The Ultimate Lushan Budget Travel Guide!

⚠ Warning! Lushan is not friendly to those who don't plan ahead! Having just been humbled by the Sandiequan Waterfall hike, I've compiled this "legitimate money-saving guide" so even students can see the waterfall and explore the three main routes for free! (No fare evasion! Purely practical tips! Avoid common pitfalls!) 🎫 [Official Free Admission & Discount Guide] ✔ ID Discounts: Student ID / Teacher ID half price (80 yuan, purchase directly at the ticket window, completely legitimate!) ✔ Early Bird Benefits: Free admission to some attractions before 7am during morning exercise hours (e.g., Fairy Cave, Flower Path, officially permitted healthy activities🌿) ⚠ Legal Reminder: Say no to any illegal fare evasion! Follow park regulations and be a responsible tourist (see official ticket policy screenshot below👇) 🚶 [Legitimate Transportation Savings] ✓ Recommended Hiking Route: Take the No. 66 bus from Jiujiang Station (2 yuan) → Lianhuadong, then hike the official "Hero Slope" trail for 2 hours to the summit (safety signs along the way, legal hiking!) ✓ Optimizing Transportation within the Scenic Area: ▫ Shuttle Bus 90 yuan ❌: Walk 15 minutes from Guling Town directly to the core area (officially recommended walking route, enjoy the scenery and save money🚶) ▫ Hanpokou Cable Car 50 yuan ❌: Follow the official trail from "Taiyi Village" (20 minutes, a legitimate shortcut, save 50 yuan for souvenirs!) ▫ Sandiequan Waterfall Mini Train 80 yuan ❌: Hike the official trail from Five Old Men Peak → Sandiequan Waterfall (3 hours, stunning scenery along the way, the money saved is enough for a Stir-fried Stone Fish with Eggs!) 🌄 [2-Day Official Route (Scientifically Planned)] Day 1: West Route (Free Walking Tour) 📍 7:00 Flower Path (free during morning exercise hours, Bai Juyi's Thatched Cottage + Ruqin Lake) 📍 8:30 Fairy Cave (official trail, cliff carvings + plank road) 📍 10:00 Great Heavenly Pool (overlook the canyon from Dragon Head Cliff, official sightseeing route) 📍 14:00 Lushan Museum (free admission with ID) → Conference Site (exterior photos, listen in on official guided tours) 📍 16:00 Meilu Villa (exterior visit, legitimate photo spot) Day 2: Challenging East Route (Worth the Sore Legs!) 📍 5:30 Hanpokou (official Taiyi Village trail, free sunrise + Poyang Lake views) 📍 8:00 Five Old Men Peak (Peaks 1-4 are free, clear official signs) 📍 12:00 Sandiequan Waterfall (hike down, official waterfall viewing platform, a must-see during peak season!) 📍 15:00 Bailudong Academy (student ticket 20 yuan, experience the culture of a thousand-year-old academy) 🍜 [10 Yuan Meal Plan (Officially Recommended)] ▪ Stir-fried Dried Bamboo Shoots for 12 yuan at "Stone Bull Restaurant" on Guling Street (clearly marked prices, popular with locals) ▪ "Lushan Tofu Soup" 8 yuan/bowl (restaurants in the scenic area, fresh ingredients) ▪ "Cloud Mist Tea Cakes" 5 yuan/box at the supermarket (officially certified souvenir shop, half the price of those in the scenic area) ⚠ Avoid: "Stir-fried Stone Fish with Eggs" for 88 yuan in the scenic area ❌! Try it for 38 yuan at "Dalin Road Food Stalls" outside the town (clearly marked prices, legitimate consumption) 📸 [Official Photo Spots] ▫ Jinxiu Valley Cliff Plank Road (official safety railings, best lighting at 9am) ▫ Wulongtan Waterfall (official trail, streams even during the dry season) ▫ Lulin Lake Dam (official viewing platform, evening lake and mountain views) ▫ Wangjiang Pavilion (midway point on the official Hero Slope trail, overlooking the Yangtze River + terraced fields) ⚠ [Pitfall Avoidance Guide] ✓ Seasonal Recommendations: Peak season (Apr-Oct) for waterfalls, off-season (Nov-Mar) for cultural attractions (officially published best travel seasons📅) ✓ Equipment Reminder: Non-slip shoes (official stone-paved trails, safety first) + backpack (officially allowed to carry personal belongings) ✓ Cultural Respect: Donglin Temple is free to visit (official opening hours, observe religious etiquette) ✓ Time Management: Check the weather in advance for Hanpokou sunrise (official public account updates sunrise times daily🌅) 🌟 [Cultural Experiences] ▪ Jiujiang Station: Pipa Pavilion (Bai Juyi Memorial Hall, free admission) + Xunyang Tower (where Song Jiang wrote his rebellious poem, 20 yuan entrance fee) ▪ Lushan Station: Xilin Temple (inspiration for Su Shi's poem "Inscribed on the Wall at West Forest Temple", free admission) + Tao Yuanming Memorial Hall (learn about the culture of seclusion) ▪ Red Education: Lushan Conference Site (official ticket 25 yuan, learn about Party history, inherit the red spirit🇨🇳) 💡 [Money-Saving Formula] Free admission (save 160) + ID discounts (save 80) + Hiking (save 90) = 150 yuan per person to fully experience Lushan! 🚩 Code of Conduct for Civilized Tourism: ❶ Stick to official trails, avoid unmarked paths (safe and legal, protect the ecosystem) ❷ Do not touch cultural relics, dispose of trash properly (World Cultural Heritage needs our protection🌍) ❸ Spread accurate history: Sandiequan Waterfall is not from Li Bai's poems, promote real culture (see literary history materials📚)