Zhushandong Scenic Area

Zhushandong Scenic Area

Zhushandong Scenic Area is a national AAA-level tourist attraction.

Zhushandong Scenic Area is a distinctive natural tourist attraction in western Jiangxi, located in the southeastern part of Wanzai County, Jiangxi Province. It is a unique natural scenic spot in western Jiangxi, situated 10 kilometers from the county seat, 42 kilometers from Yichun City, 40 kilometers from the Yichun entrance of the Shanghai-Ruijiang Expressway, and 170 kilometers from Nanchang City. The area features a beautiful environment and pleasant climate. Within the scenic zone, there are four major geological wonders: an underground river-type karst cave stretching 3,985 meters, a stone pillar stone forest covering over 4,000 acres, a giant reclining Buddha mountain formation about 4 kilometers long, and the Lutang Hot Springs. It is rare both nationally and globally to find four major geological wonders within just three square kilometers. In September 2006, Zhushandong was honored as one of "Jiangxi’s Top Ten Unique Scenic Spots" as a representative of Jiangxi caves. In November 2007, the Zhushandong Scenic Area was rated as a national AA-level tourist attraction. Plans are underway to develop it into a comprehensive, multifunctional, high-end ecotourism, agritourism, and resort entertainment destination.

(1) Zhushandong Cave:

During the Qing Dynasty, a literati from Wanzai named Zhang Ao wrote a poem titled “Visiting Zhushandong Cave in Late Spring.” The opening lines read, “Strange rocks and layered cliffs guard Zhushan, the cave mouth wide open with multiple gates.” These lines clearly indicate that Zhushandong Cave was once covered with bamboo. The cave has entrances on both the north and south sides, with a stream meandering from south to north. The water flows around the rocks, and the rocks come alive with the water, creating a radiant interplay full of charm. Zhushandong Cave is known for its four major characteristics: “wondrous cave, beautiful water, bizarre rocks, and vibrant colors.” It is a masterpiece of nature’s “magical craftsmanship” and a heavenly paradise on earth. The captivating sights inside the cave make visitors linger, and the mystery of “water dripping making stones grow” is truly astounding. The cave entrance is spacious, with a lofty dome, winding paths leading to secluded spots, and caves within caves. The underground river inside is crystal clear—sometimes shallow and rapid like galloping horses, sometimes deep and still like a heavenly mirror blessing all beings. Countless stalactites hang like celestial canopies, with deities resembling earthly people, vivid and lifelike. The cave walls feature colorful rocks, sometimes as clear and white as jade, occasionally as purple and red as rosy clouds, then suddenly as dark as ink-black rock, and next moment as golden as yellow stone—like a heavenly palace or a thousand-year-old dragon palace. The cave maintains a constant temperature of 18°C, warm in winter and cool in summer, making it a perfect destination to escape the heat or cold.

The scenery outside the cave is enchanting, with grotesque rocks on the mountains such as the “Divine Cat Guarding the Cave” and “Heavenly Dog Gazing at the Moon,” offering endless visual delights.

① The God of Longevity Points the Way

This is the first attraction of Zhushandong Cave. Looking straight at it, you’ll see an elderly god of longevity smiling at you while holding a divine peach. With his bald head, long eyebrows arching from the corners of his eyes, long beard flowing from his chin, a large divine peach in his left hand, and a dragon-headed cane in his right, his image is incredibly lifelike. If you’re fated, no matter how many puzzles or unanswered questions weigh on your mind, simply pay homage to the sage, and you’ll achieve a spiritual connection, gaining enlightenment and great insight.

② Farmland Fields (Autumn Moon Over a Calm Lake)

It is said to be the farmland cultivated by the son-in-law of the Dragon King. Here you’ll find hundreds of acres of fertile fields, with “qian” (paths running north-south) and “mo” (paths running east-west), crisscrossing like earthly farmland. In fact, these terraced-like pits and hollows were formed through long-term erosion by water containing carbonic acid solutions. The wonder of this attraction is that: at the beginning of each year, if there is much water accumulation here, there will be floods elsewhere; if there is little, there will be drought and crop failure across the land.

③ Golden Ox Looks Back

A huge boulder lies across the path, resembling a large water buffalo lying on the grass (and specifically a pregnant female buffalo), tilting its head as it leisurely drinks water and grazes. Its adorable expression is truly amusing. The ox’s head has a nose and eyes, crafted with striking realism. This boulder took millions of years to take the shape of an ox, giving it a somewhat mystical aura. Visitors who see this ox are believed to attract wealth and good fortune.

④ Zhushandong’s “Three Passes”

A beautiful legend surrounds Zhushandong Cave. It is said that long ago, a powerful dragon lived in the cave, capable of controlling wind and rain. One year, during a prolonged autumn drought, crops withered, and farmers from surrounding villages gathered at the cave entrance to pray for rain. However, the dragon ignored the suffering of the people and continued sleeping inside the cave. The righteous and highly skilled Taoist priest “Dragon Eye” led the disaster-stricken people into the cave. The dragon, furious, caused a flood. The Taoist priest used magic to move massive rocks and threw his magical tools—the “rice sieve” and “command ruler”—into the water, finally stopping the flood. The raging waters turned into gentle streams, irrigating the vast fields outside the cave. These are the origins of the “Command Ruler Pass,” “Rice Sieve Pass,” and “Rubble Pass,” collectively known as Zhushandong’s “Three Passes.”

⑤ Thousand Buddha Cliff

On this thirty-meter-long cliff, curtains hang low, red candles glow brightly, and rows of statues—Bodhisattvas, Arhats, fairies, and young Taoists—are lined up, hence the name “Thousand Buddha Cliff.” The glow of Buddha’s light and the fragrance of incense seem to carry whispers of the divine and revelations from the heavens, creating a dreamlike, otherworldly atmosphere like a celestial paradise.

⑥ Wanzai Lily

This is an enormous “Wanzai Lily,” grown over thousands of years by absorbing the spiritual energy of Zhushandong Cave. Blessed with divine energy, it is believed to have benefits such as moistening the lungs, relieving coughs, calming the mind, invigorating the spleen, prolonging life, and even fighting cancer. It was not only a tribute to the imperial court during the Ming and Qing dynasties but also supplied to the central Lushan Conference in 1959 and 1970 as Longya Lily powder. Currently, this giant lily has applied for a Guinness World Record and will promote the beauty of Wanzai to the world.

⑦ Million-Year Lingzhi Mushroom

The ultimate pursuit of Taoism is “immortality,” and lingzhi mushrooms are believed to prolong life, thus often regarded as sacred, noble, and symbolic of favorable weather, national prosperity, and peace. The purple-brown, lacquer-like million-year-old lingzhi mushroom inside Zhushandong Cave, with its distinct gear-like patterns, grows in such an ancient, mysterious, and deep environment, further emphasizing its enigmatic and legendary nature.

Additionally, Zhushandong Cave features many other attractions such as the “Dragon Gate Boudoir,” “Ritual Beach,” “Emerging Divine Turtle,” “Sea God Mirage,” “Snow Pines by the Water,” “Stone Harp Waterfall,” “Sunset on Kunshan and Purple Clouds over the Canopy,” all of which are mesmerizing and leave visitors lingering.

Address: Dongkou Village, Mabu Township, Wanzai County, Yichun City

Type: Cave & Mountain

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5–1 day

Phone: 0795-8975481

Opening Hours:

Zhushandong Scenic Area is open all day, with the cave itself open from 8:00–18:00.

Ticket Information:

List price: 78.0 RMB

Admission to Zhushandong Scenic Tourism Area is free of charge; however, the ticket for Zhushandong Cave is 78 RMB. Children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters tall, as well as students with valid student IDs, can enjoy a half-price discount. Children under 1.2 meters and seniors over 70 years old are admitted free of charge. Free guided tours are also available.