Meiling National Park (梅岭国家森林公园) covers a forested ridge of hills about 20 kilometers north of the city center. The park is Nanchang's main hiking destination, with trails through pine and bamboo forest, waterfalls, historic temples, and the occasional view back over the city and its surroundings. Spring plum blossoms give the park its name; autumn foliage is also worth the trip.
The park was historically significant as a retreat for senior Communist Party figures — several villas from the Mao era are open to visitors. The combination of scenic walking and revolutionary history is somewhat unusual. Buses run from the city center on weekends; taxis are straightforward from the metro's northern terminus. The park makes a half-day trip that provides welcome relief from the urban heat in summer.