If you are a traveler looking for a place that will give you a variety of interesting options, then Jiangxi province in southern China is definitely the place for you! The pristine beauty of its misty mountains and fresh water lakes will enchant you. Its modern as well as ancient Chinese historical sites will whet your appetite for learning about its culture. To top it off, 'China's Capital of Porcelain' is located here, thus satisfying the shopper in us all.

Jiangxi province is situated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Its neighboring provinces include Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei and Anhui. Jiangxi province got its name during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) and because the Gan River runs through this province from north to south, it is also called Gan for short. It covers an area of 1,669,000 square kilometers (644,440 square miles) with a population of about 40 million.

When to go

Jiangxi has a warm and humid climate with cold springs and winters, hot summers and dry autumns thus accounting for its four distinct seasons. Annual rainfall averages 1400-1800 millimeters and the average temperature of the province is 3-9C in January and 27-31C in July.

Jiangxi province is a showcase for natural beauty. Tourists will find it hard to leave its beautiful mountains, lakes and rivers. Particularly attractive is Poyang Lake, which is not only the biggest fresh water lake in China, but also the largest winter habitat for white cranes. When winter approaches, about 2800 white cranes will migrate to Poyang Lake to spend their winter. What a spectacular sight! On the east side of this lake is Mt. Lushan, a wonderful summer resort with its lush mountains, enveloping clouds and mists, rapid streams and numerous deep pools and waterfalls. Mysterious and enchanting sceneries nestle in its secluded valleys and deep ravines. Sudongpo, a well-known poet of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), in honor of the 'Cloud Sea' of Mt. Lushan for its ever - changing mist, wrote, 'The failure to get a real perspective of the mountain only results in the fact that you are right in the midst of it'. Another mountain - Jinggangshan enjoys a dual reputation. It is more widely known as the cradle of the Chinese revolution rather than for its natural beauty, which is, in fact, comparable to the more famous Lu Shan.

History

The historical sites of Jiangxi also attract guests from all corners of the world. Nanchang is the capital of Jiangxi. Tengwang Pavilion is located just west of Nanchang and is one of three famous pavilions south of the Yangtze River. This pavilion gained its reputation to a great extent because of a well-known poem called 'Preface to Tengwang Pavilion' by Wangbo, a reputable poet of the Tang Dynasty. Donglin Monastery is located at the foot of Lushan. It was built in 386 for the monk Hui Yuan (334-416), founder of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism. Hui Yuan spent many years translating Buddhist scriptures in this temple.

Local Highlights

The highlight of Jiangxi travel should be Jingdezhen, which is known as the 'Capital of Porcelain' in China. Ceramics were produced here as early as 1,800 years ago in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Today, Jingdezhen remains a national center for porcelain production. While in this ancient town, tourists can visit many pottery factories and ancient kiln sites. In addition, Jiangxi is one of the ancient tea-producing areas in China. The Black Tea produced in Ningzhou City and the Green Tea produced in Wuyuan City are well-known throughout China.