Lujiang County 庐江县

Setting and landscape

Streams in the south of the county run to the Yangtze, those in the north to Lake Chao. At the southern tip of Tangchi town (汤池镇), Sanchong village (三冲村) is ringed by mountains. Its sights include the five falls of the Zhaiwa Five Dragons (寨洼五龙瀑布), described as Hefei's largest group of waterfalls, and a ridge of wild azaleas called Hongling (红岭). The village also takes in Qifengjian (起风尖), the source of the Macaohe stream (马槽河) on the south side of the lake.

History

In 466 the Liu Song set up Qian County (灊县) on the site of today's county seat, Lucheng (庐城镇). Late in the Tianjian era of the Liang dynasty it was renamed Lujiang, the first use of the county's present name. Lujiang belonged to the prefecture-level city of Chaohu until that city was abolished on 22 August 2011, when it passed to Hefei.

What to see

Yefu Mountain (冶父山) is a national forest park with 96 per cent forest cover and shaded trails. At its eastern foot stands Shiji Temple (实际寺), founded in 898 under the Tang by the Chan master Fuhu (伏虎禅师) as Yefu Temple; Emperor Taizu of the Song gave it its present name. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt many times, and today's buildings date from after the Cultural Revolution.

Niuwangzhai (牛王寨), at 596 metres, is promoted as the point in Hefei closest to the sky, with large bamboo forests on the way up. Huangpi Lake (黄陂湖) is a wetland where lotus covers the water in summer, and Tangchi has hot springs. In Wanshan (万山镇), the Changchong River (长冲河) winds through Changchong village (长冲村) with an 8-kilometre path along its shallow, pebbly bed.

Food and local products

Huangpi Lake hairy crab (黄陂湖大闸蟹) is a national geographical-indication product. Around Tangchi, tea, chestnuts and seasonal fruit and vegetables are sold at scenic-area markets and on guesthouse tables.

Getting oriented

The Hefei–Jiujiang railway, the Beijing–Hong Kong high-speed line and the Lujiang–Tongling railway cross the county, and the Jianghuai Canal (江淮运河) links the Yangtze in the south with Lake Chao in the north.

Highlights

• Yefu Mountain 冶父山: National forest park with 96 per cent forest cover and the Tang-founded Shiji Temple.
• Shiji Temple 实际寺: Founded in 898 as Yefu Temple and renamed by the first Song emperor.
• Zhaiwa Five Dragons waterfalls 寨洼五龙瀑布: Five falls in Sanchong village, Tangchi, described as Hefei's largest group of waterfalls.
• Huangpi Lake hairy crab 黄陂湖大闸蟹: National geographical-indication product.