Lushan) is renowned for its majesty. It was designated as a World Geopark due to its outstanding natural beauty, including Cascading waterfalls, deep valleys, crystal lakes, and diverse plants.

A Cradle of Modern Chinese History

Apart from the striking landscape, the rich cultural and historical resources also give tourists a surprise. The area is home to numerous historical sites, including temples, pagodas, and gardens, reflecting the influence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Tourists can learn about Chinese revolutionary history and religious culture just in this scenic area.

A Cooling Resort of Summer

On the mountaintop lies a village with a cluster of villas, making it a famous summer resort in China. The mountains in Mount Lu Scenic Area are all at an elevation of over 1000 meters, with the highest peak - Hanyang Peak of 1474 above the sea. The average temperature in summer is about 22℃, which is very suitable for summer vacation.

A Treasure Trove of Poetry

Mount Lu enjoys a high reputation among Chinese ancient writers. Since the Jin Dynasty, about 1,500 literati, philosophers, politicians, artists, and scientists have left more than 4,000 poems celebrating the natural beauty of Mount Lu. Many of these poems are masterpieces in the history of Chinese literature. Almost every Chinese can recite Li Bai’s The Waterfall in Mount Lu Viewed from Afar and Su Shi’s Written on the Wall at West Forest.

望庐山瀑布 李白

日照香炉生紫烟，遥看瀑布挂前川。
飞流直下三千尺，疑是银河落九天。

Mount Lu (Lushan) boasts 22 waterfalls which are all awe-inspiration. The most famous one is Three Tiled Waterfall, which is known as the “top wonder in Mount Lu”. It drops about 155 meters from Five Old Men Peaks, forming three steps due to the rugged terrain. It cannot be said that one who does not visit Three Tiled Waterfall ever reaches Mount Lu.

Three Tiled Waterfall has different sceneries in four seasons. The water volume is large in late spring and early summer, which is the best time to admire the grandeur of Three Tiled Waterfall. Tourists can see the waterfall flowing straight down, resembling an angry dragon flying down from the sky. This has been one of the best prototypes of waterfalls in traditional Chinese landscape paintings!

Five Old Men Peaks is named after its distinctive appearance, which resembles five elderly figures. Standing at an elevation of approximately 1436 meters, the five peaks seem to touch the sky. Among the five peaks, the third peak is the steepest and the fourth peak is the highest. The area is covered with dense forests and lush vegetation, offering a habitat for a variety of wildlife species.

The peak shows various postures appreciating from different angles, some like a poet chanting, some like a fisherman fishing, and some like an old monk sitting in meditation. Its magnificence prompted the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai (701-762 A.D.) to write poems in praise of it, which are still popular today.

Established in 1934 by Hu Xiansu (胡先骕), Qin Renchang (秦仁昌), and Chen Fenghuai (陈封怀), Lushan Botanical Garden is the first scientific botanical garden in China. It serves as a valuable resource for plant research and education. It features several distinct zones, including tropical and subtropical sections. Spanning over 300 hectares, this garden has 17 special parks and owns over 7000 species of plants with over 600 rare plants, making it a sanctuary of biodiversity and a living museum of plants.

Heading to Lushan Botanical Garden, tourists will have an unforgettable memory of meeting rare plants.

White Deer Cave Academy is one of the top four ancient academies in China and is considered one of the cradles of Chinese culture. The academy was founded in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and has a history spanning over a thousand years. The academy has produced many famous scholars, poets, and officials over the centuries. It is a gathering venue for intellectuals to exchange thoughts and knowledge, playing a crucial role in promoting Confucian values and ethics.

The layout of White Deer Cave Academy is elaborate which represents a typical courtyard, showing symmetry and solemnity. The building materials are mainly stone and wood with elegant quality. The academy not only houses a lecture hall and library for study but also dormitories for students’ living.

While traveling to these unmissable attractions, you also can get some special experiences if you come just in time.

If the weather is clean, tourists can get up early to see the sunrise. If it is misty, tourists will get the chance to be shrouded in the sea of clouds. There are several great places to appreciate the sceneries, including the Hanpo Pass, Five Old Men Peaks, Small Tianchi, and Hanyang Peak.

The maple trees are widely distributed on Mount Lu. During the autumn, the red maple landscape captivates myriad tourists to take striking photos. When hiking along the pathway to Three Tiled Waterfall, strolling around the Ruqin Lake, or wandering in the Lushan Botanical Garden, red maples are always greeting to tourists during the lovely autumn.

Ruqin Lake – Flower Path – Brocade Valley (锦绣谷)– Big Tianchi – Dragon Head Cliff (龙首崖)– Yellow Dragon Pool (黄龙潭)– Sanbao Trees (三宝树)

It is the most relaxing route that all travelers can choose.

Eastern Route-Challenging Hike

Hanpo Pass – Five Old Men Peaks – Three Tiled Waterfall – Lushan Botanical Garden - Lulin Lake

It is the most challenging route, suitable for experienced hikers. There is no cable car to Five Old Men Peaks. If tourists want to overlook the peaks, they are supposed to hike the trail. For Three Tiled Waterfall, tourists need to step over almost 3,000 steps to meet this breathtaking waterfall if they don’t choose a cable car.

Warm Tip: Winter is not suitable for hiking since the trail will be slippery and the weather will be cold and unpredictable.

By Flight

There are no international flights to Jiujiang Lushan Airport directly. Tourists can fly to popular cities in China first and then fly to Jiujiang, like Beijing (about 3 hours), Shanghai (about 2 hours), Xi’an (about 2 hours), Chengdu (about 2 hours), etc.

By Train

Jiujiang Railway Station and Lushan Railway Station are two major railway stations near Mount Lu, tourists can travel from larger cities like Beijing (about 5-11 hours), Shanghai (about 5 hours), Shenzhen (about 5-11 hours), Guangzhou (about 5 hours), Nanchang (about 1 hour), etc., or from nearby tourist destinations like Huangshan (about 2 hours) and Jingdezhen (about 1 hour).

By Cruise

Located alongside the Yangtze River, one special way to reach Jiujiang and visit Mount Lu is by cruise. Well connected to major cities like Wuhan, Chongqing, Nanjing, and Shanghai, Jiujiang is an essential stop along the panoramic Yangtze River Cruise routes (Chongqing-Shanghai, Chongqing-Nanjing) and the Wuhan-Nanjing Cruise Line. This means that in addition to train and air travel, you have the option of a more relaxed and worry-free travel experience. Check more about the cruise tours, ships and their detailed arrangements below:

11-12 Days Chongqing-Shanghai (Shanghai-Chongqing) Yangtze River Cruise, Offered by Century Legend, learn more about the cruise >>

10 Days Chongqing-Nanjing (Nanjing-Chongqing) Yangtze River Cruise, Offered by Yangtze 2, learn more about the cruise >>

4 Days Wuhan-Nanjing (Nanjing-Wuhan) Yangtze River Cruise, Offered by Yangtze 2, learn more about the cruise >>

Entrance Fee: 160 CNY/person

The entrance ticket is valid for 7 days including the fees for the core scenic area of Mount Lu, Jade Dragon Pool, White Deer Cave Academy, Three Tiled Waterfall, Guanyin, Xiu Peak, Taohuayuan, Mawei Water, Lotus Cave Forest Park, Tianhe Valley, Dakou Waterfall.

Cable Car Fee :

Lushan Cableway:120 CNY/Person, Round-trip Ticket

Hanpo Pass Cableway: 50 CNY/Person, Round-trip Ticket

Three Tiled Waterfall Cableway: 80 CNY/Person, Round-trip Ticket

Please note that the running time of the cableway is 7:30~20:30 between May and October and 7:30~18:30 between November and April.

Sightseeing Bus : 70 CNY/Person; 90 CNY/Person (Ascending to and descending from the mountain fee included)

It is valid for 7 days and unlimited travel

Mount Lu has a subtropical monsoon climate, which features four distinct seasons. Summer is humid and warm, while winter is cold and dry. Spring and autumn have pleasant weather with more sunny and cool days. It’s hard to say the best time to visit Mount Lu, tourists can travel to Mount Lu all year round. It largely depends on what you want to experience and your interests.

In Spring, plants are sprouting and flowers are blooming, especially in Flower Path. Tourists are also recommended to visit historical and cultural sites like White Deer Cave Academy and Meilu Villa. Waterfalls will gradually become majestic in late spring as the rainfall increases. One good news in spring is that admission is free in March for domestic and international tourists.

In summer (July to Aug.), it’s rainy and warm on the mountain. The rain provides a large water volume to waterfalls so that tourists can appreciate the majestic waterfalls plummeting down from the tall mountains. The relatively high altitude (all mountains are over 1000 meters) creates a favorable environment to avoid the summer heat.

Autumn (Sep. to Nov.) is also a popular season travel to Mount Lu but it will be less crowded than in summer. It’s a great time to hike with friends on Mount Lu, breathe the fresh air, and admire the red maple.

Winter is the slack season. The lack of crowds makes it easier to meet the tranquility of Mount Lu. The highlight part of a winter visit to Mount Lu is to see the mountain covered in a blanket of snow. With its snowy landscape, it is worth it to take some beautiful photos to memorize the dreamy white fairyland.

If you would like to spend 2 to 3 days on Mount Lu, the most recommended place to stay is Guling Village, which is just on the mountaintop of Mount Lu. It will be time-saving since tourists don’t bother to go back and forth to Guling Village on different days.

There is a wide array of hotels in Guling Village, varying from 3-star to 5-star hotels. Most hotels are equipped with tea rooms where tourists can take a sip of Lushan cloud tea after a day of exploring. Some homestays are also ideal accommodations equipped with mountain-viewing rooms.

If you do not only favor beautiful natural landscapes but also are interested in historical sites, 2 days is suitable for a Mount Lu tour. Day-by-day itinerary can be customized by our professional travel consultant based on personal interests, time, budget, etc.

On Day 1, you can tour the western route, roaming Flower Path to admire the diversity of plants, walking to the Immortal Cave to listen to a Chinese legend, and watching the sunset in Small Tianchi.

On Day 2, tourists can focus on attractions along the eastern route. If tourists get up early, it is a good chance to admire the sunrise on Hanpo Pass. Lushan Botanical Garden will be the next destination since it is not far (walk about 15 minutes) from Hanpo Pass. Tourists can choose to hike Five Old Men Peaks or Three Tiled Waterfall according to their interests. It will be challenging and tiring to visit both attractions. In the afternoon, historical and cultural sites will be the highlights. Tourists will meet modern Chinese history at Meilu Villa and Lushan Conference Site.

You can also choose from our Top 3 Mount Lu Hiking Tour for inspiration!