Longhushan Scenic Area is located in Guixi City, Yingtan City, Jiangxi Province. It is the birthplace of Chinese Taoism and a national 5A-level tourist scenic area. The scenic area is characterized by Danxia landform and Taoist culture, with a total area of about 220 square kilometers and a core tourist area of about 40 square kilometers. There are 99 peaks, 24 rocks, and 108 natural and cultural landscapes in the scenic area. The highest peak, Tianmen Mountain, has an altitude of 1,300 meters. Longhushan is also a World Geopark and a national natural and cultural dual heritage site, preserving precious historical building complexes such as the Temple of the Celestial Master of Sihan, where the Celestial Masters of all dynasties lived.
History and Culture
Longhushan is the birthplace of Chinese Taoism. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Daoling founded the Zhengyi Tao here and it is known as the "Ancestral Court of Taoism". Since the end of the Han Dynasty, Longhushan has always been the center of the Zhengyi School of Taoism. The Celestial Masters of all dynasties have preached and conferred talismans here, and it has continued for more than 1,800 years. Taoist culture has deeply influenced the architecture, art, and folk customs of Longhushan, forming a unique religious cultural landscape.
Longhushan reached its peak during the Tang and Song dynasties. Emperors of all dynasties bestowed titles on it many times. During the Song and Yuan dynasties, it was named "the First Mountain of Taoism". A large number of Taoist cultural relics and historical sites are preserved on the mountain, such as the Temple of the Celestial Master and the Shangqing Palace, which are all important physical materials for studying the history of Chinese Taoism. The perfect integration of Taoist architecture and Danxia landform reflects the Taoist concept of "harmony between man and nature".
In addition to Taoist culture, Longhushan also contains rich folk legends and folk culture. Stories such as "The Celestial Master Zhang Subduing Demons" and "The Mystery of Hanging Coffins" are widely spread. The Temple Fair of the Celestial Master on the 15th day of the first lunar month every year attracts many believers and tourists to pay homage, which is an important opportunity to experience Taoist culture.
Main Attractions
The Temple of the Celestial Master of Sihan
The Temple of the Celestial Master of Sihan is the place where the Celestial Master Zhang of all dynasties lived and worked. It was first built in the fourth year of Chongning in the Northern Song Dynasty (1105), and most of the existing buildings are in the Ming and Qing styles. The temple has main buildings such as the Sanqing Hall, the Yuhuang Hall, and the Celestial Master Hall, covering an area of more than 50,000 square meters. It is the most complete Taoist official residence building complex in China and is known as "the First Family in the South of the Yangtze River".
Shangqing Palace
Shangqing Palace is one of the most important Taoist temples in Longhushan. It was first built in the Eastern Han Dynasty and was the place where Zhang Daoling first practiced and preached. Most of the existing buildings in the palace were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty, including the Sanqing Hall, the Yuhuang Hall, etc., and a large number of Taoist cultural relics and steles of all dynasties are preserved. Shangqing Palace is built against the mountain, with a magnificent momentum, and it is an important place to understand the history of Taoism.
Xianshui Rock
Xianshui Rock is a famous Danxia landform landscape in Longhushan, named after the naturally formed "fairy water" on the rock wall. The rock is about 100 meters high and more than 200 meters wide. The rock wall is covered with honeycomb-shaped caves and water traces, showing colorful colors under the sunlight. The stream under the rock is clear and the environment is quiet, making it an ideal place for Taoist cultivation.
The Hanging Coffin Group
The hanging coffins in Longhushan are representatives of the hanging coffin burial customs in southern China, mainly distributed in Xianshui Rock, Shuiyan and other places. These hanging coffins, which are more than 2,600 years old, are mostly placed in cliff caves tens of meters above the ground. The coffins have unique shapes and are exquisitely made. The hanging coffin burial custom is a special burial system of the ancient Yue people, and the method of placing them remains an unsolved mystery, which has important archaeological value.
Tianmen Mountain
Tianmen Mountain is the highest peak of Longhushan, with an altitude of 1,300 meters. It is named after the naturally formed huge stone gate at the top of the mountain. Standing on the top, you can overlook the entire Longhushan Scenic Area with a wide view. There are ruins such as ancient plank roads and cliff inscriptions on the mountain. The vegetation along the way is dense and the air is fresh, making it a good place for mountain climbing and sightseeing.
Delicacies
Tianshi Chestnuts
Tianshi Chestnuts are a specialty of Longhushan, named after the fact that the Celestial Master Zhang in history liked them. The soil in the Longhushan area is fertile, and the chestnuts produced are large, thick and sweet. There are many cooking methods locally, such as stir-frying chestnuts with sugar, stewing chicken with chestnuts, etc., which are special delicacies that tourists must try.
Taoist Vegetarian Dishes
The Taoist vegetarian dishes in Longhushan have a long history, emphasizing "purity, lightness, freshness, and elegance". They are made from local seasonal vegetables and mountain delicacies, such as bamboo shoots, mushrooms, tofu, etc. Vegetarian dishes not only taste delicious but also reflect the Taoist concept of health preservation. You can taste authentic Taoist vegetarian dishes in Taoist temples such as Shangqing Palace.
Guixi Dengxin Cake
Dengxin Cake is a traditional famous snack in Guixi, Yingtan, named after its shape like a wick. The main raw materials are glutinous rice and white sugar, and the production process is complex, with a soft and sweet taste. This pastry has a history of hundreds of years and was once a tribute to the Celestial Master. Now it has become a local special souvenir.
Surrounding Delicacies
There are also many special delicacies in Yingtan urban area, such as Yujiang Fish Head Noodles, Guixi Beef Noodles, Yiyang New Year Cake, etc. These local snacks have unique flavors and are affordable. Tourists may as well go to the urban area to taste them while visiting Longhushan.
Ticket Information
Longhushan Scenic Area implements a one-ticket system. The ticket price in the peak season (March - November) is 230 yuan per person, and in the off-season (December - February of the following year) it is 200 yuan per person. The ticket includes the fees for the main scenic spots and the environmental protection vehicles in the scenic area, but does not include self-funded items such as cable cars and bamboo rafts. Students, the elderly, etc. can enjoy preferential ticket prices with valid certificates. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance through the official platform to avoid queuing.
Itinerary Recommendations
A recommended one-day itinerary: In the morning, visit the Temple of the Celestial Master of Sihan and Shangqing Palace to learn about Taoist culture; at noon, taste Taoist vegetarian dishes in the scenic area; in the afternoon, take a bamboo raft to tour the Luxi River, admire the Danxia landform and hanging coffins on both sides of the river, and then go to Xianshui Rock for a hike; in the evening, climb Tianmen Mountain to watch the sunset. If you have enough time, it is recommended to arrange a two-day itinerary. On the second day, you can explore in-depth attractions such as the Great Shangqing Palace and Zhengyi Temple to experience a more complete Taoist culture.
Transportation
- By plane: The nearest airport is Nanchang Changbei International Airport, about 150 kilometers away from Longhushan. You can take an airport bus or rent a car to get there.
- By high-speed rail: Take a high-speed rail to Yingtan North Station, and then transfer to the tourist special line bus (about 1 hour) to reach the scenic area directly.
- Self-driving: Starting from Nanchang, it can be reached in about 2.5 hours via the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway and the济广 Expressway.
- Transportation within the scenic area: There are environmental protection vehicles connecting the main scenic spots, and in some areas, you need to walk or take a bamboo raft.
Must-visit Attractions
- The Temple of the Celestial Master of Sihan: The Ancestral Court of Chinese Taoism, the most complete building complex of the Celestial Master's residence in existence.
- Shangqing Palace: The place where Zhang Daoling first practiced, an important birthplace of Taoism.
- Xianshui Rock: A typical Danxia landform, a colorful rock wall landscape.
- The Hanging Coffin Group: The mysterious burial custom of the ancient Yue people more than 2,600 years ago, a World Cultural Heritage.
- Bamboo Rafting on the Luxi River: Take a bamboo raft to enjoy the Danxia scenery and the wonders of hanging coffins on both sides of the river.
Tour Tips
- The best tourist seasons are spring and autumn, with pleasant weather and the most beautiful scenery.
- It is recommended to arrange at least a whole day to visit the main scenic spots.
- Learn about the background of Taoist culture in advance for a more rewarding tour.
- Wear comfortable sports shoes, as some scenic spots require walking and climbing.
- Try Taoist vegetarian dishes and local special snacks to experience the unique food culture.
- Purchasing a combined ticket can save costs and includes the main scenic spots and transportation.
Notes
- Respect Taoist beliefs and customs, and keep quiet when visiting Taoist temples.
- Some mountain roads are steep, so pay attention to safety, especially be careful of slipping on rainy days.
- Protect cultural relics and historical sites, and do not carve on buildings and rocks.
- Smoking is prohibited in the scenic area, and pay attention to fire prevention.
- Pay attention to sun protection and heat prevention in summer, and carry enough drinking water.
- Take good care of personal belongings. The scenic area is large, so avoid losing them.
- Wear a life jacket when rafting on a bamboo raft and follow the instructions of the staff.