Sanbai Mountain Scenic Area is located in Anyuan County, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, a national key scenic area, a national forest park, and one of the first national ecological education demonstration bases for protecting the mother river. The total area of the scenic area is 197 square kilometers, with a core area of 58 square kilometers, consisting of five major scenic spots: Fu'ao Pond, Jiuqu Stream, Dongfeng Lake, Yangtian Lake, and Santie Pond. Sanbai Mountain is the source of the Dongjiang River, known as "the Source of Dongjiang River". It features "primeval forests, canyon waterfalls, alpine lakes, and volcanic landforms". The forest coverage rate reaches 98%, and the negative ion content in the air is as high as 70,000 per cubic centimeter, making it a natural "oxygen bar". The scenic area is home to 271 families and 1,039 species of plants, and over 400 species of wild animals, including national first-class protected animals such as clouded leopards and golden leopards. With an extremely superior ecological environment, it is a comprehensive scenic area integrating ecological sightseeing, leisure vacation, popular science education, and root-seeking.
Historical Culture
The historical culture of Sanbai Mountain is closely linked to Hakka culture, and it is one of the important birthplaces of the Hakka people. As early as the Neolithic Age, ancestors lived here. The ancient village sites and Hakka enclosed houses found in the scenic area have witnessed the migration and development of the Hakka ancestors.
As an important water source for Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region, the Dongjiang River, with Sanbai Mountain as its source, carries the profound emotion of "remembering the source while drinking water". In the 1990s, to commemorate Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the "Siyuan Baoding (Source-remembering Tripod)" was built in Sanbai Mountain, symbolizing the blood connection between Jiangxi and Hong Kong and serving as a witness to the cooperation and friendship between the two places.
The ancient post roads in the scenic area were important passages for the southward migration of Hakka ancestors in history, retaining many relics such as cliff carvings, ancient bridges, and post stations. Among them, the "Jiuqu Stream Ancient Post Road" is about 5 kilometers long, paved with bluestones, with tea pavilions, beacon towers and other facilities along the way, which is important material for studying the Hakka migration history and ancient transportation. In addition, the local Hakka folk culture is rich, such as Hakka folk songs, tea-picking operas, and Hakka wedding customs, which are still inherited and developed, becoming an important part of Sanbai Mountain's cultural landscape.
Main Attractions
Fu'ao Pond
Fu'ao Pond is the core scenic spot of Sanbai Mountain and the source of the Dongjiang River, covering an area of about 3 square kilometers. There is a natural lake here, with an altitude of 650 meters and a water area of about 100 mu. The lake water is clear to the bottom, surrounded by mountains and dense forests. There is a small island in the lake, shaped like an aojiao (a mythical turtle-like animal), hence the name "Fu'ao Pond". The "Siyuan Baoding" by the lake is 6.68 meters high and weighs 9.9 tons, cast in bronze, with the four characters "Yinshui Siyuan (Remember the source while drinking water)" carved on its body, which is a landmark of the scenic area. Walking down the plank road from Fu'ao Pond, you can enjoy the "First Waterfall of Dongjiang River" - Fu'ao Pond Waterfall. The waterfall is nearly 120 meters high and about 20 meters wide, with water pouring down from the cliffs, magnificent and misty, making it one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Sanbai Mountain.
Jiuqu Stream
Jiuqu Stream Scenic Area is characterized by canyon scenery and stream landscapes, with a total length of about 10 kilometers. It gets its name because the stream winds like nine bends. On both sides of the stream are steep cliffs, towering ancient trees, and tangled vines, forming natural landscapes such as "Yixiantian (A Ray of Sky)" and "Sandiequan (Three-tiered Spring)". There are many deep pools along the way, such as "Longtan (Dragon Pool)" and "Yuanyangtan (Mandarin Duck Pool)", with green and clear water. Tourists can take bamboo rafts to drift, experiencing the joy of "boats floating on the water, people sitting in the painting". The Jiuqu Stream Ancient Post Road is built along the stream, which is the most concentrated area of historical and cultural relics in the scenic area. Walking here, tourists can feel the integration of Hakka culture and natural landscapes.
Dongfeng Lake
Dongfeng Lake is an artificial lake built in 1972, covering a water area of 11 square kilometers with a water storage capacity of 115 million cubic meters. There are 37 islands in the lake, scattered in an orderly manner, and the lakeshore is winding and tortuous, stretching for more than 40 kilometers. The scenic area has a cruise terminal, where tourists can take cruise ships to enjoy the lake scenery and appreciate the magnificent view of "a smooth lake formed in high gorges". Around the lakeshore, there are peak formations resembling "Guanyin Sending a Child" and "Divine Turtle Probing Water", which are vivid and lifelike. The "General Rock" by the lake is about 50 meters high, shaped like a general in armor, guarding the peace of Dongfeng Lake, and is one of the landmark landscapes of Dongfeng Lake.
Yangtian Lake
Yangtian Lake is located near the main peak of Sanbai Mountain, at an altitude of 1,169 meters. It is an alpine lake with an area of about 40 mu, named because the lake surface is so open that when you look up at the sky, the lake surface and the sky merge into one. Around the lake are alpine meadows and primeval forests, with green grass in summer and snow-covered in winter, showing different scenery in four seasons. Yangtian Lake is an excellent place to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds. In the early morning, the lake surface is misty, and the distant mountains loom in the sea of clouds, like a fairyland. There are viewing platforms and camping bases by the lake, where tourists can camp and have picnics, experiencing the fun of alpine leisure.
Santie Pond
Santie Pond Scenic Area is mainly characterized by waterfalls and pond landscapes, named because there are three-tiered waterfalls and three deep pools connected. The first-tier waterfall is about 30 meters high, and the water impact forms "Qinglongtan (Green Dragon Pool)"; the second-tier waterfall is about 20 meters high, corresponding to "Bailongtan (White Dragon Pool)"; the third-tier waterfall is about 15 meters high, forming "Wulongtan (Black Dragon Pool)". The total drop of the three-tiered waterfalls is about 65 meters, with clear water and deep pools, surrounded by green trees and a quiet environment. The plank road in the scenic area is built along the waterfalls and pools, allowing tourists to watch the waterfall beauty up close and feel the magic of nature.
Food
Anyuan Sanxian Noodles
Anyuan Sanxian Noodles are the most representative local specialty snacks, with rice noodles as the main ingredient, paired with three fresh ingredients: lean meat, pig liver, and small intestines, hence the name "Sanxian Noodles". The rice noodles are made of local indica rice, with a smooth and chewy taste; the soup is simmered slowly with pig bones, fresh and rich; adding chopped green onions, chili and other seasonings, the taste is delicious. It can be tasted in breakfast shops in Anyuan County and around Sanbai Mountain Scenic Area, with a price of about 8-15 yuan per bowl, and is a must-try food for tourists to experience local flavors.
Hakka Stuffed Tofu
Hakka Stuffed Tofu is a traditional Hakka famous dish and a common dish in restaurants around Sanbai Mountain. It uses local tender tofu, cut into small pieces, hollowed out in the middle, filled with fillings made of minced pork, mushrooms, green onions, ginger, etc., then fried until golden on both sides, and stewed with soy sauce, oyster sauce and other seasonings. Stuffed tofu is fragrant outside and tender inside, with delicious fillings, reflecting the characteristics of Hakka cuisine "fresh, fragrant, and salty". The price is about 30-40 yuan per serving, and it is a typical representative of Hakka food culture.
Sanbai Mountain Bacon
Sanbai Mountain Bacon is made of local farm-raised pork through traditional processes such as pickling, drying, and smoking. The bacon is bright red in color, firm in texture, salty and fragrant, and not greasy. It can be steamed or stir-fried. Common practices include bacon stir-fried with winter bamboo shoots and bacon steamed with taro. It can be tasted in farm restaurants around the scenic area, with a price of about 50-70 yuan per serving. It is a local traditional winter food and an important dish at Hakka banquets.
Scenic Area and Surrounding Catering
The tourist center and various attraction service areas in Sanbai Mountain Scenic Area have catering points, providing simple meals, stir-fries, snacks, etc., mainly Hakka dishes and home-cooked dishes, such as steamed fish, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and native chicken soup, with an average consumption of about 40-60 yuan per person; restaurants in Anyuan County have more local specialty dishes, such as Anyuan navel orange cake, Hakka stuffed three treasures, and Huangyuan rice cake, with an average consumption of about 30-50 yuan per person; farmhouses around the scenic area can provide farm dishes, with ingredients mostly local self-produced vegetables, poultry, etc., fresh and natural, with an average consumption of about 50-80 yuan per person. Some farmhouses also provide self-service barbecue and other services.
Tickets
Package ticket: 150 yuan per person (including admission ticket and cable car).
You can search for the official WeChat public account "安远三百山景区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
Opening hours are 8:00-17:30 (April 1 - October 31); 8:30-17:00 (November 1 - March 31 of the next year). The operating hours of the sightseeing buses in the scenic area are the same as the opening hours of the scenic area. The last return time of the sightseeing bus is 17:30 (peak season) and 17:00 (off-season).
Tour Routes
One-Day Tour Route (Core Attractions)
Starting from the scenic area's tourist center, take a sightseeing bus to Fu'ao Pond Scenic Area (about 20 minutes), visit Fu'ao Pond, Siyuan Baoding, and Fu'ao Pond Waterfall (about 2 hours); then take a sightseeing bus to Jiuqu Stream Scenic Area, take a bamboo raft drift (about 1.5 hours), and walk along the Jiuqu Stream Ancient Post Road (about 1 hour); have lunch at Jiuqu Stream Restaurant at noon (about 1 hour); in the afternoon, take a sightseeing bus to Santie Pond Scenic Area, visit the three-tiered waterfalls and deep pools (about 1.5 hours), and finally return to the tourist center. The whole journey takes about 7-8 hours, suitable for tourists with limited time who want to visit core attractions.
Two-Day Tour Route (In-depth Experience)
Day 1: Visit Fu'ao Pond Scenic Area and Jiuqu Stream Scenic Area (same route as above, about 6 hours), go to Dongfeng Lake Scenic Area in the evening, take a cruise to enjoy the lake scenery (about 1.5 hours), and stay in a homestay around Dongfeng Lake; Day 2: Take a sightseeing bus to Yangtian Lake Scenic Area in the morning, enjoy the alpine lake scenery, watch the sunrise (if weather conditions permit), and hike on the meadow (about 2.5 hours), have lunch at Yangtian Lake Service Area at noon (about 1 hour); visit Santie Pond Scenic Area in the afternoon (about 1.5 hours), then return. The whole journey allows a comprehensive experience of the diverse landscapes of the scenic area, suitable for leisure vacation tourists.
Transportation
- Self-driving: Starting from Ganzhou, take Xiamen-Chengdu Expressway to Ganzhou East Hub, transfer to Jinan-Ganzhou Expressway, then transfer to Xunwu-Quannan Expressway, get off at Anyuan Exit, and go to Sanbai Mountain Scenic Area along S223 Provincial Road, with a driving time of about 2.5 hours; starting from Ruijin, take Jinan-Ganzhou Expressway, transfer to Xunwu-Quannan Expressway, get off at Anyuan Exit, with a driving time of about 2 hours; starting from Guangzhou, take Daqing-Guangzhou Expressway, transfer to Xunwu-Quannan Expressway, get off at Anyuan Exit, with a driving time of about 4.5 hours. The parking fee standard of the scenic area's parking lot is 10 yuan/day for small cars and 20 yuan/day for large cars.
- High-speed rail/train: Take the high-speed rail to Ganzhou West Station, after exiting the station, transfer to the bus from Ganzhou to Anyuan, get off at Anyuan County Bus Station, then transfer to the bus line from Anyuan to Sanbai Mountain, with a driving time of about 1 hour, a fare of 15 yuan per person. The bus line departs from 8:00-17:00, once an hour.
- Tourist special line: Ganzhou Tourism Distribution Center has a direct tourist line to Sanbai Mountain Scenic Area, with two departures per day at 7:30 and 8:30, a driving time of about 2.5 hours, a fare of 60 yuan per person (round trip), which can be booked in advance on the official website of Ganzhou Tourism Distribution Center.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Fu'ao Pond: The core area of the source of Dongjiang River, with Siyuan Baoding and the 120-meter-high Fu'ao Pond Waterfall, is a landmark of the scenic area, where you can feel the cultural connotation of "remembering the source while drinking water".
- Jiuqu Stream Bamboo Raft Drifting: The 10-kilometer-long Jiuqu Stream winds, and taking a bamboo raft to drift allows you to enjoy the canyon scenery, experience the fun of "boats floating on clear water", and see ancient post road relics along the way.
- Dongfeng Lake Cruise: The 11-square-kilometer lake is dotted with 37 islands. Taking a cruise, visitors can enjoy the landscape of a smooth lake nestled in high gorges, admire peak formations like "Guanyin Sending a Child" that resemble certain shapes, and experience the beauty of the lake and mountain scenery.
Travel Suggestions
- The best tourist seasons are April-May (with bright spring and lush vegetation) and September-October (with clear autumn sky and pleasant climate). The temperature is high in summer, so you need to pay attention to sun protection and heatstroke prevention; some roads may be frosty in winter, so it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes.
- The scenic area is large, and the distance between attractions is far. It is recommended to buy a sightseeing bus ticket (50 yuan per person, all-inclusive ticket) to save energy; when hiking, you need to wear comfortable sports shoes, and some plank roads are steep, so you need to pay attention to safety.
- Jiuqu Stream bamboo raft drifting is greatly affected by the weather. It is recommended to check the weather forecast before departure. Drifting in rainy days requires attention to safety. You can book bamboo raft tickets in advance on the scenic area's official website to avoid queuing on site.
- Tourists who want to watch the sunrise at Yangtian Lake are advised to stay in a homestay around Yangtian Lake in advance. The price of the homestay is about 200-400 yuan per night, which needs to be booked in advance; the temperature is low in the early morning, so you need to bring warm clothes.
Notes
- Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area. It is strictly forbidden to carry fire sources into the forest area, pick plants, or harm wild animals. Protecting the ecological environment is the responsibility of every tourist.
- When hiking, you must walk along the designated route and not enter undeveloped areas without permission. Mobile phone signals are weak in some sections. It is recommended to travel in groups and keep in touch with your companions.
- When drifting on Jiuqu Stream bamboo rafts, you need to wear life jackets, follow the guidance of the raft workers, do not stand or walk around on the raft at will, and keep your personal belongings properly to avoid falling into the water.
- The catering price in the scenic area is relatively high. You can carry appropriate dry food and drinking water; when buying local specialties, it is recommended to choose regular stores and confirm the price before purchasing.
- Heavy rains in summer may trigger natural disasters such as flash floods, and the scenic area may temporarily close some attractions. It is recommended to check the official notices of the scenic area before departure and arrange your itinerary reasonably.