A hidden rafting paradise in the mountains
A great place to enjoy bamboo in September. Stop fighting crowds at popular spots! Jiangxi hides a 100,000-mu bamboo forest, with a 30-yuan admission ticket and Asia's longest glass water slide that lets you zoom down from the treetops.
Hello everyone, I'm Orange🍊.
I've been traveling around Jiangxi for over a decade. Every year at the beginning of September, my inbox gets flooded with the same question: "Summer is almost over, is there anywhere that's cool, exciting, and cheap?"
In the past, I would have recommended Yifeng or Jishan. But this year, I have only one answer—Baishuixian in Suichuan.
It has a 100,000-mu bamboo forest, 15 waterfalls, and a 3,043-meter glass water slide that claims to be the longest in Asia. The average temperature from July to September is only 22°C. The most incredible part? The admission ticket is only 30 yuan.
It's a 1-hour drive from Ganzhou and 1.5 hours from Ji'an. You can also get there by high-speed train and a shuttle bus. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about eating, staying, traveling, and playing at Baishuixian. If you want to catch the tail end of summer without wasting money, this is the only guide you need.
1. Why is September the best time to visit Baishuixian?
Baishuixian is located in Bizhou Town, Suichuan County. It is a national AAA-rated scenic spot and a provincial-level scenic area, having been named a "China Forest Oxygen Bar" in 2016. The core area covers 5,000 mu, with 100,000 mu of bamboo forests spreading along the mountains and 15 waterfalls distributed at different altitudes.
Visiting in September gets you three benefits.
First, the temperature is just right. The official data for summer heat relief is an average of 22°C from July to September, but September feels completely different from July—the mugginess of summer has dissipated, and there's even a slight chill in the mountains in the morning and evening, so you won't feel stifled while walking the waterfall trails.
Second, the waterfalls still have plenty of water. April to June is the high-water season, but the waterfall cluster in September is still impressive. The 86-meter-drop Fairy Waterfall crashes down from the cliff top, creating a mist, and there's a high chance of seeing a rainbow after the rain.
Third, it's really uncrowded. Baishuixian is not as well-known as Lushan or Sanqingshan, so tour groups basically don't come here. You can walk on the bamboo forest trail for half an hour without running into many people, and you don't have to wait in long lines for the glass slide.
2. How to get there? High-speed train + shuttle bus works
Driving (recommended): Navigate to "Baishuixian Scenic Area," take the Suichuan exit on the Da-Guang Expressway, and drive along County Road 821 for about 5 kilometers to arrive. The scenic area has a free parking lot.
High-speed train + shuttle bus: Take the train to Ji'an West Station, transfer to a long-distance bus to the county seat, and then transfer to a shuttle bus heading toward Bizhou Town. It's a bit more troublesome, but it's doable.
County bus: There is a tourist shuttle in Suichuan County, which is free on weekends and holidays, with departures at 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM. If you go on a weekend, you can even save on travel costs.
3. Admission ticket: 30 yuan, unbelievably affordable
The admission ticket is 30 yuan per person. Locals in Suichuan County get free admission, and students and seniors get half-price tickets.
For comparison: Yixing Bamboo Sea is 70 yuan, Nanshan Bamboo Sea is 90 yuan, and Anji Bamboo Sea is over 100 yuan during peak season. Baishuixian is 30 yuan and includes 15 waterfalls and Asia's longest glass water slide.
The glass water slide requires a separate ticket; sales stop at 4:00 PM, so be sure to plan your time in advance if you want to ride it.
4. Core activities: 3 must-dos
1. Hike the waterfall cluster and look up at the 86-meter Fairy Waterfall
Enter the scenic area from Wangxian Gate and head up along the Xunxian Trail; the waterfalls are distributed in four levels.
The Dengxian Waterfall is 23 meters high and is the first "greeting," with water splashing onto the rock steps and creating a large mist. Further ahead is the Pearl Waterfall, where water droplets scatter like fine beads on the rocks, looking like scattered silver in the sunlight. Further up is the Yujie Waterfall, which folds down along the rock face in layers.
The grand finale is the Fairy Waterfall. With an 86-meter drop and several meters in width, a white ribbon of water falls straight from the cliff top to the valley floor, with a rainbow faintly visible in the mist. Standing on the viewing platform and looking up, the wind blows the mist onto your face, and the chill seeps in through your pores.
2. 3,043-meter glass water slide, zoom down from the treetops
This is Baishuixian's star attraction. It is 3,043 meters long with a 140-meter drop, built with fully transparent, high-strength tempered glass, and the ride takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Get on a raft and slide down from the mountainside with the water flow. The first half weaves through the bamboo forest, with bamboo on both sides brushing past your head; the middle section speeds up, with wind filling your ears and water splashing on your face; the final section is a direct dive, with your heart rate dropping along with the slope.
Reminder: You will get soaked, so bring a change of clothes. Those afraid of heights should be cautious, but the slide is a glass trough close to the ground, not a suspension bridge, so the actual thrill is more controllable than you might imagine.
3. Take a slow walk on the bamboo forest trail and cleanse your lungs
Baishuixian has 100,000 mu of bamboo forests. Walking on the trail, you have bamboo crowns blocking the sky above and a soft path paved with fallen leaves under your feet. The sound of the wind passing through the bamboo forest and the roar of the waterfalls appear alternately, and your whole rhythm will unconsciously slow down.
The "Yixiantian" (A Thread of Sky) is hidden deep in the bamboo forest, 200 meters deep, allowing only one person to pass sideways, making it a hidden gem section of the bamboo forest trek.
5. Eating and accommodation guide: What's it like to stay in a bamboo forest?
Stay: Shanxi Diesu is the top choice
The scenic area's own Shanxi Diesu is right next to the visitor center, featuring detached bamboo forest villas where you can see waterfalls when you open the window. The rooms are equipped with smart voice control and smart toilets, costing 300–500 yuan/night. Breakfast is a special nine-grid set, which many guests describe as "great value for money."
If you have a limited budget, homestays in Bizhou Town cost 150–250 yuan/night and offer great value. The landlady of "Baishu Renjia" in the village cooks excellent dishes, and rooms are often hard to book during holidays.
Eat: Shuixian Restaurant + snack market
The Shuixian Restaurant inside the scenic area is the officially recommended dining spot, and you can eat local specialties at the Baishuixian snack market. Suichuan is the origin of Gougunao tea; having a cup of local tea with a bowl of hot soup after finishing the waterfall trail is especially comfortable.
6. Two days and one night, Baishuixian + surrounding loop
Day 1: Full day of fun at Baishuixian
Arrive in the morning, walk the waterfall cluster trail first, and check in at Dengxian Waterfall, Pearl Waterfall, and Fairy Waterfall in order. Eat lunch at Shuixian Restaurant. In the afternoon, take the glass water slide down the mountain, and return to the homestay for a shower after getting soaked. In the evening, take a slow walk on the bamboo forest trail and wait for the sunset. Stay at Shanxi Diesu at night and fall asleep to the sound of the stream.
Day 2: Surrounding hidden gems + return trip
If you have enough time, there are several classic routes in Suichuan that you can connect. Go to Tanghu Tea Tourism Town to soak in hot springs and visit Shentagu, or go to Taoyuan Terraced Fields to see the autumn colors; these are all high-quality routes recommended by local officials. Eat a meal of local Suichuan food at noon and return in the afternoon.
7. Old K's insider tips
1. Bring a full change of clothes: You will get soaked on the glass slide, so prepare everything from inside to out.
2. Wear non-slip shoes: The waterfall trails and bamboo forest stone steps have moss, which is especially slippery after rain.
3. A light jacket is a must: The temperature in the mountains is below 22°C in the morning and evening, and you will feel even colder after getting wet on the waterfall trail.
4. Buy slide tickets before 4:00 PM: Sales stop after this time, so don't make a wasted trip.
5. Don't skimp on mosquito repellent: In a 100,000-mu bamboo forest, the mosquitoes are no joke.
6. Best to visit after rain: The Fairy Waterfall has the most water after rain, and the chance of seeing a rainbow is highest.
7. Slow down when driving: County Road 821 has many curves, so it's safer to drive during the day.
8. Recommended side trips: If you have enough time, Suichuan's Taoyuan Terraced Fields, Tanghu Hot Springs, and Gougunao Tea Plantation can be connected into a classic three-day route.
Final thoughts
Baishuixian isn't a "trendy" tourist spot. It has no cable cars, no small trains, and no overpriced shops. It's just 100,000 mu of bamboo, 15 waterfalls, a glass water slide that lets you zoom down from the treetops, and a 30-yuan admission ticket.
Summer is almost over, but the 22°C in the mountains is still waiting for you.
I'm Orange🍊, a seasoned traveler who is always on the road. Follow me to discover hidden gems that are "cheap, uncrowded, cool, and totally worth it."