Ji'an Travel Guide: Bailuzhou Academy, Old Luling and Jinggangshan
Ji'an, on the Gan River in central Jiangxi, was known for centuries as Luling, and it produced so many scholars and officials that "Luling culture" is still a local point of pride; the Song writers Ouyang Xiu and Wen Tianxiang both came from here. Most visitors, though, are heading for Jinggangshan, the mountain base where Mao Zedong and Zhu De built the first rural revolutionary base in 1927–1929, a long drive southwest of the city. Spend a day in Ji'an itself and at least one night on the mountain.
Ji'an city: a day of academies and kilns
Bailuzhou Academy
On an island in the Gan River, Bailuzhou Academy was founded in the Southern Song (traditionally dated to 1241) and became one of Jiangxi's leading academies; Wen Tianxiang, the patriot who later died refusing to serve the Mongols, studied here. The academy halls, old camphor trees and riverside paths make a calm hour or two. Check current opening hours and any ticket charges on the official notice.
Jizhou kiln
West of the city in Yonghe town, the Jizhou kiln site produced ceramics from the Tang to the Yuan, most famously dark-glazed tea bowls decorated with real leaves fired into the glaze. A site park and museum display shards and reconstructed kilns, and potters nearby still make leaf-pattern bowls. It's a highlight for anyone interested in Chinese ceramics or tea culture.
Qingyuan Mountain
In the eastern suburbs, Qingyuan Mountain is home to Jingju Temple, associated with the Chan master Qingyuan Xingsi, one of the founders of an important line of Zen Buddhism. The wooded hill and temple are a peaceful half day.
Around the city, Luling's old villages, such as Diaoyuan, preserve brick ancestral halls and houses built by families of officials and merchants. They need a car.
Jinggangshan
What you're visiting
Jinggangshan is both a mountain range in the Luoxiao Mountains on the Hunan border and a county-level city whose centre is the town of Ciping. In 1927, after the failed Autumn Harvest Uprising, Mao led his troops here; Zhu De's forces joined in 1928, and the base lasted until early 1929. For Chinese visitors, it's one of the most important "red tourism" destinations in the country, and you'll see groups of officials and students in matching jackets.
Main sights include the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum and the Martyrs' Cemetery in and above Ciping, the former headquarters buildings, and the battlefield site at Huangyangjie. For scenery, Wuzhi (Five Fingers) Peak, forest trails, waterfalls and cloud-filled valleys are the attraction, especially after rain.
How to visit
The scenic area is organised around a central ticket and sightseeing buses linking sites spread around Ciping; check what's included and buy through official channels. A focused visit takes one full day: museums and memorials in the morning, a scenic loop in the afternoon. Two days let you add longer walks. Mountain weather is often misty; bring a rain jacket.
Stay in Ciping. Day trips from Ji'an city are possible but mean several hours on the road.
When to come to Ji'an
April to May and September to November are best: mild temperatures and clearer mountain views. Summer is hot in the city but cooler on Jinggangshan, which is why it's busy in July and August. Winter is damp and grey, with occasional snow on the mountain. Avoid national holidays and Party anniversaries if you dislike crowds at the red tourism sites.
Getting in and where to stay
High-speed trains on the Nanchang–Ganzhou line stop at Ji'an West, linking the city with Nanchang and Ganzhou. Conventional trains on the Beijing–Kowloon railway stop at Ji'an station. Jinggangshan Airport, in Taihe County about 30 km from Ji'an, has domestic flights. From Ji'an, buses and cars run to Ciping; confirm departure times and the stop name before setting off, and make sure your hotel booking says Jinggangshan (Ciping), not just "Ji'an".
Stay near the river in Ji'an for Bailuzhou and restaurants, and in Ciping for the mountain.
Eating in Ji'an
Jiangxi food is spicy and salty, with rice as the base. Ji'an specialities include rice noodles (often eaten for breakfast), smoked and cured meats, and freshwater fish. On Jinggangshan, look for "red rice and pumpkin soup", the dish served to visitors as the soldiers' diet. Ask about prices for cured meats and local chicken, often sold by weight.
How to arrange the route
Day 1: Arrive at Ji'an West; Bailuzhou Academy and an evening walk along the Gan River.
Day 2: Jizhou kiln in the morning; transfer to Jinggangshan in the afternoon.
Day 3: Jinggangshan: museum, cemetery, Huangyangjie, scenic loop; return to Ji'an or continue.
Onward to Nanchang, Ganzhou or Fuzhou (Jiangxi). For Jiangxi's porcelain capital, see Jingdezhen.
What to cut if short on time
With one day in the city, choose Bailuzhou and the kiln; skip Qingyuan Mountain. With Jinggangshan only, go straight from the station and give it a full day.
Things to confirm before you go
- Jinggangshan's scenic area ticket, bus routes and opening hours; no 2026 prices are quoted here.
- Bus or car times between Ji'an and Ciping.
- Opening hours at Bailuzhou Academy and the Jizhou kiln museum.
- Mountain weather forecasts.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Ji'an?
Three days: one in the city and two for Jinggangshan, or one day for each if you're pressed.
Is Jinggangshan worth it for non-Chinese visitors?
If modern Chinese history interests you, yes; it's central to the story of the Communist revolution. The mountain scenery is good too, but it's not the main draw.
Can I see Jinggangshan as a day trip?
It's possible from Ji'an with an early start, but the road trip is long. One night in Ciping is much better.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following Wikipedia and encyclopedia entries, retrieved September 19, 2026, and rechecked on October 17, 2026.
- Ji'an https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ji%27an
- Jinggangshan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinggangshan_City
- Bailuzhou (public encyclopedia and heritage summaries)
- Jinggangshan Mountains https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jinggang_Mountains
Tickets change; this article does not invent yuan amounts.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses; re-use requires attribution.
- jian-bailuzhou.jpg from File:Ji'an Bailuzhou Shuyuan 2018.05.15 17-40-50.jpg, by Zhangzhugang, CC BY-SA 4.0
- jian-jinggangshan.jpg from File:Wuzhi Peak, Jinggangshan (20250124122509).jpg, by N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0
- jian-jinggangshan-skyline.jpg from File:201906 Jinggangshan City Skyline.jpg, by MNXANL, CC BY-SA 4.0