Ruijin
Understand
Ruijin (瑞金市) is a small town in southeastern China in Jiangxi Province. It was the site of Mao Zedong's guerrilla insurgency from 1930-1934, and it is here that the Long March began in 1934. The many sites from this period constitute the main tourist draw. At a quick glance on a map, Ruijin looks like it is near the huge Guangzhou metropolitan area, but the town is very much a backwater isolated by mountains.
Get in
It has easy and cheap train access from Wuhan, Guangzhou, Ganzhou, Xiamen, and many more. Ruijin's Train station (瑞金火车站）is located just outside the town. A bus runs into the city for ¥1（December 2016). Taxis are available to and from the town for ¥20.
Ruijin has no airport, but you can fly to any major city nearby and take a train into Ruijin.
Get around
Buses are sporadic compared to other Chinese cities. The town is small enough to walk anywhere. Hotels, tourist sites, the center city, restaurants, and other stores are all clustered within walking distance of each other.
See
The Chinese Red Army site compound: headquarters, residences, and other buildings dealing with the period 1930-34 all clustered in one site. Free admission. There is enough to keep you occupied for a few hours.
Do
Sites scattered a few kilometers outside of town for those with more time.
Buy
Eat
Typical Jiangxi cuisine- spicy noodles, rice dishes.
Drink
Sleep
Foreigners can stay at several places, and it is easy to find a nice room for under ¥150. Ruijin is a cheap city by Chinese standards, so you can get a huge room here with all its luxuries for a reasonable price.
Connect
Go next
Ganzhou is an hour away by train, Xiamen 5 hours. The Southern Jiangxi region is full of Red historical sites, so Ruijin makes a good base.