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吉安市

jí ān · Ji'an

A Song-dynasty academy town on the Gan River

Why this place

Ji'an was one of the great cultural centres of Song China — the Bailuzhou Academy here produced more imperial examination graduates than almost anywhere, and Ouyang Xiu, Wen Tianxiang and Yang Wanli all came from this prefecture. Its river towns have kept their old lanes.

What to see

  • Bailuzhou Academy, on an island in the Gan River
  • The Ji'an kiln sites — Jizhou ware, with its distinctive paper-cut and leaf decoration
  • Qingyuan Mountain and the old river towns of the Gan valley
  • Jinggangshan, the revolutionary base area, in the mountains to the west

What to eat

  • Jiangxi rice noodles and river fish
  • Ji'an is known for its dried bamboo shoots and its tea

Best time

April–May and October–November

江西省 · Jiangxi China Guide