Jinggang Mountains

The Jinggang Mountains (Jinggangshan) are a compact mountain range in Jiangxi province, southern China, known for steep forested ridges and granite outcrops. The area is historically significant as the early rural base of the Chinese Communist movement in the late 1920s.

The landscape combines natural scenery with a network of memorial sites, museums and preserved former encampments that attract visitors for both nature walks and revolutionary history tourism. Trails lead to viewpoints, waterfalls and small villages scattered in the valleys.

In the late 1920s and early 1930s the mountains were used as a base area by Mao Zedong, Zhu De and other leaders of the Communist movement; those events are central to the site’s historical identity and are interpreted at local museums and memorials.

Geographically the range lies in western Jiangxi province and is reachable from nearby prefectural cities; the terrain is mountainous, heavily forested and protected as a scenic and historic area.

• Cradle of the Red Army: Known as the birthplace of the Chinese Red Army and a strategic rural base founded by Communist leaders in the late 1920s, the area is important for modern Chinese history.
• Visitor access: Accessible by road from nearby cities in Jiangxi province, popular with domestic visitors for both history tourism and nature hiking.

What to See#

• Revolutionary sites: Sites and trails associated with early Communist base areas, including preserved encampments and local museums documenting Red Army history and campaigns of the late 1920s and early 1930s.
• Hiking and scenic areas: Forested ridges, granite peaks and waterfalls that offer hiking and scenic viewpoints, with networked trails through the mountain forests.

The Jinggang Mountains (Jinggangshan) are in Jiangxi province and are served by regional transport. Many visitors fly to the regional Jinggangshan airport (domestic flights) or take high‑speed/regular trains to nearby cities such as Ji’an, then continue by local bus or taxi to the Jinggangshan Scenic Area. Depending on which rail or road station you use, the final transfer to the main park facilities is typically a local road journey of a few tens of kilometres.

• Avoid major Chinese public holidays (especially Golden Week in October and early May holidays) when domestic tourism spikes; on normal weekdays arrive early to experience quieter trails and clearer views.
• Combine the revolutionary memorial sites and museums with at least one forested hiking route-the area is both a 'red tourism' destination and a natural park, so allow a full day to see both sides rather than rushing between sites.