Yongxiu Wucheng: A Portal to the Northwest

When it comes to birdwatching at Poyang Lake, many people think of Wucheng Town in Yongxiu County, Jiujiang. Here, you can find the "most beautiful road on water" that winds through the blue waves like a ribbon, and a wetland park where "lush grass and trees sway in the water, and migratory birds fly together in the colorful clouds." However, many people don't know that there is also a portal to the northwest here: Songmen Mountain Island, a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts that combines desert, grassland, lake, and wetland. Songmen Mountain Island is the largest island in Poyang Lake. The island has vast meadows, endless wetlands, and flocks of migratory birds. There are also two adjacent sand mountains, Jishan and Songmen Mountain, each with an area of nearly 20 square kilometers, which are rare landforms in Jiangnan that resemble the northwest desert. After taking a ferry from the simple pier in Wucheng Town, you can reach the opposite shore in a few minutes. Drive slowly along the bumpy dirt road on the left, and the wild grass on both sides gradually becomes lush, with colors ranging from light green to dark green. In the depths of the meadow, the green becomes more intense, as if someone has poured heavy green ink on it. The wild grass here is different from the slender and delicate grass in other places. Each clump is tall and tough, leaning against each other and intertwining to form a vast green ocean. When the breeze blows, the grass waves roll and rustle, and migratory birds occasionally fly out of the grass, creating a beautiful picture of tranquility and vitality. After passing through the meadow and traveling a few kilometers, you will reach a small village. After bypassing the village, it feels like you have traveled from Jiangnan to the desert in an instant. On both sides of the road, two carefully constructed natural sand walls stand majestically. These sand walls have distinct edges and straight, strong lines, as if they have been measured by skilled craftsmen with rulers. From top to bottom, they are rigorous and orderly, without any sloppiness or ambiguity, showing a sense of orderly rhythm. The sand is crystal clear and delicate, as if it has been carefully carved, and it sparkles like stars in the sunlight, giving the entire sand wall a mysterious and deep atmosphere. A few kilometers ahead, the sand dunes present another wonderful scene. Over thousands of years, nature has used wind as a carving knife and water as paint, with endless patience and immense power, to pile up insignificant sand grains into sand dunes tens of meters high. These sand dunes have the grandeur of the desert and the softness of Jiangnan. The undulating contours and smooth curves sway gracefully in the breeze like Jiangnan women. This is also a paradise for adventurers. Off-road vehicles roar up to the top of the dunes and then spiral along the ridges, leaving deep and shallow marks as the wheels splash sand. The drivers enjoy the thrill of speed and passion, and the roar of the engines and the whistling of the wind combine to form an exciting symphony. If you have a skateboard, you can slide down the dunes at high speed and feel the wind whistling past your ears. The momentary weightlessness and accelerated heartbeat are even more thrilling. Of course, without rich experience and sufficient protection, it is best not to try these dangerous activities lightly. Standing on the top of the dunes, you can see the vast yellow sand underfoot, green thorns struggling tenaciously in the sand, the vast lake water around you, and migratory birds flying gracefully in the sky. The rough and desolate style of the desert and the lively and gentle temperament of Jiangnan are perfectly combined, making people marvel at the wonders of nature once again. Yongxiu Wucheng Songmen Mountain Island Travel Guide: 1. Visit the island during the dry season of Poyang Lake, usually from October to April. 2. Take a ferry at Wucheng Songmen Mountain Ferry. The cost is CNY 70 per car for a single trip and CNY 140 for a round trip. 3. The road conditions on the island are not very good, so it is recommended to choose a four-wheel-drive SUV, preferably a hardcore off-road vehicle. Accommodation: 1. There are many homestays in Wucheng Town, or you can stay in Yongxiu County, 25 km away. 2. There are three off-road bases on the island that can provide food and accommodation, but the prices are relatively high, around CNY 300–400. You can also bring your own tent and camp in the wild to watch the stars at night. Food: Artemisia and bacon, steamed goose with rice flour, Qingjiang fish, mandarin fish with rice noodles, etc. For more guides, please follow the "Xiaojia Travels the World" WeChat account.