Hukou Shizhong Mountain Scenic Area

Hukou Shizhong Mountain Scenic Area

Hukou Shizhong Mountain Scenic Area is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction.

Shizhong Mountain is situated in Shuangzhong Town, Hukou County, standing majestically on the banks of the Yangtze River at the mouth of Poyang Lake. It is surrounded by water on three sides and connected to land on one side, resembling a peninsula. The entire mountain is divided into upper and lower sections: the Upper Shizhong Mountain faces south toward the lake, while the Lower Shizhong Mountain lies north near the river. The two mountains cover a total area of 100,000 square meters and have an elevation of 67.7 meters. Though not particularly high, the mountain features steep and rugged cliffs that rise abruptly, thrusting into the lake and locking the river, creating an extraordinary and imposing presence. Historically, this area has been the site of numerous fierce battles, such as the conflict between Zhu Yuanzhang and Chen Youliang, the Taiping Rebellion's heavy defeat of Zeng Guofan’s navy, the raising of the revolutionary flag during the Second Revolution led by Li Liejun, and the crossing of the Yangtze River by a million-strong army, which broke through the Nationalist government's defenses between Jiangyin and Hukou. Throughout history, it has always been a strategic military location.

The development of Shizhong Mountain has a long history. Archaeological findings indicate that as early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties, the ancestors living around Poyang Lake engaged in fishing and hunting here and built homes with wooden frames and mud walls. The name "Shizhong Mountain" first appeared in the "Shui Jing" (Waterways Classic) by Sang Qin of the Han Dynasty, which records: "At the mouth of Poyang Lake, there is a mountain called Shizhong." The name has been in use for over 1,700 years.

Why is the mountain named "Zhong" (Bell)? Opinions have varied: some say it is because "below the cliffs lies a deep pool, where gentle winds stir the waves, and the water strikes the rocks, producing a sound like a great bell" (from "Shui Jing Zhu" by Li Daoyuan); others suggest the rocks of Shizhong Mountain can produce sounds when "tapped" (from "Bian Shizhong Shan Ji" by Li Bo); or that "it is hollow inside, shaped like a bell, and thus uniquely formed" (from "Preface to the Chronicles of Shizhong Mountain" by Hu Chuanzhao). In June of the seventh year of the Yuanfeng era (1084) during the Song Dynasty, Su Shi and his son visited Shizhong Mountain by boat under the moonlight and concluded that the mountain rocks were "hollow with many cavities, resonating with the wind and water, producing sounds like deep drumbeats and echoes."

He also wrote the timeless masterpiece "Record of Shizhong Mountain."

To visit the Lower Shizhong Mountain, you can follow a winding stone path shaded by lush trees and bamboo groves, passing pavilions and terraces as you ascend to the mountaintop. Along the way, you’ll find sites such as Su Shi’s Night Anchorage, Huaisu Pavilion, Banshan Pavilion, Ganyuan Garden, Boat Hall, Jetty Head, Bell Rock, as well as the Zhaozhong Temple built by imperial decree of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty, the "Gratitude and Filial Forest" created by Peng Yulin, a general of the Xiang Army Navy, to pray for his mother’s soul, Peng Yulin’s residence and leisure spot—Huanxiang Villa and Meihua Hall, the Guiyi Pavilion commemorating Tao Yuanming, and scenic garden structures such as Shisun (Stone Bamboo Shoots), Qexian Pavilion, Taohua Cave, Guanyu Pond, Corridor Outside the Corridor, Tower Outside the Tower, and Shizhong Cave. The entire architectural complex is built along the mountain contours, integrating scenery with the landscape, blending concealment with exposure, combining voids and solids, all surrounded by rocks and water, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

From the "Jiangtian Yilan Pavilion" at the mountaintop, you can gaze into the distance at the mighty Yangtze River surging forward and the vast expanse of Poyang Lake with its rolling waves. At the meeting point of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River, the clear and murky waters form a striking visual divide. In the distance, the peaks of Mount Lu are shrouded in mist. At night, the moon rises over the twin towns, reflecting on the flowing river. Shizhong Mountain was once a vital waterway for ancient travelers entering or leaving Nanchang via the Yangtze River. Merchants, travelers, and officials often moored their boats here, inspiring numerous literary works by poets and scholars. The Ming Dynasty poet Wang Ying described the mountain’s majestic scenery as: “The Five Elders’ peaks veiled in cloud, from Jiujiang they reach the sky. Frightening waves crash on the rocks, as gales and thunders roar through every dell.”

Time Needed

2 hours

Transportation

Public Transport:

1. Buses from Jiujiang Long-Distance Bus Station to Hukou County cost 10 RMB per person. After arriving, take a local bus to reach Shizhong Mountain.

2. Travelers can also take a boat from Jiujiang City to Shuangzhong Town, Hukou County, at 20 RMB per person, then hike up to Shizhong Mountain (there is no direct bus, so driving is recommended).

Admission Fee

Admission: 72 RMB (Children under 1.2m (not including) are free; seniors aged 70 and above (including) with a senior ID or ID card, active-duty military personnel, those with military disability certificates, or disability certificates are admitted free with valid documents; children between 1.2m (including) and 1.5m (including) can purchase discounted tickets; full-time students can buy discounted tickets with a student ID).

Opening Hours

08:00-17:00

Location

At the foot of Wulong Mountain, 36 kilometers southwest of Pengze County, Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province