Nanchang moms tested and approved! A hidden hiking route in Meiling: 5km, easy for kids.
Includes a detailed route map + tips to avoid pitfalls‼️
👉🏻Quick copy for lazy people
📍Navigate directly to [Jiuxia Village]! Park when you see the big banyan tree at the village entrance (free parking!).
🗺️A 5km loop trail, even a 3-year-old can complete it! Our family finished it in 3 hours, taking our time.
🌸Why recommend it?
✅ Truly zero difficulty: 195m elevation gain ≈ climbing 30 floors, only 10% unpaved road! I even finished it in sandals (don't follow my example 😅).
✅ Surprise scenery: You can overlook the entire Fangxin Lake from the top of the mountain! When going down through the bamboo forest, my kid kept shouting, "Mom, look! It's like the bamboo pandas eat!"
✅ Hidden fun: Let your child draw a little cow 🐮 with a hiking app by tracking their route! My kid felt a huge sense of accomplishment when we reached the end.
👣Mom-approved route guide
1️⃣ Starting point: the banyan tree in Jiuxia Village → walk along the paved road for 10 minutes to Jiangjun Ridge (this part is the most boring, but bear with it!).
2️⃣ The entrance to the unpaved mountain path is next to the utility pole! Grab a branch as a hiking stick, and you'll reach the first viewing platform in 5 minutes.
3️⃣ Secret to taking photos at Fangxin Lake 📸: The sunlight hitting the lake surface at 3pm is stunning! Posing your kid like they're rowing a boat is super cute.
4️⃣ The return route along Jianchang Avenue is entirely shaded! Playing hide-and-seek in the ruins of Xianfeng Town is a great way for kids to burn off energy!
⚠️Hard-learned lessons
❌ Never come on weekend afternoons! We had the mountain to ourselves on Sunday morning, but encountered 3 tour groups on our way back in the afternoon.
❌ There are thorny plants on the unpaved sections! Dress your kids in long pants (my son's leg got scratched and he cried for 10 minutes 😭).
✅ Bring mosquito repellent! Mosquitoes attack in groups in the bamboo forest.
✅ Bring digging tools for your kids! They can dig in the sand and play in the water by the side of Fangxin Lake.
🍔Food guide
There are farmhouse restaurants in Jiuxia Village at the end of the trail! We recommend the bamboo rice and chicken soup, around 30 CNY per person, enough to make you stuffed.
📸Photo secrets
✔️ Stand on the big rock at Jiangjun Ridge for photos! Your legs will look 2 meters long.
✔️ Run along the wooden boardwalk at Fangxin Lake for action shots.
✔️ The light and shadows under the trees on Jianchang Avenue are amazing.
🙌🏻Random thoughts
I was worried that my kid wouldn't be able to walk the whole way, but he was even more excited than me! He collected pine cones and chased butterflies all the way, and fell asleep in the car on the way back 😂. This route is perfect for lazy moms. The best part is it's free and not crowded! Next time, I'm planning to invite my friends for a picnic!