Qingshan Forest Park

Qingshan Forest Park

Ruichang City’s Qingshan Forest Park is located over 60 kilometers east of Jiujiang. Long-distance buses from Jiujiang to Nanchang and from Jiujiang to Changsha pass through the park area, and the Nanwu Railway runs close by, making transportation very convenient. Qingshan is situated in the northern part of Jiangxi Province and the central area of Ruichang City, with a view of the Yangtze River to the north and Lushan Mountain to the east. Its highest peak stands at an elevation of 921 meters, covering an area of over 50 square kilometers, rich in eco-tourism resources. The park boasts a collection of over 500 varieties of precious flowers, plants, and trees, with an average annual temperature of around 15 degrees Celsius and a maximum temperature that does not exceed 31 degrees Celsius.

Qingshan has a profound historical and cultural heritage. Legend has it that after unifying the six states and conquering the entire nation, Qin Shi Huang traveled across China’s famous mountains and rivers. Drawn by its reputation, he climbed to the summit of this mountain, gazed upon the Yangtze River, overlooked the lands south of the river, and was so pleased that he named it “Qingshan” (Qin Mountain). Qingshan is located near Lushan Mountain, sharing a similar landscape and charm, hence it is also referred to as Lushan’s “sister mountain.” Through the vicissitudes of time, many stories have been passed down. The great poet Su Dongpo, on his way to Huangzhou in Hubei, visited Qingshan and wrote the admiring verse: “Peaks rise between Wu and Chu, winding paths lead through valleys; half the landscape’s beauty is captured here, and every stream hides a lurking dragon.” Historical figures such as Cheng Pu of the Three Kingdoms period, Yue Fei of the Song Dynasty, Li Zicheng of the late Ming Dynasty, and Li Zongren of the Northern Expedition have all left their footprints on Qingshan, and many magical and wonderful legends about them still circulate today. In modern revolutionary history, Qingshan also bears the traces of Red Army battles, with many heroic and moving stories still told.

Qingshan is also a sacred site of Taoism in northern Jiangxi. Legend has it that during the Three Kingdoms period, the Taoist monks Kang Daocheng rode a deer and Fei Wenwei rode a crane to this place, where they built huts, raised deer, and enjoyed themselves. During the Song Dynasty, Jing Chong, a protector of the imperial court, grew weary of worldly life, resigned from office, and secluded himself in Qingshan to practice Taoism, where he founded the Yuqing Palace to guide those with affinity. Later generations revered Kang Daocheng, Fei Wenwei, and Jing Chong as the founding patriarchs of Qingshan, giving rise to the tale of Qingshan’s “Three Immortals.” It is said that the 2,400 ancient stone steps in the forest were the celestial ladder that Taoist disciples once climbed to ascend to immortality. In 1995, Xie Zongxin, former Vice President of the China Taoist Association, was drawn to the spiritual aura of Taoism in Qingshan. He funded the reconstruction of the Taiqing Palace and personally served as its abbot. The Yuqing Palace, Taiqing Palace, Shangqing Palace, and eight other major Taoist temples shine brilliantly amidst Qingshan’s secluded valleys and lush forests, presenting a magnificent sight.

Each tree forms a scene, and the ancient courtyard with its bamboo groves is filled with poetic charm everywhere. A group of ancient trees—including a 3,000-year-old fine-leaf oak, a 530-year-old Chinese scholar tree, and a 400-year-old ancient maple—boasts lush foliage and vibrant greenery, evoking deep reverie. Rolling mountains, misty rain, sea of clouds at dawn, murmuring streams, and picturesque scenery accompany your journey. The “Hidden Dragon Pool” features a cascading waterfall with emerald-green waters, offering spectacular views. The “Towering Cliff” rises high into the sky, majestic and grand. The alluring wildlife reserve, with sightings of leopards and cobras, leaves adventurers in awe.