Lushan Xihai | When the morning mist rises, the boat sails through a painting, as if entering a peach blossom land | One of China’s Most Beautiful Lake and Mountain Sceneries

“Lushan Xihai Travel Guide | On the emerald waves of the Thousand-Island Pearl, seek a poetic dream shrouded in mist” --- > “It’s not Thousand Island Lake, yet it’s quieter than Thousand Island Lake; > It’s not in Zhejiang, but hidden in the folds of mountains in northwest Jiangxi; > This is **Lushan Xihai** — > a jade-green sea forgotten by time, > with over 1,600 islands scattered like stars, > when the morning mist rises, sailing feels like a painting, as if a peach blossom land.” **Lushan Xihai** (originally named “Zhelin Lake”) is located in the southwest of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, spanning between **Yongxiu County and Wuning County**, situated **west of Lushan Mountain**, hence the name “Xihai” (West Sea). It is a natural lake formed by the reservoir of Asia’s largest earth dam — **Zhelin Dam**, covering a total area of about **308 square kilometers** (equivalent to 9 West Lakes), with **over 1,600 islands** in the lake, known as “**one of China’s most beautiful lake and mountain sceneries**.” Here you can find: ✅ The spectacular lake view of thousands of islands scattered like stars ✅ The misty aesthetics of Lushan’s remaining mountain range ✅ The fusion of Yangtze River civilization and northern Jiangxi folk customs ✅ National 4A-level tourist attraction + National Forest Park ✅ A new landmark for water sports and ecological wellness It is the ideal escape for urban dwellers from the hustle and bustle, a long ink painting spread out on the land of northern Jiangxi. --- 🕰 Suitable for: - Photography lovers who enjoy lake and mountain scenery 📸 - Family trips (relaxed and easy) 👨‍👩‍👧 - Couples’ vacations (quiet and romantic) 💑 - Hiking/cycling enthusiasts (lake greenway) 🚴 - Culture and history fans (Zen Buddhism + ancient villages) 📜 🗓 Best travel time: | Season | Recommendation | Features | |--------|----------------|----------| | ✅ **Spring (March–May)** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Azaleas bloom, misty rain, rolling sea of clouds | | ✅ **Autumn (September–November)** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Clear skies, colorful forests, clear reflections | | ⚠️ **Summer (June–August)** | ⭐⭐⭐☆ | Good for escaping heat, but hot at noon with occasional thunderstorms | | ❌ **Winter (December–February)** | ⭐⭐⭐ | Cool and quiet, beautiful morning mist, but some activities closed | 🌅 Sunrise recommendation: **Phoenix Mountain Viewing Platform**, watch thousands of islands float in the sea of clouds 🌇 Sunset recommendation: **Sunshine 24-Hour Town Pier**, capture silhouettes with the evening glow --- 🚗 How to get there? Self-driving (recommended) - Navigation: “**Lushan Xihai Scenic Area Main Entrance**” or “Zhelin Town, Yongxiu County” - Route examples: - From Nanchang → Changjiu Expressway (G70) → Yongwu Expressway → Xihai Bridge → Zhelin Town - From Jiujiang → Xunyang West Road → Provincial Road S214 → arrive via Lushan’s western foothills - About 1.5 hours drive (from Nanchang) Public transportation - From Nanchang Xufang Bus Station / Jiujiang Bus Station → take a bus to “**Zhelin Town, Yongxiu County**” - Or take a high-speed train from Nanchang West Station to “**Yongxiu Station**,” then taxi about 40 minutes to the scenic area (¥80–100) --- 🎫 Tickets & Opening Hours | Item | Information | 🎟 Adult ticket price | ¥80 (includes boat ticket + core island combo) | | 🚤 Must-take boat | Round-trip shuttle connecting main islands | | 🕐 Opening hours | 08:00 – 17:30 (extended to 18:00 in peak season) | --- 🏞 Core highlights | Five unmissable mountain and water secrets 1. 【Thousand Islands Pearl | The Green Gem Necklace Scattered by God】💎 - Vast water area, islands scattered like stars, various shapes - Aerial view resembles a natural “A Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains” painting --- 2. 【Lujiao Peak Island | Climb to Overlook the Vast West Sea】⛰️ - Shaped like deer antlers stretching into the lake, one of the highest points in the lake area - Climbing requires hundreds of stone steps, but the view is unbeatable --- 3. 【Canghai Island · Lanhai Pavilion | Lakeside Pavilion Listening to the Wind】🏯 - The largest cultural island in the lake center, with a Song Dynasty-style pavilion “Lanhai Pavilion” - Climb the pavilion for a 360° panoramic view of Xihai 🚶 Cultural experience: - Listen to a northern Jiangxi folk song - Taste a cup of Lushan cloud mist tea - Copy a passage from “Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng” for calm and cultivation 📚 Historical echoes: - This place was once a rest stop for ancient merchants and travelers - Now recreates the Jiangnan garden style, creating a “Water Peach Blossom Land” --- 4. 【Sunshine 24-Hour Town | Modern Jianghu Utopia】🏡 - An art and cultural tourism town designed by a renowned design team - White walls and black tiles, waterside living, integrating bookstores, cafes, inns, and theaters ✨ Highlights: - Read a leisure book at the “**Island Library**” - Attend open-air movies or small concerts at night - Stay a night in a lake view room, open the window to see the starry river 🏨 Recommended accommodations: - “**Jijian · Lushan Xihai Homestay**”: minimalist design, highly private - “**Xihai Art Hotel**”: rich public spaces, suitable for socializing 💰 Price reference: ¥600–1200/night (higher on holidays) --- 5. 【Baiwan Fishing Village | Taste the Flavors of Xihai】🍽️ - An original ecological fishing village preserving traditional fishing skills - Experience net casting, fishing, and making dried fish 🐟 Must-try three fresh dishes: - **Steamed Qiaozui Bass**: tender meat, original flavor - **Silverfish Scrambled Eggs**: lake delicacy, melts in your mouth - **Zhelin Lake Bighead Carp Soup**: milky and rich, warming and nourishing 📍 Recommended restaurants: - “**Fishing Boat Singing at Dusk Farmhouse**”: popular with locals, affordable prices - “**Lakeside Pavilion Restaurant**”: excellent view, suitable for banquets --- 🛥 Special experiences | Five ways to unlock the beauty of Xihai |------|------|----------| | 🚤 **Boat sightseeing route** | Classic route: Visitor Center → Canghai Island → Lujiao Peak → Baiwan Fishing Village | First-time visitors | | 🛶 **Bamboo raft slow ride** | Paddle a bamboo raft between islands, closer to nature | Couples/photographers | | 🚴 **Lake greenway cycling** | About 50 km long, with rest stops along the way | Cycling enthusiasts | | 🎣 **Lakeside fishing** | Fishing allowed in designated areas with permit | Middle-aged and elderly leisure | | 🏕 **Starry sky camping** | Tent rentals available in town or partner campsites | Young groups/families | --- 🍽 Local food recommendations | Taste the fresh lake flavors of northern Jiangxi Besides the three lake fish treasures, there are these authentic flavors: | Name | Specialty | |------|----------| | **Yongxiu Fermented Tofu** | Fermented bean product, perfect with porridge | | **Wuning Stick Fish** | Small fish dried and fried crispy, fragrant and tasty | | **Aimi Fruit** | Spring seasonal green rice ball, fragrant and soft | | **Glutinous Rice Steamed Lotus Root** | Sweet but not greasy, suitable for all ages | --- **Linked travel recommendations**: - **Lushan Scenic Area** (1-hour drive): summer resort with rich cultural heritage - **Wucheng Ancient Town · Migratory Bird Town** (1.5 hours): view migratory birds at Poyang Lake in winter - **Jing’an Sanjiao Lun** (2 hours): forest oxygen bar, great for family rafting --- > Sitting for a while at Sunshine Town at dusk, > you suddenly understand: > what poetry really means, > is not verses or distant places, > but this quietly flowing lake water, > it remembers every paddle of returning boats, > and also remembers the moment you gently let go of your obsessions, > that moment of inner peace. --- I am Deepseek, a lover of landscapes who always believes “the true Jianghu is not in martial arts novels, but between this lake of a thousand islands and a single boat.” 🌿 Once in a lifetime, may you stand one morning at the highest point of Lujiao Peak, watching the mist slowly rise, islands appearing and disappearing, at that moment, you finally understand: the so-called peach blossom land is nothing more than — our willingness to pause, just to hear that echo from the heart of the lake. Lushan Xihai is silent, yet speaks the true meaning of Jianghu. In the heart of Jiangxi, there is a sea, not by the coast, yet with a thousand sails racing.