Lushan Sea of Clouds Check-in Guide, Night Mooring with Fishing Fires on Poyang Lake

Experience the essence of Jiangxi in two days for about 2000 RMB per person! I cycled through the rapeseed flower sea in Wuyuan, climbed Lushan to watch the clouds roll by, and moored overnight at Poyang Lake listening to the whispers of fishing fires. When the first ray of morning light shines on the terraced fields of Jiangling in Wuyuan, tens of thousands of acres of golden rapeseed flowers spread like a tide from the foot of the mountain to the clouds. Villages with white walls and black tiles appear intermittently, smoke curls from chimneys, and the sounds of roosters and dogs fill the air—I stand on the viewing platform and take a deep breath, the air full of the fragrance of earth and spring flowers. At this moment, I finally understand why Jiangxi is called "China's Most Beautiful Countryside" and why poets and scholars have written about returning to pastoral life here for centuries. This time, as a travel blogger, with a budget of less than 2000 RMB per person for two days and one night, I connected Jiangxi’s most representative natural and cultural highlights—Wuyuan flower viewing + Lushan sea of clouds + Poyang Lake fishing boats singing at dusk—to start a deep journey blending pastoral poetry, mountain grandeur, and vast rivers and lakes. 🌼 Day 1: Fall into Wuyuan’s spring, ride into a golden dream in an ink painting Depart early morning from Hangzhou East Station (about 3 hours direct by high-speed train G-series to Wuyuan Station, ticket price 214 RMB). Upon exit, there is a dedicated shuttle to Jiangling Terraced Fields Scenic Area (ticket 80 RMB, open only in spring). This is one of the world’s top ten most beautiful terraced fields and the pinnacle of China’s rapeseed flower landscapes. Mid-March is peak bloom. I rented a mountain bike (30 RMB/day) and cycled along winding country roads. Riding through the sea of flowers: The layered terraced fields roll like golden waves; Old farmers lead cattle to plow by small bridges and flowing water, creating the most touching "spring plowing scene"; Tea leaves freshly picked are spread on drying platforms at village entrances, filling the air with fragrance. Midway, I entered Xiaoqi Ancient Village (included in the pass), known as "China’s Tea Village," a quiet and deep Hui-style ancient village. On both sides of the bluestone alley are century-old houses with exquisitely carved door lintels, and courtyards planted with royal chrysanthemums and ginkgo trees. I sat in a teahouse, tasted a cup of Mingqian Wuyuan Mingmei tea (68 RMB/person), and listened to the owner describe the eighteen-step handmade tea process of "shake, place, press, throw," feeling as if I had traveled back a hundred years. In the afternoon, I drove to Shicheng Red Maple Forest (seasonal, better in autumn) or detoured to Sixi Yan Village to experience the profound culture of Hui merchants. In the evening, I stayed at a designer guesthouse in Hongguan Village (recommended “Moyan·Eastern Retreat” or “Houtang Manor,” about 680 RMB/night for a standard double room including breakfast). The room was renovated from a Qing Dynasty old house, with mountain views from the window and insect sounds at night. Dinner featured authentic Hui cuisine: stuffed red carp, tofu paste, and smoked meat stewed with bamboo shoots, all ingredients sourced from local farms, savory and rich but not greasy. After dinner, I strolled along the creek, hearing a few frogs croaking in the distance. Looking up, the sky was full of stars—here, the Milky Way is never visible in the city. ☁️ Day 2: Climb Lushan, encounter a poetic dwelling on the sea of clouds Set off at 6:00 AM, taking a carpool to the South Gate of Lushan Scenic Area (about 2.5 hours, cost about 80 RMB/person). After buying tickets, transfer to the scenic shuttle bus up the mountain (ticket + sightseeing bus total 160 RMB, valid for five days). The first stop is Hanpoukou, the best spot on Lushan to watch the sea of clouds. When the morning fog surges like a tide from Poyang Lake, peaks appear and disappear, and the distant Wulao Peak looks like a coiled dragon. When the sun breaks through the clouds, golden light fills the valley, and all visitors exclaim in unison. I set up my camera and took dozens of shots but still felt unable to capture this grandeur. Then visit: Botanical Garden: China’s earliest subtropical alpine botanical garden, cherry blossoms bloom like snow; Ruqin Lake & Huajing: Bai Juyi once wrote here, "In the human world, April’s flowers fade, but mountain temple peach blossoms begin to bloom"; Meilu Villa: Summer palace of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling, a model of Sino-Western architecture; Wangjiang Pavilion: overlooks the confluence of the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake, with distinct water colors and magnificent momentum. Lunch at Zhengjie Canteen (about 50 RMB/person): stewed stone chicken with vermicelli, stir-fried wild vegetable with smoked meat, Lushan stone ear mushroom soup, full of mountain wild flavors. In the afternoon, choose to hike the Jinxiu Valley plank road (free), a winding path between cliffs with strange pines and rocks, shrouded in mist like a fairyland; or visit Sandiequan Waterfall (additional ticket 65 RMB), a three-tier waterfall with a 155-meter drop, roaring through the valley. At 3:00 PM, descend and return, stopping briefly at Poyang Lake Wetland Park (ticket 50 RMB) to watch migratory birds resting and fishing boats scattered, the sunset dyeing the lake golden like a flowing oil painting. At 5:00 PM, take the train back from Wuyuan Station to Hangzhou, ending this condensed Jiangxi essence trip. ✅ Cost Breakdown (approx. 1970 RMB per person) Round-trip high-speed train tickets: about 428 RMB Scenic area tickets + transportation: about 375 RMB One night accommodation (shared by two): 680 RMB Meals + local carpool + insurance + souvenirs: about 487 RMB 📌 Travel Tips: ✔️ Best seasons: March–April (Wuyuan flower season), June–August (Lushan summer retreat), November–January (Poyang Lake birdwatching) ✔️ Lushan weather is changeable; be sure to bring a windbreaker, non-slip shoes, and rain gear ✔️ Respect local life: villagers are still working; do not enter homes without permission, and smile before photographing people ✔️ Want to shoot great photos? Recommended spots: aerial shots of Jiangling flower sea, sunrise sea of clouds at Hanpoukou, dynamic water flow at Sandiequan, fishing boat silhouettes on Poyang Lake On the day I left, I pressed a dried rapeseed flower into the "Collected Works of Tao Yuanming." It is not just a memento of spring but my true response to "Plucking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, I leisurely see the southern mountain." If you also want to find inner peace and poetry in one place, Go to Jiangxi— Let Wuyuan’s flowers awaken your eyes, Let Lushan’s wind blow away your anxiety, Let this journey of mountains, rivers, countryside, and philosophy Become your gentlest Eastern dwelling in life.