Just one hour south of Chengdu by high-speed train lie two of Sichuan’s greatest cultural and spiritual wonders: the colossal 71-meter-tall Leshan Giant Buddha carved into sandstone river bluffs, and Mount Emei, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains crowned by a multi-faced 48-meter golden statue at 3,077 meters above sea level.
Leshan Giant Buddha: Boat Cruise vs Walking Stairs
Carved in the 8th century during the Tang Dynasty at the confluence of the Min, Dadu, and Qingyi rivers, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha statue on Earth. To experience it, travelers choose between two distinct perspectives:
- The River Cruise (Recommended): Board an official 30-minute sightseeing ferry from Baxiandong Pier (70 RMB). The boat pauses directly in front of the statue, giving you an unobstructed panoramic view of the entire 71-meter figure from head to toe with surrounding guardian niches. This avoids hours of queuing along narrow cliff staircases.
- The Walking Trail: Walk through the park grounds to stand right at the Buddha’s ear, then descend the narrow nine-turn cliff plank stairway to stand directly beside his massive toenails. During peak holiday seasons, queueing along the stairway can take over two hours.
Mount Emei: Ascending to the Golden Summit (Jinding)
From Leshan, take a 15-minute bullet train or 30-minute taxi to Emeishan Station. Mount Emei is enormous, and hiking from base to summit takes two grueling days. For independent day-trippers or overnight visitors:
- The Eco-Shuttle: Take the official park shuttle bus from Baoguo Temple up the winding mountain highway to Leidongping parking terminal (approx. 2 hours).
- The Summit Cable Car: Walk 30 minutes through ancient fir forests from Leidongping to Jieyindian, then board the high-capacity aerial cable car soaring through clouds to the Golden Summit plateau at 3,077 meters.
- The Statue: At the summit stands the 48-meter-tall golden statue of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Puxian) featuring ten faces facing all directions of the compass. On clear mornings, you can gaze west across mountain ridges to the snow-capped peak of Mount Gongga (7,556 meters).
Warning: Tibetan Macaques on Mount Emei
The natural ecological zones around Leidongping and Wannian Temple are home to wild Tibetan macaques. These monkeys are bold and experienced at snatching plastic bags, open water bottles, and food from travelers’ hands. Keep all food zipped deep inside your backpack, never carry plastic grocery bags openly, and do not taunt or feed the animals.
Logistics & Hotels
Trains run frequently from Chengdu East or South to Leshan and Emeishan stations via Trip.com Trains. Stay at hot spring resorts near the base of Mount Emei or book a room at Jinding Hotel atop the summit via Trip.com Hotels for sunrise views.
