Wugong Mountain Travel Guide for Beginners

Folks, Wugong Mountain is absolutely amazing! With 100,000 acres of alpine meadows and stunning views of the sea of clouds and sunrise, you'll fall in love with it at first sight! This guide is super detailed, so even beginners can follow it and have a great time without any mishaps! Pre-trip Preparation - Documents: Be sure to bring your ID card, and students should bring their student ID for discounted tickets – it's a great deal! - Clothing: The temperature on the mountain varies greatly between day and night, so pack quick-drying clothes, windbreakers, thermal underwear, and a thick coat. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, or you'll be exhausted after just a few steps. Bring extra socks to keep your feet dry and comfortable for hiking. - Gear: Bring a large-capacity backpack for easy storage; hiking poles and knee pads are highly recommended to save energy and protect your knees; don't forget a raincoat, as the weather in the mountains is unpredictable; bring a thermos to enjoy hot water anytime; and pack sun protection items like hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen to avoid sunburn. - Medicine: Bring common medicines like cold medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, bandages, and motion sickness medicine, just in case. - Other: Bring your phone, camera, and power bank to capture the beautiful scenery. Also, bring some cash, as some areas have poor signal and may not support electronic payments. Transportation Guide - High-speed train: Take the train to Pingxiang North Station. From there, you can take a direct bus to the scenic area for CNY 27 per person, which takes about 1.5 hours. If you don't want to wait, you can also share a car for CNY 40 per person, which is faster. - Self-driving: Navigate directly to "Wugong Mountain Visitor Center." Parking costs CNY 10 per day, which is quite reasonable. - Transfer from Changsha/Nanchang: It only takes 30 minutes by high-speed train from Changsha South to Pingxiang North, and about 1 hour from Nanchang West to Pingxiang North, making transfers very convenient. Tickets and Cable Cars - Tickets: Regular tickets cost CNY 70 per person, but you can save a bit by booking online in advance for CNY 60! - Cable cars: The first-stage cable car (Zhong'an) costs CNY 65 for the ascent and CNY 50 for the descent, saving you 1.5 hours of climbing time; the second-stage cable car (Jinding) costs CNY 35 for the ascent and CNY 25 for the descent. The scenery along this section of the meadow is beautiful, and those in good shape are encouraged to hike and experience the charm of the alpine meadow. - Discount policy: Students can enjoy half-price discounts with their student ID. Tourists from Jiangxi and Hunan provinces can also enjoy free tickets from time to time, so be sure to check the official announcements before traveling. Recommended Hiking Routes - Classic Regular Route (suitable for most people) - Day 1: Start from the visitor center, take the scenic area bus to Shigusi, then take the Zhong'an cable car up the mountain, and then pass through Haohanpo and Diaomazhuang to reach Jinding, which takes about 5 hours in total. - Day 2: After watching the sunrise at Jinding, head to the alpine meadow starry sky, then walk the glass plank road, and finally take the Zhong'an cable car down the mountain, which takes about 4 hours in total. This route offers stunning scenery and is not too difficult, making it perfect for ordinary tourists. - Highlights: Watching the sunrise at Jinding is incredibly stunning. Remember to stay overnight at the Baihefeng tent or inn and arrive at the viewing platform before 5:30am to secure a good spot; the glass plank road is located in the Diaomazhuang to Guanyintang section, offering a free high-altitude walk that is both thrilling and fun. - Reverse Hardcore Route (suitable for experienced outdoor enthusiasts): Start from Longshan Village, pass through Fayunjie, Qianzhangyan, Haohanpo, and Jue Wang Po, and finally reach Jinding, which takes about 10 hours in total. The meadows in Fayunjie are particularly dense, and the probability of seeing a sea of clouds is high; Jue Wang Po is full of continuous steep slopes, requiring you to use both hands and feet to climb, making it very challenging. Novices should not attempt this route without sufficient outdoor experience! Accommodation Options - Jinding Area: Baihefeng Tent Camp, with double tents costing about CNY 128 per night, including sleeping bags, but the bathrooms are shared; Jinding Inn's bed rooms cost around CNY 200 per night and have hot showers. If you want a more comfortable stay, choose this option, but book in advance as rooms are easily sold out. - Diaomazhuang Area: The Starry Sky Plank Road Camp is next to the glass viewing platform, making it perfect for stargazing at night. Tents cost about CNY 150. - Mountain Foot Homestays: There are many farmhouses in Dongjiang Village and Shenzi Village, costing around CNY 100 per night, including dinner and breakfast. They are suitable for those who want to hike light and get a good night's rest before climbing the mountain with plenty of energy the next day. Food and Supplies - Mountain Foot: Be sure to visit Lao Pingxiang Restaurant to try Lotus Blood Duck and Wugong Mountain Small River Fish, both local specialties. You can eat your fill for an average of CNY 50 per person. - Mountain Top Inns: Hot food is available, with instant noodles costing CNY 15, egg fried rice CNY 20, and hot ginger tea CNY 10. A hot meal can instantly replenish your energy after a tiring climb. - Supply Points: There are supply points at Diaomazhuang and Jinding, with bottled water costing CNY 10 and energy drinks CNY 15. Although the prices are a bit high, they can help you replenish fluids and energy in time. Important Notes - Weather Forecast: Check the weather forecast on the "Wugong Mountain" official account 3 days in advance. Although the roads are slippery on rainy days, the probability of seeing a sea of clouds is higher, so weigh the pros and cons and choose according to your preferences. - Environmental Protection: The environment of Wugong Mountain needs everyone's joint protection. Open flames are prohibited, and all trash must be taken down the mountain. There are designated recycling points on the mountain top. - Safety: It is best to travel in groups and never enter undeveloped areas alone; do not use your phone or take shelter under trees during thunderstorms. Safety first. - Internet: The 4G signal on the mountain top is relatively weak, so download an offline map in advance to avoid getting lost.