Jiangxi

Jiangxi province is south of the Yangtze River. It was the base of the Communist army in the 1930's. Its capital, Nanchang, saw the uprising of the Communist army on August 1, August 1 is now the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Day.

Lushan Mountain, 210 km NW of Nanchang, is a summer resort overlooking Poyang Lake, one of China's largest, and the Yangtze. Many famous poets wrote about its lovely blossoms and splashing waterfalls. In the last half of the 1800s, hotels and villas were built for wealthy Chinese, government officials and foreign missionaries. Lushan's views of the plains and the Yangtze are breathtaking. It is full of lovely trees, hills, pavilions, and old Tang pagodas and temples.

Jiujiang is a large port on the south bank of the Yangtze, between Wuhan and Nanjing. Bound on the east by Poyang Lake and on the south by Mt. Lushan. Its Donglin Temple is the birthplace of the "Pure Earth" sect of Buddhism (founded over 1,500 years ago). The Poyang Lake Migrant Birds Reserve is said to be the largest in the world. Visitors can go to the Yanshui Pavilion, a 1840-square-meter island in the middle of Lake Gantang covered with gardens and pavilions.

Jingdezhen is a city founded in the Han dynasty. Some of its best porcelain was shipped to Europe centuries ago. Today, it still produces some of China's best porcelain.

Jinggangshan Mountain, a 275-square-km mountain range, was the base of the Communists led by Mao Zedong after 1927. The Communists embarked on the legendary Long March to Yan'an in Oct. 1934. Mao's former residence and other revolutionary sites are open to the public. The Mountains themselves are beautiful, with steep cliffs and deep valleys.