Mount Lu summer resorts in East China

Mount Lu East China

Located in the northern part of Jiangxi Province, south of Jiujiang county, Mount Lu (Lushan Mountain) is known as one of the four major summer resorts in China due to the relatively mild climate, large rivers, lakes and mountains in the scenic area. It stands out among all the other attractions owing to the unique cultural complex concerned to Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism, which blends naturally into the marvelous landscapes in the adjacent area. In 1996, Mount Lu was added to the World Cultural Landscape Heritage List by the UNESCO.

Mount Lu covers a total area of 302 square kilometers. The main peak, Dahanyang, is 1,474 meters above sea level. "A misty land in spring, a green jade in summer, an intoxicating crimson in autumn and a white jade in winter" remains a popular local saying and still the best description for the scenery of Mount Lu. The white cranes at the Poyang Lake Migratory Birds Nature Reserve at the foot of the mountain account for 95 percent of the world's total, forming the largest white crane population in the world.

History and Art
Early since the 1^st century A.D., numerous literati and artists have acquired their inspirations from the striking views of Mount Lu, thus they composed some of the finest literature and art masterpieces that won universal praise in Chinese history. Popular attractions described in these works are the Cloud and Mist of Lushan, Mawei Waterfall (the Horse Tail Waterfall), Immortal Caverns, Five Old Man Peaks, etc. Therefore, Mount Lu has been endowed with not only natural scenic beauty but also cultural accumulations. It is a symbol of traditional Chinese aesthetic value and spiritual life which have been imposing great influence on both ancient and modern Chinese people.

Religious Culture
Mount Lu is so appealing in terms of its distinctive religious elements. Nowhere else can be found throughout the world as such a combination of various religious cultures as Mount Lu. In 386 A.D., Huiyuan (a Buddhist Master of the Pure Land Sect) convened to build Donglin Temple here, which marked the beginning of Buddhism of Chinese Style. Thereafter, besides hundreds of Buddhist and Taoist temples gradually constructed on the mountain, Mount Lu became a convergent place for Eastern Orthodox, Christian, Catholic and Islamic cultures ever since Jiujiang County was opened as a port to western countries in early 20^th Century.

The White Deer Grotto Academy
Well-known as one of the four major academies in ancient China, the White Deer Grotto Academy was even prominent as the only state academy outside the capital. It is situated at the foot of the Five Old Men Peaks. It was the birth place of many great ancient scholars who followed strictly the disciplines and laws formulated by a famous Confucianist named Zhuxi, the leading mentor of the academy living in the Song Dynasty(960-1279 A.D.). The White Deer Grotto Academy is a good embodiment of Chinese Confucianism and Chinese traditional philosophy, as well as the right place for tourists to understand Chinese traditional education.

Apart from the above attractions, villas built by celebrities from home and abroad on the mountain since the late 19^th century deserve a visit as well.