Lushan Mountain is located in the
northern part of Jiangxi Province, to the south of the Yangtze River and
northwest of the Poyang Lake. According to records, it has a history of more
than 2,000 years. The scenic area, covering 302 square kilometers, houses 16
natural wonders, 474 scenic spots and 171 peaks, of which the highest peak, the
Dahanyang Peak, is 1,474 meters above sea level.
The scenery in Lushan Mountain scenic
area is breathtaking. It is full of sheer peaks and precipices, changeable
clouds and fogs, silver springs and flying waterfalls. The flora is diverse and
comprises about 3,000 species. Features of glaciation during the Quaternary
Period make Lushan Mountain even more mysterious. There are millions of
migratory birds in the Poyang Lake area. The dancing of the largest number of
cranes over the water makes it a world wonder.
Lushan Mountain abounds in historic and cultural
relics. The great historian of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), Sima Qian, once
climbed Lushan Mountain, and wrote about it in his classic The Records of the
Great Historian. Bailudong Shuyuan (White Deer Cave Academy) was the most
famous of the four biggest academies in ancient China, and enjoys high prestige
in the Chinese history of education.
|White Deer Cave Academy in Mt.
The Donglin Temple (East Grove
Temple), built by eminent monks in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, was the birthplace
of the Jintu (Pure Earth) Sect of Buddhism. More than 1,500 noted figures in
history visited this Mountain, leaving behind some 4,000 pieces of verse and
over 900 inscriptions on the cliffs, as well as other writings, prints and
calligraphic works. There are about 600 villas here, with the styles of 18
nations and cultures.
According to legend, Dayu (the Great
Yu), who conquered devastating floods in primeval times, visited Lushan
Mountain. Qin (221-206BC) Emperor Shihuang also visited the mountain when he
toured the south. Poets and scholars of every dynasty were attracted to Lushan
Mountain and inspired to compose numerous works. Among them were Tao Qian of the
Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), Li Bai and Bai Juyi of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), Su
Shi, Zhou Dunyi, Zhu Xi and Li Shizhen of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and Xu
Xiake of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
Lushan Mountain features geological structures
of every period except the Triassic Period. It has unique evidence of glaciation
during the Quaternary Period and is the birthplace of China's glaciological
|Ice-klin of Lulin - quaternary glacial
Though complicated, the geological structure
can be clearly traced. Lushan Mountain is a Fault Mountain formed in the
Quaternary Period. When it rose, the surrounding land sank, and the Poyang Basin
eventually developed into the Poyang Lake. The many grotesque rocks, towering
peaks and cascading waterfalls constitute a spectacular Mountain landscape. With
frequent fog and mist, Lushan Mountain has cool summers. It also has typical
flora and fauna.
The modern villas are
quite a sight on Lushan Mountain. Each villa is an individual building complex
with unique style and structure, including styles of Rome- and Gothic- churches,
Japanese building and Islamic Mosque. The architects tended to build the villas
in shady places, and pursued a natural and casual style. It is this style that
enables the villas to be well integrated with the natural scenery. The modern
villas on Lushan Mountain, mostly one or two-storeyed, though in clusters, are
less densely located and decorated with trees all around, which is a pleasing
picture to the eye. The villa complex is simple and natural in style. Each is
like a distinctive geometric figure. You could hardly find two villas that
resemble each other.
Lushan Mountain was elected to the "World
Heritage List" in 1996. Owing to its congenial climate, it is also a popular
summer resort in China.