A Poetic Slow Journey from Nanchang to Lushan

Who says Jiangxi only has Jingdezhen and Wuyuan? As a travel blogger deeply exploring the hidden gems of Jiangnan, I’ll take you on a three-day, two-night trip with a budget of 3000 RMB to unlock a rarely noticed yet stunning Jiangxi—from the cultural vibrancy of the Hero City Nanchang to the sea of clouds and pine waves of Lushan, known as "the most beautiful of Kuanglu." This is a cost-effective, immersive journey blending red history, natural wonders, and poetic living.

📍Suitable for: Couples / Artsy youth / Photography enthusiasts / Families with children
💰Total budget: 3000 RMB (for two, 1500 RMB per person)

🚗Main itinerary: Nanchang (1 day) → Lushan (2 days 1 night) → Return

🎯Day 1｜Cultural Prelude in the Hero City (about 800 RMB)
✅ Transportation: High-speed train round trip to Nanchang (Beijing → Nanchang G485, second class seat 528 RMB × 2 = 1056 RMB)
📌This example is based on a mid-to-long distance departure; prices are lower if departing from the Yangtze River Delta or Pearl River Delta
✅ Local transport: Metro + bus + taxi ≈ 80 RMB
✅ Accommodation: One night in a boutique guesthouse near Tengwang Pavilion with a king bed ≈ 320 RMB (river view from the window)
✅ Attractions:
Bayi Square + Nanchang August 1 Uprising Memorial Hall (✅free, reservation required)
Tengwang Pavilion tickets 50 RMB × 2 = 100 RMB (recommended to visit at dusk to see the sunset and flying solitary birds)
✅ Dinner: Chuanshan Road Food Street: clay pot soup + mixed noodles + stir-fried wild rice shoots with cured meat ≈ 150 RMB

🌅Day 2｜Climbing Lushan · A Day of Seclusion in the Clouds and Mist (about 1200 RMB)
✅ Transportation: Nanchang Station → Jiujiang Station by bullet train 35 RMB × 2 = 70 RMB → Jiujiang Bus Station take shuttle bus to Lushan (scenic area transfer bus 70 RMB × 2 = 140 RMB)
✅ Tickets: Lushan Scenic Area pass (valid for five days) 160 RMB × 2 = 320 RMB
✅ Accommodation: One night in a renovated old villa guesthouse in Guling Town, double room ≈ 480 RMB (warm in winter, cool in summer, strong artistic vibe)
✅ Attractions:
Stroll around Ruqin Lake + Huajing Park (Bai Juyi’s Thatched Cottage)
Hike through Jinxiu Valley to Fairy Cave, see cliff plank roads and rolling sea of clouds
Night photography of starry sky at Moonlit Pine Forest (free! A photography hotspot)
✅ Dinner: Local farmhouse restaurant in town: stone chicken stewed with bamboo shoots + small river fish + Lushan cloud mist tea eggs ≈ 190 RMB

🌇Day 3｜Poetic Farewell in the Morning Mist (about 1000 RMB)
✅ Early morning: Watch sunrise at Hanpoukou (✅free, recommended to arrive before 5:30 AM)
✅ Morning: Walk around Lulin Lake + visit Mao Zedong’s former residence (included in ticket)
✅ Optional check-in: Meilu Villa 50 RMB × 2 = 100 RMB (a microcosm of the Republic of China era)
✅ Lunch: Simple meal on Guling Street: rice bowl + cloud mist tea ≈ 60 RMB
✅ Descend and return: Lushan → Jiujiang → Nanchang → home (high-speed train ticket included) ≈ 340 RMB

📌Money-saving Tips:
✔️ Book the “Lushan One Card” 3 days in advance and enter with your ID card
✔️ Most attractions in Guling Town are within walking distance, saving transport costs
✔️ Bring your own water bottle to refill with mountain spring water—eco-friendly and cost-saving
✔️ Tengwang Pavilion night light show is free and more atmospheric than daytime

In these three days, we:
Touch the pulse of history through the sound of the August 1 gunfire,
Encounter the fairyland described by Li Bai in the clouds of Lushan.

Spend 3000 RMB to gain:
An in-depth dialogue about Jiangnan’s landscapes and cultural spirit.

No chasing internet fame, just seeking authenticity;
No high spending, yet returning fully enriched.