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Visitors under the age of 14 or over 70, the disabled, serving soldiers and retired military officers are now allowed free entrance to Mount Lushan in east China.

This is the broadest preferential treatment Chinese scenic spots have ever offered to visitors from China and abroad.

Tourism officials said the privilege was designed to give more people a chance to understand the country's cultural heritage and natural resources.

Situated on the banks of the Yangtze River, Mount Lushan was listed as a World Heritage site in 1996 because of its ancient history as China's education and religious center. More than 500 ancient scholars have left examples of their calligraphy, poetry and literature there.

Early this year, Lushan was listed as one of the first significant groups of World Geological Parks because of the remaining evidence of the Fourth Ice Age.

Travel tips

Most tourists put up in Guling Town, which has over 150 hotels and inns. Ten of them are star-rated.

Due to the sharp difference in temperature between day and night, it is best to take a few extra clothes, even in midsummer when the average temperature in the mountains is 22 degrees Centigrade. A raincoat for the ever-changing humid climate is essential.

The town can be approached by two highways starting from the north and south foot of the mountain respectively. The north one links to Jiujiang City and the south one to Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province.

Please see weather conditions of Mount Lushan.