Lu Shan, a mountain town situated in the northern reaches of Jiangxi province is best known for its cool summer days, abundant flora and spectacular views of the Jiangxi plains. Set amongst mist cloaked peaks, its Buddhist and Taoist temples blend seamlessly with the rugged landscape.

Lu Shan is an ideal place to get off the beaten track and explore. After a short walk in almost any direction you're likely to find one of the 200 odd historical buildings scattered about the mountain's craggy outcrops. Dragon Head Cliff to the west of town is a natural rock platform perched atop a cliff which plunges several hundred meters to the ground.

Lu Shan began its emergence as a place of cultural and religious significance during the Han Dynasty at around 300 BC. In subsequent years, it became home to the monk Huiyuan, who founded the Jingtu sect of Buddhism and monk Jianzhen, who originally took the teachings of Buddhism to Japan.

In later centuries, Lu Shan's reputation as a center of religious study attracted various other sects of Buddhism, Islam and Christianity to set up centers there.

In more recent history, Chairman Mao chose Lu Shan as the destination for several Communist Party Conferences, the mysterious topics of which are still debated today.

Due to its proximity to Poyang Lake, the fifth largest fresh water lake in China, Lu Shan's weather is quite humid most of the year round, but has four distinct seasons. During the summer months it is blessed with cool days and fresh mists and high temperatures cap out at around 32°C (90°F). Autumn is chilly and tends to be the driest season but highlights the mountains many deciduous trees. Frigid northerly winds can be expected in winter and traveling is not highly recommended until spring.