Lulin Lake

Lulin Lake

Lulin Lake is located in the Lulin Basin at an elevation of 1,040 meters in the eastern valley of Lushan District, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province, hence it is also known as East Lake. About a 20-minute walk up the stone steps from Huanglong Temple will take you to the Lulin Bridge. The path is shaded by dense forests with tall, straight tree trunks, making it a cool and refreshing place to walk in summer. The Lulin Bridge stands 30 meters high, combining the functions of a bridge and a dam, used to impound water and form the lake. The lake surface is mirror-like, resembling a glowing piece of jade inlaid in a verdant valley, beautiful against the backdrop of drifting clouds.

Two to three million years ago, Mount Lu was in the Quaternary glacial period, and this area was the largest snow and ice accumulation valley on the mountain.

Surrounded by mountains and lush pines and cypresses, Lulin Lake boasts beautiful scenery. Originally a wild valley overgrown with reeds and home to wild animals, it lies between Yuping Peak and Xingzhou Peak. In 1954, a dam was built between the two peaks to store water, and the lake was completed the following year. The dam is 32 meters high, 120 meters long, and 12 meters wide. The lake covers an area of approximately 90,000 square meters and holds about 1.2 million cubic meters of water. The water is clean and clear, like a mirror, reflecting the surrounding mountain scenery, creating a delightful scene. There are two small pavilions in the center of the lake, both exquisitely designed and adding beauty to the lake surface. Inside, one serves as a water intake tower and the other as a spillway. The water stored in Lulin Lake currently serves as the main water source for the 13,000 residents of Guling Town on Mount Lu.

Mao Zedong swam in the lake many times during his lifetime. In 1993, the "Mao Zedong Poetry Stele Garden" was built at the head of the bridge to commemorate the centennial of his birth. The steles feature Mao’s calligraphy from poems such as *Climbing Mount Lu* and *Inscription on the Immortal’s Cave*, as well as several ancient poems.

The Lulin Bridge is built on the dam of Lulin Lake. The dam has a volume of 30,000 cubic meters and is constructed from a mixture of stones and cement, appearing grand and broad. The upper section of the bridge has five arches. When the water is released, the five arches spout forth like five dragons roaring down, creating a magnificent artificial waterfall. This spectacle can be viewed from the “Jiaolou Bridge,” which is located beside the dam. To get there, descend over a hundred stone steps from the south side of the bridge into the valley.

A 20-minute walk up the stone steps from Huanglong Temple will take you to the Lulin Bridge. The path is shaded by dense forests with tall, straight tree trunks, making it a cool and refreshing place to walk in summer. The Lulin Bridge stands 30 meters high and combines the functions of a bridge and a dam, used to impound water and form the lake. The lake surface is mirror-like, resembling a glowing piece of jade inlaid in a verdant valley. Under the misty clouds, it looks like a heavenly lake. Two to three million years ago, Mount Lu was in the Quaternary glacial period, and this area was a typical ice cellar—the largest snow and ice accumulation valley on the mountain. In 1954, a dam was built here to impound water, thus forming a flat lake in the high gorge, surrounded by green mountains and blue waters, with mountain reflections creating a delightful scene. It has become a scenic highlight of Mount Lu. Comrade Mao Zedong once swam in Lulin Lake. The lake is an artificial reservoir completed in 1955. A bridge, the Lulin Bridge, 120 meters long and 32 meters high, was built on the dam. The lake covers an area of 200 mu (approximately 13.3 hectares), and two colorful pavilions in the center are reflected in the water. The shimmering lake water mirrors the surrounding peaks, adding even more charm to the beautiful scenery of Mount Lu.

A short walk north from the Lulin Bridge leads to the central small basin of Mount Lu, where you’ll find the palace-style Lushan Museum, the modernly equipped Lushan Building, and the People's Theatre, among other attractions.

Address: Lulin Basin, Eastern Valley, Mount Lu, Jiujiang City

Type: Lake

Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

Opening hours:

8:30-18:00