Lushan West Sea Scenic Area is located in the southwest of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, spanning Yongxiu and Wuning counties. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national water conservancy scenic area, and a national key scenic area. The total area of the scenic area is 495 square kilometers, with a water area of 308 square kilometers. It consists of a large reservoir (Zhelin Lake) and a sacred place of Buddhist Zen culture (Yunju Mountain), featuring the core characteristics of "thousands of islands surrounded by greenery and a serene Zen charm". There are 1,667 islands distributed in the water area, with an average water depth of 45 meters and a visibility of 11 meters. It is the largest earth-rock dam reservoir in Asia, with water quality reaching national Class I standards. The scenic area integrates diverse landscapes such as lakes, islands, forests, karst caves, hot springs, and Buddhist culture, combining sightseeing, vacation, leisure and health preservation, religious pilgrimage, and water sports. It is known as the "Qiandao Lake of Jiangxi" and "the most beautiful lakes and mountains in China".
History and Culture
Lushan West Sea has a profound historical and cultural heritage, dating back to the Neolithic Age. Many Neolithic sites have been discovered around the lake area, with a large number of cultural relics such as pottery and stone tools unearthed, proving that ancestors lived here thousands of years ago.
Yunju Mountain, as the cultural core of the scenic area, is one of the birthplaces of the Caodong School of Buddhist Zen. Its Buddhist cultural history can be traced back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty. During the Yuanhe period of the Tang Dynasty, Daorong, a disciple of the eminent monk Mazu Daoyi, built a hut here to propagate Buddhism and founded the Yunju Mountain Buddhist temple. During the Dazhong Xiangfu period of the Northern Song Dynasty, Zhenru Temple was built, becoming an important Buddhist center in the Jiangnan region. It has produced many eminent monks in successive dynasties, such as Monk Foyin in the Song Dynasty and Monk Zhuanyu in the Ming Dynasty. Zhenru Temple, together with Tiantong Temple in Zhejiang and Lingyan Temple in Jiangsu, is known as "the three major model monasteries in the world". Its tradition of "valuing both farming and Zen practice" has continued to this day, exerting a profound influence on Chinese Buddhist culture.
Zhelin Reservoir in the lake area was built in 1958 and completed and impounded in 1972. It is an important water conservancy project after the founding of New China, embodying the wisdom and sweat of several generations of builders and forming a unique water conservancy culture. The submerged area of the reservoir was once the seat of the ancient Ai County, retaining a large number of historical relics and folk legends. Now, the story of the underwater ancient city adds a mysterious color to the scenic area.
Main Attractions
Zhelin Lake (Core Water Area)
Zhelin Lake is the main landscape of Lushan West Sea. There are 1,667 islands scattered in the 308-square-kilometer water area, like emeralds scattered in the lake. The main islands include Taohua Island, Peacock Island, Monkey Island, Crocodile Island, and Goddess Island, each with its own characteristics: Taohua Island is full of blooming peach blossoms in spring, where you can experience the fun of picking; Peacock Island is home to more than 100 peacocks, allowing you to watch the wonderful sight of peacocks spreading their tails; Goddess Island is themed on love culture, with landscapes such as concentric locks and wish pavilions. Tourists can take cruise ships or speedboats to shuttle between the islands, enjoying the beautiful scenery of "a lake of clear water and thousands of islands surrounded by greenery". They can also participate in water sports such as jet skiing, sailing, and kayaking, or fish and camp by the lake to experience the joy of getting close to water.
Zhenru Temple on Yunju Mountain
Zhenru Temple is located on the top of Yunju Mountain. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty, with a history of more than 1,200 years. It is a national key open temple and the ancestral home of the Caodong School of Buddhist Zen. The temple is located at the foot of Wulao Peak, surrounded by mountains and ancient trees, with a quiet environment. The temple preserves precious cultural relics such as a Tang Dynasty bronze Buddha, a Ming Dynasty Thousand-Buddha Pagoda, and Qing Dynasty inscriptions. The Thousand-Buddha Pagoda is 36 meters high, with 1,003 Buddha statues carved on its body, showing exquisite craftsmanship. Zhenru Temple is famous for "having no merit boxes" and "valuing both farming and Zen practice". The monks are self-sufficient and maintain a simple practice tradition. The temple has the morning bell and evening drum, and the incense is prosperous. It is an important place for believers to pilgrimage and for tourists to feel Zen culture. There are also Zen-like landscapes such as Mingyue Lake, Tanxin Stone, and Luohan Cave around it.
West Sea Hot Springs
West Sea Hot Springs are located in the east of the scenic area, in Yijiahe Village, Yongxiu County, and are a national-level hot spring resort. The outlet temperature of the hot springs is about 70℃, with a daily water output of 5,000 tons. They are rich in various minerals such as fluorine, metasilicic acid, and hydrogen sulfide, which have an auxiliary therapeutic effect on rheumatism, skin diseases, etc. The hot spring area has nearly 100 characteristic hot spring pools, such as traditional Chinese medicine pools, flower petal pools, parent-child pools, and dynamic hydrotherapy pools, distributed among the mountains, integrating natural landscapes with health preservation concepts. It is equipped with resort hotels, catering centers, fitness facilities, etc. Tourists can soak in hot springs, enjoy SPA, and experience a leisure and health-preserving trip here.
Jinkou Scenic Area
Jinkou Scenic Area is the east entrance of Lushan West Sea, featuring leisure vacation and water sports, covering an area of about 10 square kilometers. The scenic area has built facilities such as Jinkou Visitor Center, Xihai Star Glass Observation Tower, and Water World Theme Park. The Xihai Star Observation Tower is 99 meters high, being the highest viewing platform in the lake area. Climbing to the top, you can have a 360° view of the Qiandao Lake scenery. The Water World includes tsunami pools, rainbow slides, drift rivers, and other projects, suitable for family and parent-child play. In addition, Jinkou Scenic Area also has RV camps, camping bases, etc., providing tourists with diversified accommodation experiences.
West Sea Water World
West Sea Water World is located near Sima Wharf, a comprehensive water project area integrating water entertainment and leisure sightseeing. It has the largest water sports base in Jiangxi Province, offering exciting activities such as jet skiing, water flying, banana boating, and parasailing. At the same time, it is equipped with a lakeside bicycle lane and a lakeside boardwalk to meet the needs of different tourists. The surrounding area of the water world has complete supporting facilities, including characteristic restaurants and souvenir shops, making it a popular choice among young people and family tourists.
Food
West Sea Fish Head
West Sea Fish Head is a signature dish of Lushan West Sea, using the specialty bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) from the lake area, with tender meat and no earthy taste. It is mainly steamed or stewed in white soup. Steamed fish head retains the original flavor, with shredded ginger and chopped green onions to enhance the freshness; white soup fish head is simmered slowly with spring water, with a milky white soup color, fresh and mellow. This dish is a must-order in restaurants around the lake area. The price varies according to the size of the fish head, about 60-120 yuan per serving. It is more delicious when cooked with local tofu and radish, which can better reflect the freshness of the lake's seafood.
Wuning Gunzi Fish
Wuning Gunzi Fish is a characteristic freshwater fish in the Lushan West Sea basin, named for its slender body like a stick. It has firm meat and a delicious taste. Common cooking methods include deep-frying, braising in soy sauce, and pan-frying. Deep-fried Gunzi Fish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, being a good appetizer with wine; braised Gunzi Fish in soy sauce is rich in sauce flavor and fully flavored. This dish can be tasted in farm restaurants in Wuning County and around the scenic area, with a price of about 40-60 yuan per serving, and is one of the representatives of local food culture.
Yongxiu Aicheng Fried Noodles
Yongxiu Aicheng Fried Noodles is a traditional snack in Jiujiang area, commonly found in breakfast shops and restaurants around Lushan West Sea. It uses local indica rice noodles, which are blanched with boiling water, drained, and stir-fried quickly over high heat with ingredients such as eggs, bean sprouts, green vegetables, shredded pork, and chili peppers. The noodles are smooth and chewy, salty, fragrant, and slightly spicy. Aicheng Fried Noodles pay attention to "wok gas"; only when the heat is in place can they be fragrant. The price is about 8-15 yuan per serving, being a convenient choice for tourists to satisfy their hunger.
Scenic Area and Surrounding Catering
The pier service areas, island restaurants, and hot spring resorts in Lushan West Sea Scenic Area provide diversified catering services, mainly featuring lake seafood and farm dishes, such as steamed egg with whitebait, stewed chicken with stone ear, and reservoir shrimps, with an average consumption of about 50-80 yuan per person; the vegetarian canteens around Yunju Mountain offer vegetarian meals. The vegetarian meals at Zhenru Temple are made of tofu, vegetables, and mushrooms, being light and healthy, with an average of about 30 yuan per person; restaurants in Yongxiu and Wuning counties have more local characteristic dishes, such as braised bamboo shoots with bacon and glutinous rice chicken, with affordable prices, suitable for in-depth experience of local flavors.
Tickets
The ticket price is 85 yuan per person, and the boat ticket is 65 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "庐山西海" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
Zhelin Lake Scenic Area is open from 8:00 to 17:00 (April 1 - October 31) and from 8:30 to 16:30 (November 1 - March 31 of the next year). The last return time of the cruise ship is 16:30 (peak season) and 16:00 (off-season); Yunju Mountain Scenic Area is open from 8:00 to 17:30 (all year round); West Sea Hot Springs are open from 10:00 to 23:00 (all year round), and may be extended on holidays.
Tour Routes
One-Day Tour Route (Lake Scenery + Core Islands)
Starting from Sima Wharf, take a cruise ship to visit Taohua Island (experience picking and folk performances, about 1 hour), Peacock Island (watch peacocks and participate in interactive activities, about 40 minutes), and Goddess Island (climb to enjoy the scenery and visit love-themed attractions, about 1 hour) in sequence. Have lunch at the island restaurant at noon (about 1 hour). In the afternoon, go to Xihai Water World to experience jet skiing or lakeside cycling (about 2 hours), and then return to the wharf. The entire trip takes about 6-7 hours, which is suitable for first-time visitors with limited time.
Two-Day Tour Route (Lake Scenery + Zen Culture + Hot Springs)
Day 1: Visit the core islands of Zhelin Lake (the same route as above, about 6 hours), go to West Sea Hot Spring Resort in the evening, soak in hot springs and have dinner (about 3 hours), and stay in a hot spring hotel; Day 2: Go to Yunju Mountain in the morning, visit Zhenru Temple (feel Zen culture and experience vegetarian meals, about 3 hours), visit landscapes such as Mingyue Lake and Wulao Peak (about 2 hours), and return in the afternoon. The whole journey allows in-depth experience of the diverse characteristics of the scenic area, suitable for leisure vacation tourists.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Nanchang, take Changjiu Expressway to Junshan Hub and transfer to Yongwu Expressway, then get off at Meitang, Zhelin or Wuning Exit, with a driving time of about 1.5 hours; starting from Jiujiang, take Changjiu Expressway and transfer to Yongwu Expressway, with a driving time of about 1.5 hours; starting from Wuhan, take Wuhuang Expressway and transfer to Daguang Expressway, then transfer to Yongwu Expressway, with a driving time of about 3 hours. All piers and service areas in the scenic area have parking lots, with a charging standard of 5 yuan per hour for small cars, capped at 30 yuan per day.
- High-speed rail/train: Take the high-speed rail to Yongxiu Station, and after exiting the station, transfer to the scenic area direct bus to Zhelin Lake Sima Wharf, with a driving time of about 40 minutes, a fare of 20 yuan per person, and departure times at 9:00, 11:00, and 14:00; or take the train to Jiujiang Station, transfer to the bus from Jiujiang to Wuning, and get off at Zhelin Lake Scenic Area, with a driving time of about 1.5 hours and a fare of 30 yuan per person.
- Tourist special line: There are tourist special lines directly to Lushan West Sea Scenic Area from Nanchang Changbei International Airport and Jiujiang Bus Station, with 3-4 departures per day, a driving time of about 2 hours, and a fare of 50-60 yuan per person. Specific schedules can be inquired through the scenic area's official website.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Thousand Islands Scenery of Zhelin Lake: 1,667 islands are distributed in 308 square kilometers of water area. Taking a boat to shuttle between them, you can enjoy the beautiful lake scenery of "the boat sailing in the water and people sitting in the painting", which is a landmark landscape of the scenic area.
- Zhenru Temple on Yunju Mountain: A thousand-year-old temple, the ancestral home of the Caodong School, a place to experience the Buddhist culture of "valuing both farming and Zen practice", with quiet mountains and waters around, suitable for meditation and praying.
- West Sea Hot Springs: 70℃ natural hot springs with nearly 100 characteristic hot spring pools, combining lake scenery with health preservation concepts, being an excellent choice for leisure and relaxation.
Travel Suggestions
- The best tourist seasons are April-May (when flowers are in full bloom) and September-October (when the weather is clear and crisp). At this time, the weather is pleasant and the lake scenery is the most beautiful; pay attention to sun protection in summer and you can participate in more water projects; soaking in hot springs is a popular choice in winter.
- When taking a cruise to visit, it is recommended to choose a window seat to facilitate viewing the lake scenery and taking photos; tourists who are prone to seasickness can take seasickness medicine in advance, and the scenic area's cruise ships are equipped with ventilation facilities.
- It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes when going to Yunju Mountain. Some sections in the mountain area require walking, and the temperature difference between morning and evening is large, so you can bring a thin coat; when visiting Zhenru Temple, you need to abide by the temple etiquette, not make noise, and not touch the Buddha statues at will.
- Tourists planning to experience water projects can prepare replacement clothes and waterproof bags (to protect mobile phones and other items) in advance. These items are also sold in the scenic area, but the price is higher.
Notes
- The water area of Zhelin Lake is relatively deep. When playing, you must abide by safety regulations, do not swim in the water without permission, follow the coach's instructions when participating in water projects, and wear life jackets.
- Take good care of the ecological environment, do not throw garbage into the lake, do not pick plants on the islands. The scenic area implements "trace-free tourism" management, and violators may be fined.
- Transportation between the scenic area's islands depends on cruise ships. You must strictly abide by the cruise ship departure time. Missing the last ship may lead to detention. It is recommended to confirm the time with the tour guide or wharf staff in advance.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some areas of Yunju Mountain. It is recommended to keep close to fellow travelers to avoid getting separated; there are emergency help points in the scenic area, and you can contact the staff in case of emergency.
- Restaurants around the lake area mainly serve freshwater seafood from the lake. It is recommended to confirm the prices and freshness of ingredients before consuming, and choose regular catering establishments to avoid consumption disputes.