Lu'an Travel Guide: Tiantangzhai and the Dabie Mountains
Lu'an, in western Anhui between the Yangtze and the Huai, is the gateway to the northern Dabie Mountains. The city itself is mainly for transport and food. The reason to come is Tiantangzhai, a 1,729-metre peak on the Anhui–Hubei border with a waterfall valley, forested ridges and a national forest park, and to a lesser extent Wanfo Lake, a big reservoir lake in Shucheng. Lu'an is also the home of Liu'an Guapian, one of China's ten famous teas. Plan a full mountain day, ideally with a night near the park, so three days in all.
Places worth visiting
Tiantangzhai
At 1,729 metres, Tiantangzhai is the second-highest peak of the Dabie Mountains, sometimes treated as the range's main summit, and it stands on the watershed between the Yangtze and the Huai. The Anhui side lies in Jinzhai County. It became a national forest park in 1992, a national nature reserve in 1998, and the core of the Dabie Mountain National Geopark in 2005.
The park has five main zones: the waterfall cluster, Shenggua Peak, Baima Peak, Zaoqian'ao and the Baima Gorge. A sensible day starts with the waterfall valley in the morning, when the light reaches the falls, and continues up to the ridge, using the cable car where it runs. The full circuit is a lot of stone steps, so start early and check the weather; fog can roll in suddenly and hide the views. Plum-rain season in early summer makes the stones slippery, and winter ice can close the ridge paths. Tickets, shuttle buses and cable car rules follow the park's notice.
Baima Jian
The highest peak in the Dabie Mountains, Baima Jian (1,777 metres), is in Huoshan County, about 90 km from Huoshan town. Its other name, Wanshan, gave Anhui its one-character abbreviation, Wan. It's a separate, longer trip for keen hikers.
Wanfo Lake
Wanfo Lake is the Longhekou Reservoir in Shucheng County, built from 1958 for flood control and irrigation and now a lake scenic area with islands and boat trips. It's an easy, low-effort day after the mountains or in bad weather, and the first thing to cut if the ridges are your focus.
Tea country
Liu'an Guapian, a flat-leaf green tea, is on most lists of China's ten famous teas, and its making technique is national intangible heritage. The name, meaning "melon-seed slices", appeared around the early 20th century. Huoshan and Jinzhai counties are full of tea gardens. Spring picking season is the best time to visit a farm and buy fresh tea; buy from the producer and ask about the grade.
Jinzhai
The county that holds Tiantangzhai is named after Jinjiazhai, an old market town now drowned under the Meishan Reservoir, built in 1955. Jinzhai is a significant place in revolutionary history, and its memorials draw many domestic visitors.
When to come to Lu'an
May to October for hiking, with July and August as the classic escape from the heat on the plain; the mountains are noticeably cooler than the city, where July averages about 28 °C. Autumn brings colour and clearer days. Winters are cold and damp, and January in the city averages about 3 °C. Expect sudden fog on the peaks in any season.
Getting in and where to stay
- High-speed rail: Lu'an station has been on the Hefei–Wuhan high-speed railway since 2008, linking it with Hefei and Wuhan. The line also stops at Jinzhai, the closer station for Tiantangzhai. The Nanjing–Xi'an railway runs through the city too.
- Road: Tiantangzhai is a long drive from Lu'an city into the mountains, so plan it as its own block. A car or tour makes the day much easier.
Stay in Lu'an city on arrival and in Tiantangzhai town near the park gate the night before your mountain day, so you can start early.
Eating in Lu'an
Western Anhui mountain food is simple and hearty: smoked and cured pork, bamboo shoots, wild greens, river fish and mountain chicken stews, plus tofu dishes. Drink a glass of Guapian with lunch. Guesthouses near the park cook what's in season.
How to arrange the route
Day 1: Arrive at Lu'an or Jinzhai station and transfer to Tiantangzhai town.
Day 2: Tiantangzhai all day: the waterfalls in the morning, the ridge and peaks in the afternoon.
Day 3: A tea farm in Jinzhai or Huoshan, or Wanfo Lake on the way back, then a train to Hefei or Wuhan.
What to cut if short on time
Keep one full day at Tiantangzhai. Cut Wanfo Lake first, then the tea farm. Sightseeing in Lu'an city isn't worth the time.
Things to confirm before you go
- Tiantangzhai cable car and shuttle operations, and any weather closures.
- Ice on ridge paths in winter.
- Transport from Jinzhai or Lu'an to the park.
- Spring tea-picking dates if you want to visit a farm.
Frequently asked questions
How many days for Lu'an?
Three: one to get to the mountains, a full day at Tiantangzhai, and one for tea or Wanfo Lake.
Lu'an or Huangshan?
Huangshan is the famous granite showpiece and much busier. Tiantangzhai is greener, quieter and wilder, with waterfalls rather than pine-and-rock vistas.
Do I need a guide?
No, the park trails are marked. You do need transport, so a car, driver or tour from Lu'an is the practical choice.
Sources
The facts in this article were checked against the following sources, retrieved September 22, 2026, and rechecked on October 18, 2026.
- Lu'an https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lu%27an
- Tiantangzhai (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/天堂寨
- Baima Jian (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/白马尖
- Longhekou Reservoir / Wanfo Lake (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/龙河口水库
- Liu'an Guapian (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/六安瓜片
- Lu'an station (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/六安站
- Jinzhai County (Chinese) https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/金寨县
Tickets change; this article does not quote yuan amounts.
All photos are from Wikimedia Commons, used under CC licenses or public domain; re-use requires attribution.