Yuelu Scenic Area

Overview

About

The Yuelu scenic area on the west bank of the Xiang River in Changsha, Hunan, is an urban mountain landscape of five parts, Lushan, Tianma, Taohualing, Shijialing and Orange Island, plus the former New People’s Study Society site and the Tuchengtou ruins, about 36 km² with Lushan as the core.

Yuelu Mountain, 300 m, also called Linglu Peak, is a mountain of culture where Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism coexist. The Yuelu Academy, founded in the Song, is one of China’s four great academies and the most famous. The Taoist Yunlu Palace stands on Yunlu Peak. Other sights are the Sarira Pagoda, the Aiwan Pavilion, the Yu the Great stele, White Crane Spring and the Ernan poem inscriptions.

The climate is mild and rainy and the cultural heritage rich. Between Yunlu Peak, White Crane Spring and Qingfeng Gorge large tracts of secondary evergreen broadleaf forest survive, with rare and endangered trees such as the honey locust, gingko and magnolia; the oldest is a podocarp more than 1,700 years old.

It is in the fourth batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 2002.

Travel tips

Getting there: Yuelu Mountain is on the west bank of the Xiang River in Changsha, reached to its foot by metro and bus. Changsha South has high-speed trains, and Huanghua Airport connects to the city by airport bus and maglev.

Yuelu Academy: at the foot of the hill, now inside Hunan University, one of the four great academies of China; bring an ID card, and go early on holidays.

Aiwan Pavilion: a short walk behind the academy and the best-known sight on the hill; paths up the hill also start here.

Going up: you can climb stone paths in an hour or two to the Yunlu Palace at the top, or go by road; whether the park bus and cable car run varies.

Orange Isle: a river island in the Xiang opposite the hill and visible from it; usually a separate half day, on foot or by sightseeing cart.

Time: the academy and pavilion take half a day; the climb a morning; the island half a day; all together a day and a half to two days.

Season: autumn leaves make Aiwan Pavilion best known; summer is hot; winter is damp and cold.

Where to stay: Changsha city is the most convenient, around Wuyi Square and along the Xiang River.

Nearby: the Hunan Museum is in the city; Hengshan lies to the south and Shaoshan to the southwest.

Nearby

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