Red Tour: Wuhan-Changsha-Shaoshan-Jinggangshan-Nanchang Six-Day Five-Night Self-Drive Trip

Day 1 Wuhan-Yueyang-Changsha.

Wuhan to Yueyang is 187.5 km, a drive of over two hours.

In the morning, visit Yueyang Tower. Yueyang Tower is located on the city wall at the west gate of Yueyang ancient city, on Dongting North Road, Yueyang Tower District, Yueyang City, Hunan Province. It overlooks Dongting Lake and faces Junshan Island. Built in 215 AD during the Eastern Han dynasty, it has been renovated many times. The current building follows the form and layout of the reconstruction in 1880. Yueyang Tower became famous due to Fan Zhongyan's "Record of Yueyang Tower" written at the request of Teng Zongliang, who had the tower rebuilt during the Northern Song dynasty. It has long been praised as "Dongting's water under heaven, Yueyang's tower under heaven" and is considered one of the "Three Great Towers of Jiangnan" along with Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan, Hubei and Prince Teng Pavilion in Nanchang, Jiangxi. It is also one of the "Ten Famous Historical and Cultural Towers in China" and one of the four famous ancient towers, often called the "First Tower Under Heaven."

The visit takes about two hours. If interested, you can also explore Junshan Island and Dongting Lake. However, due to time constraints, we did not include these in our itinerary and directly drove to Orange Isle Scenic Area in Changsha, which takes about two hours (except on holidays, self-driving cars can drive directly onto Orange Isle with advance reservation). After entering the scenic area, purchase tickets for the scenic shuttle (small train) to reach Mao Zedong's Youth Sculpture Square directly.

Orange Isle, located in Yuelu District, Changsha City, Hunan Province, is the largest alluvial sandbar in the lower reaches of the Xiangjiang River and is known as the "First Isle in China." It runs from south to north through the middle of the river, with Yuelu Mountain to the west and Changsha city to the east. Surrounded by water, it stretches over ten miles, narrowest at about 40 meters and widest at about 140 meters, forming a long island. According to historical records, Orange Isle was formed in 305 AD during the Jin dynasty due to swirling currents depositing sand and gravel.

The Youth Art Sculpture of Mao Zedong stands at the head of Orange Isle, portraying Mao's ambition and youthful vigor. As a young man, Mao Zedong expressed his aspirations on Orange Isle, asking, "To the vast earth, who determines the rise and fall?"

After the visit, find a hotel by the Xiangjiang River to stay for the night, where you can enjoy the sunset over the river and photograph the beautiful night scenery of the Xiangjiang River.

[Photo: Youth Art Sculpture of Mao Zedong at the head of Orange Isle]

Day 2 Changsha-Shaoshan-Gaoyiling Tourist Area

In the morning, after tasting Changsha snacks, drive to Shaoshan. It's 72 km from Changsha to Shaoshan, a drive of just over one hour.

Shaoshan is the hometown of Mao Zedong, the great leader of the Chinese people, and where he lived, studied, worked, and engaged in revolutionary activities during his youth. Mao Zedong's former residence is a famous revolutionary memorial site, a national patriotic education base, a key national scenic area, and an excellent tourist city in China.

Self-driving vehicles are not allowed into the scenic area. As soon as you get out of the car, people will approach and offer to guide your vehicle in for a fee. Not sure if this is a trap, we didn't take the bait and proceeded directly to the visitor center to buy tickets and enter.

After a short shuttle ride, we arrived at Mao Zedong's Bronze Statue Square.

[Photo: Mao Zedong's Bronze Statue Square]

After paying respects to the bronze statue, we visited the Shaoshan Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, and then Mao Zedong's former residence.

[Photo: Mao Zedong's former residence]

[Photo: Mao Zedong's former residence]

Due to time constraints and the large size of the scenic area, we were quite tired after visiting these three sites (though you could take the shuttle to other attractions). After leaving the scenic area, we enjoyed Mao-style braised pork and other local delicacies. Then we drove to the Gaoyiling Tourist Area, taking about three and a half hours. Stayed overnight at an inn in Gaoyiling.

Day 3 Gaoyiling Tourist Area - Xiaodongjiang

After breakfast, explore the Gaoyiling Scenic Area (about four hours needed, especially for taking photos).

Gaoyiling Scenic Area is located at the junction of Qiaokou Town, Suxian District, Chenzhou City and Zixing City in Hunan Province. It features mountains, water, springs, caves, villages, cliffs, and open ground. The biggest highlight is the Danxia landform, dotted with pools of water, red rock and green water, dangerous villages and strange gullies, with pristine ecology and stunning beauty.

From a distance, the mountain resembles a chair back.

In the afternoon, drive from Gaoyiling Tourist Area to Xiaodongjiang Scenic Area, about 40 minutes.

To conveniently watch the morning mist on Xiaodongjiang the next day, we found an inn near platforms 1, 2, and 4 of Xiaodongjiang (platform 3 was under renovation).

Day 4 Xiaodongjiang - Jinggangshan Scenic Area

To catch the morning mist on Xiaodongjiang, we got up at 5:00 a.m. In summer, the scenic area opens at 5:30 a.m. Seniors over 65 do not need an admission ticket but must buy a scenic shuttle ticket (15 RMB per person). Starting from platform 4, we watched the mist and took photos nonstop—it was absolutely beautiful. At platform 4, there was a fisherman casting nets. At platform 2, a young woman cast nets, and there were mountain song performances. After reaching platform 2, we took the shuttle to Longjing Canyon.

At noon, we tasted Dongjiang Lake grilled fish. Then we drove to the Jinggangshan Scenic Area - Ciping, a total of over 220 km, nearly 4 hours. After arriving at Ciping, we first visited the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Museum and the surrounding revolutionary sites.

The Jinggangshan Revolutionary Museum, located on Hongjun South Road, Ciping, Jinggangshan City, Jiangxi Province, was built in November 1958. It houses over 30,000 cultural relics, more than 20,000 precious documents and historical pictures, and over a thousand pieces of calligraphy and paintings by national leaders, famous calligraphers, and renowned figures. It also preserves hundreds of video materials of Mao Zedong, Zhu De, and other leaders visiting Jinggangshan again.

Overnight stay: Jinggangshan Jingqi Business Hotel (the owner is warm and attentive, providing free parking, free pickup and drop-off, and delicious food at reasonable prices).

Early the next morning, we took the scenic shuttle to tour various attractions in Jinggangshan. Unfortunately, it drizzled that day (locals say it rains 260 days a year in Jinggangshan). Luckily, at Huangyangjie we saw a vast sea of clouds.

After lunch, we drove to Nanchang. The journey from Jinggangshan to Nanchang is 334 km, taking nearly four hours. Upon arrival in Nanchang, we headed straight to Bayi Square. Bayi Square is located at the intersection of Bayi Avenue, Beijing West Road, Zhongshan Road, and Ruzi Road in Donghu District, Nanchang City. The square features the "August 1 Nanchang Uprising Memorial Tower" inscribed by Marshal Ye Jianying.

Day 6 Nanchang - Wuhan

In the morning, visit Prince Teng Pavilion. Prince Teng Pavilion is located on Yanjiang Road, Donghu District, Nanchang City, on the east bank of the Gan River at the confluence of the Gan River and the old course of the Fu River. Built in 653 AD during the Tang dynasty, it was constructed by Li Yuanying, younger brother of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin and Prince Teng of Tang, when he served as the governor of Hongzhou in Jiangnan. The current building was rebuilt in 1985. It became famous due to the "Preface to Prince Teng Pavilion" written by early Tang poet Wang Bo, and is one of the "Three Great Towers of Jiangnan."

After that, visit the Nanchang Ship Theme Park. This tourist attraction combines history, culture, and military elements. The Nanchang Ship was China's first self-developed missile destroyer, witnessing the development of the Chinese navy. After decommissioning, it was handed over to Nanchang city and transformed into a theme park, allowing visitors to get up close and learn about the glorious history of the Chinese navy. The Nanchang Ship, hull number 163, is quietly moored in the Gan River, looking quite imposing with its full flags! Purchase a wristband (79 yuan) to participate in interactive activities on the ship, such as checking in at ship compartments, shooting, and experiencing the daily life, study, and training of sailors in cramped quarters. There is also a movie that vividly recreates the scenes of the Nanchang Ship on duty at sea, which is very popular with children.

Return trip in the afternoon: Nanchang to Wuhan is 347 km, a drive of nearly four and a half hours. The six-day five-night self-drive trip concluded perfectly.