Jiangxi

Cruised down the Gan River in Ganzhou and really enjoyed the slower pace of life here. The old city wall is well preserved and you can cycle along the top — it's not as famous as Xi'an's but way less crowded. Visited a Hakka roundhouse (tulou) in Longnan county; the guide was a local grandma who told stories about growing up there. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars is that the public transport between villages is unreliable — I waited over an hour for a bus that never showed. Rented a scooter afterwards which solved it. Great experience overall.

Nanchang was a mixed bag for me. The Tengwang Pavilion is beautiful from the outside but the interior felt too modern and commercial — lots of souvenir shops and not enough real history. The nearby Wanshou Palace district had better vibes with its old lanes and street food. I had a decent bowl of rice noodles at a small shop but found the city generally less polished than other Chinese provincial capitals. If you're passing through, it's fine for a day, but I wouldn't go out of my way.

Wuyuan's Huangling village in autumn is pure magic. The晒秋 (drying crops on rooftops) creates this incredible patchwork of red chili peppers, golden corn, and orange persimmons against the white-walled houses. I'm not usually a 'village tourist' but this place won me over. The cable car ride up gives you a bird's-eye view of the whole valley. One thing: the local food stalls are hit-or-miss — the steamed buns were great but the sticky rice cake was bland. Still, a solid 5 out of 5 for the scenery alone.

Lushan National Park is a hiker's paradise. Took the cable car up and then walked the Flower Path — the mist rolling over the peaks felt surreal. The waterfalls were roaring after the recent rain. Saw a few monkeys near the temple ruins, which was a nice surprise. The only downside was the overpriced snacks at the summit, but the views make up for it. Would come back in autumn for the red leaves.

Spent a whole day at Jingdezhen and was blown away by the ancient kiln sites and the porcelain workshops. The hands-on pottery class was messy but so rewarding — I made a bowl that now sits on my desk at home. The old town area near the museum has this quiet charm you don't find in big cities. Only wish I had booked two days instead of one; there's just so much to see. Definitely a highlight of my China trip.

Stayed at a hotel near Tengwang Pavilion in Nanchang. The pavilion itself is beautifully restored at night with lights, but the surrounding area was super noisy with construction and traffic. Room was okay but the air conditioner barely worked in July heat. Not the worst visit but definitely not worth the hype for the price.