3-Day 2-Night Poetic Journey Through the Misty Lushan Mountains

A mist-shrouded mountain town, the cascading Sandie Spring, the picturesque sunrise at Hanpokou, the international architecture of Guling Street, and the "three-thousand-foot waterfall" described by Li Bai—this 3-day trip will take you into the "most spectacular mountain under heaven," a summer retreat where you can find a refreshing and poetic encounter amidst sea of clouds and pine waves. 📍 Destination: Lushan Mountain, Jiujiang, Jiangxi (UNESCO World Heritage Site) 📅 Duration: 3 days, 2 nights 💰 Total Budget: Approximately ¥2,780/person (including round-trip transportation) 🎯 Keywords: Summer retreat | Sea of clouds sunrise | Cultural mountain | Natural wonder | Great value ✅ Detailed Budget (per person) | Item | Cost (¥) | Description | 🚄 Round-trip transportation | 600 | High-speed rail to Jiujiang Station (Beijing→Jiujiang: 6h/¥450; Shanghai→Jiujiang: 4h/¥280; Guangzhou→Jiujiang: 6.5h/¥580; Hangzhou→Jiujiang: 3.5h/¥260) | 🚌 Mountain transportation | 220 | Lushan scenic area entrance ticket + sightseeing bus pass (¥160 + ¥60, valid for 7 days, all-inclusive) | 🏨 Accommodation (2 nights) | 800 | Boutique guesthouse or comfortable hotel in Guling Town (¥400/night), with mountain views | 🍜 Meals | 600 | ¥200/day, including Lushan stone frog, stone ear, misty tea, and farmhouse dishes | 🎫 Tickets + Experiences | 360 | Sandie Spring ticket ¥65 + one-way cable car ¥80 (optional) + Five Old Peaks free + Meilu Villa ¥25 + Lushan Museum free | 🚐 Local transportation | 80 | Taxi from Jiujiang Station to Lushan transfer hub + mainly walking on the mountain | 🎁 Souvenirs/Emergency | 120 | Lushan misty tea, stone ear, bamboo crafts, postcards, etc. | Total | ≈¥2,780 | Fully controlled under ¥2,800! | 🗓 Itinerary: Relaxed pace · Misty walks · High photo potential 🏞️ Day 1: Arrive in Jiujiang + Check-in + Guling Street night views + Hanpokou sunset - Morning/Noon: Arrive at Jiujiang Station by high-speed rail - Take a taxi to Jiujiang Lushan Transfer Center (15 mins, ¥30) - Purchase scenic area ticket + sightseeing bus pass (¥220, valid for 7 days) - Take the sightseeing bus up the mountain (~40 mins) to Guling Town - 🏡 Recommended accommodations: - Songmen Villa · Artsy Guesthouse | Renovated century-old building, vintage charm - Or Lushan Hotel | State-run classic, central location - Or Yunmanli Mountain Retreat | Modern design, sea of clouds views - Price: ~¥400/night - 🌅 Afternoon: Stroll Guling Street - Lushan's "mountain town," with cobblestone paths, cafes, bookstores, and post office - Highlights: - Lushan Post Office (send a postcard from the sea of clouds) - International Architecture Cluster (old villas in British, German, and Russian styles) - "Flying Stone" legend - 🌄 Evening: Head to Hanpokou for sunset (direct sightseeing bus) - Altitude: 1,286m, overlooking Poyang Lake and Five Old Peaks - At sunset, the sea of clouds rolls, creating a picturesque scene 🌅 - If weather permits, return at dawn (5:30-6:00) for sunrise - 🍽 Dinner: "Old Street Restaurant" or "Cloud Guest" in Guling Street - Must-try: - Lushan stone frog (actually a type of frog, tender meat) - Stone ear scrambled eggs - Misty tea stir-fried bamboo shoots - Chicken stew with yam - Average: ¥80/person - 🌙 Night: Walk Guling Street, sip "Lushan misty tea" 🍵, and fall asleep to the sound of pine waves 🌊 Day 2: Sandie Spring Waterfall + Five Old Peaks sea of clouds + Meilu Villa exploration Lushan's most iconic natural and cultural journey - 🌞 Morning: Challenge Sandie Spring ("No visit to Lushan is complete without Sandie Spring") - Take the sightseeing bus to Five Old Peaks Station → Walk or take the cable car down (one-way ¥80, saves energy) - After the cable car, walk ~30 mins to the waterfall base - 🎫 Ticket: ¥65 (included in scenic area pass) - Highlight: Inspiration for Li Bai's "three-thousand-foot waterfall" - Three-tiered waterfall cascades down, with refreshing mist - Stand directly under the waterfall to feel the "Milky Way falling from the sky" - 🍱 Lunch: Packed snacks or simple meals at the cable car station - Bring bread, energy bars, and hot tea - 🌄 Afternoon: Hike Five Old Peaks (free, accessible by sightseeing bus) - Five peaks resembling seated elders, majestic and grand - Fourth peak offers the best view, overlooking Lushan's peaks - If clouds roll in, it's like a fairyland ☁️ - 🏛️ Evening: Visit Meilu Villa (¥25) - Former residence of Chiang Kai-shek, blending Chinese and Western architecture - Serene gardens, ivy-covered walls, rich in history - 🍜 Dinner: Guesthouse meal or "Lushan Flavors" in Guling Street - Average: ¥70/person 🏔️ Day 3: Lushan Museum + Lulin Villa + Return trip Experience Lushan's cultural heritage and historical echoes - 🌅 Dawn (optional): Return to Hanpokou for sunrise - If clouds were absent the previous day, arrive before 6:00 for a better chance - 🏛️ Morning: Visit Lushan Museum (free, reservation required) - Former "Lushan Conference Site," showcasing modern history - Detailed exhibits, ideal for history lovers - 🏡 Explore Lulin Villa + Lulin Lake - Free entry, emerald lake mirroring the mountains - Lakeside walkway offers stunning photo ops 📸 - ☕ Stop by: Old Villa District near the cinema + Huajing Park - Bai Juyi once wrote here: "Flowers fade in the human world in April, but temple peach blossoms bloom on the mountain." - 🍽 Lunch: "Stone Ear Noodle Shop" or self-service meals in Guling Street - Recommended: Stone ear chicken noodles, misty tea eggs - Average: ¥50/person - 🎒 Before checkout: Buy souvenirs - Recommendations: - Lushan misty tea (fragrant green tea, great for elders) - Stone ear (wild fungus, perfect for soups) - Bamboo baskets, postcards, handwritten blessing cards - 🚌 Noon: Take the sightseeing bus down → Taxi to Jiujiang Station → Return trip 📌 (Tips to Avoid Pitfalls) 1. 🌤️ Weather determines the sea of clouds! Hanpokou and Five Old Peaks are foggy at dawn; best after rain. 2. 👟 Expect ~15,000 steps/day. Sandie Spring path is steep—wear anti-slip shoes. 3. 📸 Top photo spots: - Hanpokou sunrise/sunset - Sandie Spring waterfall from below - Five Old Peaks sea of clouds panorama - Meilu Villa ivy walls - Lulin Lake reflections - Guling Street night cobblestones 4. 🍽 Dining notes: - Lushan "stone chicken" is actually a frog, similar to bullfrog. - Taste misty tea before buying; avoid overpriced low-quality tea in scenic areas. 5. 🚐 Transport tips: - Sightseeing buses cover all spots; no need for taxis. - For Sandie Spring, take the cable car down and walk up to save energy. 6. 💡 Cultural tidbits: - Lushan is a "microcosm of modern Chinese history," visited by many famous figures. - Poets like Bai Juyi, Li Bai, and Su Shi left masterpieces here. 📷 Final thoughts: Lushan isn’t just a mountain—it’s poetry floating in the mist. With its pine waves, waterfalls, ivy-covered villas, and Hanpokou sunrises, it reminds us that some views belong only to those willing to climb. For less than ¥2,800, you can enjoy a refreshing, culturally immersive, and poetic summer escape.