Jiujiang is the classic gateway to Mount Lu and a frequent stop for Yangtze cruise ships, but it rewards a half day on its own. Stroll the rebuilt Xunyang Tower made famous by the Water Margin novel, the lakeside Yanshui Pavilion and the old bund where European trading houses once stood; the riverside promenade is lovely at dusk. Eat Jiujiang fish hotpot and tea-crusted eggs near Gantang Lake. From Jiujiang station, the Lushan cable car is under an hour, Wuyuan and Jingdezhen are short HSR rides, and our guides meet cruise tenders at the port with name boards — a same-day Lushan shore excursion fits 8–9 hours comfortably.