San Die Spring, also known as the Three-tiered Spring and Water Curtain Spring, is located in Jiudie Valley in the southeast of Lushan Scenic Area, and is acclaimed as the “First Wonder of Lushan Mountain”. It is not actually a spring but a waterfall, with water cascading down from the northern cliff of Wulao Peak, striking three levels of rock formations to create the ‘three-tiered’ effect, with a total drop of 155 meters, making it incredibly majestic. There is a saying, ‘If you haven’t seen San Die Spring, you haven’t truly visited Lushan’. The scenery of San Die Spring varies with the seasons; it is best to visit at the end of spring and the beginning of summer when the water volume is high, allowing you to witness the plunging waterfall. During midsummer and severe winter, with less rainfall, what you’ll see is a more delicate and graceful water curtain. If you come to San Die Spring for the spectacular waterfall, you must choose the right time, otherwise, you may be disappointed. Standing at a high point near San Die Spring, you can overlook it; the water from the first tier cascades down from a height of over 20 meters, the second tier is curved, and then it plunges directly into the pool. To experience the visual impact of San Die Spring up close, you need to descend to the valley floor to see the three tiers, which is a very strenuous process, so it is recommended to bring some food. There is a cable car available within the scenic area, but it only takes you to the entrance of the first tier. After purchasing your ticket at the entrance, you still need to walk down 1,600 steps to reach the end. This path is quite dangerous, so be careful not to lose your footing while admiring the view, especially during the rainy season. Standing on the rock at the bottom of San Die Spring valley and looking up, you can see the waterfall splashing down with great momentum, thunderous sounds, and only then do you feel that the previous efforts were not in vain. You can take photos here as a memento, but remember to be water-resistant. After resting, you have to return the same way; climbing up is more physically demanding than going down. Alternatively, you can avoid the return route and go directly down the mountain to exit Lushan Scenic Area, in which case it is suggested to schedule San Die Spring as the last day of your Lushan tour. San Die Spring also has an interesting historical aspect: it was long undiscovered, even the hermit Li Bai upstream and the scholar Zhu Xi downstream were unaware of this nearby beauty until it was later discovered.
The entire text is open from May 1st to August 31st from 07:00 to 17:30; from September 1st to April 30th from 07:30 to 17:00.
