Meilu Villa in Lushan, a Western architectural edifice that has witnessed the iconic developments in more recent Chinese history, showcases the office and living quarters of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling during their 15 years there.

The villa displays the day-to-day items that they once used, including carbon dioxide refrigerator, and US-made piano, among others.

Their bedroom is preserved in its original look, with their daily life pictures hung on the wall, instantly transporting visitors back to the bygone era.

The mystical ambience of Meilu Villa gives one the feeling that this whole place used to be a very unusual place dwelled by truly unusual people. An illustration of chronological events on display here is particularly eye-catching, showing that Meilu Villa indeed played host to two of the greatest men in recent Chinese history — Chiang Kai-shek and his Communist rival Mao Zedong.

Chiang had stayed here on several occasions between 1933 and 1948, while Mao stayed here twice, in 1959 and 1961. Who knows these two sworn rivals might have slept on the same bed here!

Travel buddy Huang joked: General Chiang, sorry to have kept you waiting so long! Indeed, one will not feel such historical moments without personally paying Lushan Mountain a visit!

As a matter of fact, Lushan is more than just a summer retreat, it is actually a place of great historical and cultural significance, or rather a “pit stop” before rival warriors clash! It appears that putting a night here should better prepare one for the upcoming duel!

Many famous people have stayed here momentarily, probably because of the breathtaking scenery and pristine mountain air here. And the villa has later become a destination history buffs yearn to visit.

Jiang Qing stayed here twice in 1961 and 1970, while other dignitaries and celebrities including Chen Yi, He Long, Lin Biao, Hu Yaobang, Guo Moruo and the 10th Panchen Lama were all here before for brief periods, enjoying the rare moments of peace here.

Meilu Villa has also hosted Chinese leaders such as Jiang Jemin, Zhu Rongji, Li Ruihuan, and the 11th Panchen Lama, in more recent years.

And now, sitting on the rocking chair between the London plane and golden larch in the courtyard of Meilu Villa, I could almost hear General Chiang calling out affectionately to his wife Soong Mei-lin…

The 121-year-old Meilu Villa was constructed in 1903 by Lord Lannoze of Britain, and the property was later transferred to Mrs Bali. In 1934, Mrs Bali presented it as a gift to her friend Soong Mei-ling. Since then, this historical mansion has become an important landmark witnessing the moments of Soong Mei-ling’s life while in China.

With the historical developments and anecdotes surrounding Meilu Villa, it seems that the fame of Lushan has far surpassed that of Jiangxi Province where it is located.

As a matter of fact, Lushan is well known for its majestic mountain vistas, the gauzy cloud forest and ever-changing invigorating views, especially the sea of clouds, waterfall and crystal clear creeks.

Lushan has historically wooed countless of writers, poets and religious leaders since time immemorial, including Bai Juyi, Su Shi and Li Bai, whose poems were inspired by its beauty.

Additionally, Jiangxi Province is also home to another Unesco-listed religious site Sanqing Mountain, known for its spectacular beauty, cloud forest and uniquely shaped rocks, which have tremendously amazed me as well as our travel buddies.

Treading on the stone path and inching our way along the narrow trait hugging the steep cliff, the view is absolutely rewarding despite the sometimes hair-raising thrills.

When we eventually made it on the granite hilltop looking down at the rocky hills below us, we were overcome by the awe-inspiring powers of Nature. We couldn’t help but admire and respect early Taoist priests who braved through the forbidding terrain to arrive at this magical place.

Standing atop Lushan and Sanqing Mountain, I could gain a more realistic feel of Jiangxi Province’s rugged geographical features and rich natural resources. Other than towering peaks, Jiangxi is also home to the 751-kilometre Gan River — the cradle of thousands of years of Chinese civilisation.

Jinggang Mountains in Jiangxi is where the Chinese Revolution began. Provincial capital Nanchang was the birthplace of the Chinese Liberation Army, while Ruijin was the site of the provisional government of the Chinese Soviet Republic, and Ankang where the Chinese Workers’ Movement started.

Up till this point, I think I must make mention of the world-famous porcelain capital Jingdezhen, known for its superior craftsmanship and cultural connotation.

During his visit to Jingdezhen in October 2023, President Xi Jinping said: Porcelain is an important icon of the Chinese civilisation.

Given the many historical relics unearthed in Jingdezhen, the city boasts a booming porcelain auction market. This underscores the cultural importance of Jingdezhen porcelain not just in China but the world over. The popular song “Blue and White Porcelain” by Taiwanese singer-songwriter Jay Chou further exacerbates the people’s passion for porcelain art.

Inside the tour coach on our way back, our guide You Xuaoxu, a Jiangxi native, announced in great pride: Jiangxi Province is the cradle of the Red Culture, and is home to majestic mountains and rivers, porcelain art and literary academy culture. It constitutes an important part in the evolution of the Chinese culture!

To me, the local culinary culture appeals to me more. As an inland province, Jiangxi is surrounded by six adjacent provinces, making it a hub of magnificent regional cuisines. The food here is utterly satisfying, as evidenced by our fulfilling weight gain towards the end of the trip!

I really think you should come here and experience it!

(Lee San is Founder and Group Executive Chairman of Apple Vacations. He has travelled to 132 countries, six continents, and enjoys sharing his travel stories and insights. He has also authored five books.)