Jinggang Mountains

Background

The Jinggang Mountains lie in Jinggangshan City, Ji'an, Jiangxi, in the middle section of the Luoxiao Mountains on the Hunan–Jiangxi border. They cover about 670 km² and rise to about 2,120 meters, with thick forest on their parallel ridges. The azalea is the city flower of Jinggangshan, and every April and May the azaleas bloom, a fine time to visit. The mountains are on the list of national nature reserves, and the Jinggangshan scenic area is a national 5A tourist site. In October 1927, Mao Zedong led his troops into the mountains after the Autumn Harvest Uprising and set up a rural revolutionary base; in late April 1928, Zhu De arrived with his forces, and the two joined to form the Fourth Army. The main force moved to southern Jiangxi in January 1929, and most Red Army forces left the area after the Long March began in 1934. More than 100 revolutionary sites from this period remain, 21 of them Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level, along with memorials such as the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum and the Martyrs Cemetery.

Local customs

• Look out over the peaks from the Wuzhi Peak viewing platform
• visit the Huangyangjie sentry post and the historic sites at Ciping
• learn about this period at the Jinggangshan Revolution Museum
• see the azaleas in April and May
• follow mountain trails to seas of cloud and waterfalls.

Travel tips

• The sights are spread out, so the scenic-area shuttles are the easiest way around
• the mountain roads are winding, so prepare ahead if you are prone to carsickness
• ticket and shuttle prices are as officially announced, and the azalea season is the peak time.
• Take a high-speed train to Jinggangshan Station, then a bus or taxi
• buses also run directly from downtown Ji'an, and Jinggangshan has its own airport, opened in 2004. Shuttles link the sights within the scenic area. Azaleas peak in spring, summer is cool and good for escaping the heat, autumn is clear and crisp, and winter is cold in the mountains, so dress warmly.