Lushan Survival Guide | A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls (Learned the Hard Way)

After two days as a "porter" in Lushan, I realized how disastrous it is to travel without a plan! This pitfall avoidance guide, bought with worn-out knees, will teach you how to experience the wildest Lushan with the least amount of money! 📍Location Guide Lushan's main peak has an elevation of 1,164 meters and spans several districts of Jiujiang. Main entrances: The North Gate (Jiujiang direction) is suitable for driving, while the East Gate (Sandie Spring direction) requires hiking up the mountain. Guling Town is the base camp on the mountain, a "city in the sky" hanging in the clouds. 🚠Transportation: The Good and The Bad ✅ Lifesavers: • Cable Car: Take a taxi from Jiujiang Station to the cable car station (10 minutes). It's a 10-minute ride straight to Guling Town, saving you from throwing up at least 3 times compared to the winding mountain road. • Hardcore Option: Hike the Haohanpo Trail. Climbing 4,380 steps is the true test of a Lushan hero. ❌ Don't Do This: Driving up the mountain on weekends? Peak season traffic restrictions will leave you stranded halfway up! 🍜Must-Try Food Go for it: 1️⃣ Stone Ear Mushroom Stewed Chicken: Free-range chicken raised by mountain villagers, stewed with wild stone ear mushrooms (a relative of black fungus). So delicious, you'll lick the bowl clean. 2️⃣ Guling Barbecue: Unnamed stalls hidden in the alleys of Main Street. 5 yuan/skewer. The exploding juice of the grilled tofu is comparable to pee-wee meatballs. Avoid: 🎒Essential Gear ✅ The Holy Trinity: • Folding Trekking Poles (The steps up to the Five Old Men Peaks are more grueling than going to work) • Waterproof Phone Case (The mist at Sandie Spring is more intense than a humidifier) • Knee Pads (You'll thank me later when you descend) ⛰️Lazy Traveler's Itinerary Day 1: West Route - Cultivating Immortality 08:00 Take the cable car directly to Guling Town and start your day with a 5-yuan bowl of mixed rice noodles. 09:00 Rush to Ruqin Lake to capture the morning mist. Wear a Hanfu dress on the boardwalk and instantly transform into Bai Qian (a goddess). 11:00 Take a photo with Bai Juyi at Flower Path. The virtual peach blossoms in his garden bloom all year round. 14:00 Take on the challenge of the Splendid Valley. Don't cry if a macaque steals your snacks at the Immortal Cave. 19:00 Watch the movie "Romance on Lushan Mountain" and learn some 1980s pure love warrior fashion. Day 2: East Route - Overcoming Tribulations 05:30 Catch the sunrise at Hanpokou. Stuffing hand warmers inside your down jacket is standard practice. 08:00 Climb to the fourth peak of the Five Old Men Peaks and then turn back. The tree branches on the fifth peak will ruin all your photos. 13:00 Challenge the 2,600 steps of Sandie Spring. The small train will only save you 1/3 of the way. 18:00 Relax at Lulin Lake. ⚠️Hard-Learned Lessons ❗ Buy a 7-day pass for the sightseeing bus! Buying single tickets will make you question your life choices as you get taken on circuitous routes. ❗ Meilu Villa closes at 4pm. Don't be like me and get locked out. ❗ Sandie Spring becomes just three trickles of water during the dry season. Ask your guesthouse owner about the water level before you go. ❗ The mountain weather forecast is pure guesswork. A raincoat is always more reliable than an umbrella. Capture the deserted wonderland at 6am, escape the midday heat in an old villa sipping cloud-mist tea, and wait for the unexpected waterfall clouds in the evening—this is the ultimate Lushan experience, ready to conquer all.