Mount Emei - One of Four Chinese Buddhist Mountains

Mt. Emei is located in Leshan City, Sichuan Province. It's one of the most well-known summer destinations in China. It is towering, beautiful, and mysterious, and it seems like a huge green screen standing southwest of the Chengdu Plain. Mount Emei was enlisted as one of the world's natural and cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1996.

With the pleasant weather and congenial atmosphere, the mountain is characterized by lofty ancient trees, impressive waterfalls, and pristine brooks. Mt. Emei is a sacred Buddhist heaven dotted with numerous Buddhist temples. The mountain enjoys great popularity among Buddhists in China as it's regarded as one of the four most divine Buddhist mountains in China, for being the dojo of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Traveling to Emei, you can feel a strong religious and cultural atmosphere. Here in Mount Emei, you may see streams of Buddhist pilgrims armed with joss sticks conquer the steep stairs of the mountain and swarm into the countless temples every morning.

Highlights

Mount Emei consists of 4 scenic regions: Baoguo Temple, Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, and Golden Summit.

Baoguo Temple

Baoguo Temple is located at the foot of Mount Emei and is the largest temple in Mount Emei. Built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it is the seat of the Emeishan Buddhist Church. Among the many temples in Mount Emei, Baoguo Temple is the gateway to the mountain and the starting point for visiting Mount Emei. The temple is surrounded by dense nan trees and red walls. The Buddhist hall is majestic and resplendent. On the mountain gate: "Baoguo Temple" is a large plaque, which was inscribed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. As soon as you arrive at the mountain gate, you can feel the solemnity of Baoguo Temple.

Qingyin Pavilion

Qingyin Pavilion, one of the eight major temples in Mount Emei, shrines the statues of Sakyamuni, Manjusri, and Samantabhadra. It was built during the Tang Dynasty by a Zen Master, Huitong, whose Buddhist spiritualism still exists around the mountain. The famous scenic spot "Shuangqiao Qingyin" in the mountains is here, with two stone bridges leaping over each other and clear river water under the bridges. The pavilion displays a fine natural picture with pavilions, towers, and corridors exquisitely combined with waters and hills.

Wannian Temple

Wanian Temple was originally the Puxian Temple founded by Zen Master Huichi in the Eastern Jin Dynasty in 399 AD. After being destroyed and rebuilt many times, it was renamed Baishui Puxian Temple. The temple houses many precious cultural relics, including a 7.4-meter-tall bronze statue of Samantabhadra riding an elephant. This bronze statue weighs 62 tons and is a treasure of Buddhist art. The Beamless Brick Hall was built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It is entirely made of bricks and has a unique architectural style. The architectural style is simple and elegant, reflecting the style of ancient Buddhist architecture.

Golden Summit

The original meaning of the Golden Summit refers to the Samantabhadra Hall of Huazang Temple located on the top of Da'e Mountain. It is named because of its gilded copper roof that shines in the sun. Samantabhadra Hall is also called the "Golden Palace," and the Golden Summit is named after this. Golden Summit is the main peak, with 3079.3 meters (10,103 feet) above sea level, seemingly reaching the sky. Standing on the top of it, you can enjoy the snowy mountains in the west and the vast plain in the east. In addition, in Golden Summit there are four spectacles: clouds sea, sunrise, Buddha rays, and saint lamps.

Travel Routes

The tour time in Mount Emei is usually 1-2 days. One-day tours usually require taking a cable car up and down the mountain top, which is suitable for tourists who have limited time and want to save energy. A 2-day tour is a hiking tour, which is the best way to experience the essence of culture and nature. Also you can visit the main attractions of Mount Emei. There are stone steps from the foot of the mountain to the top so it takes more than a day to complete the entire journey. It's recommended that you start your hiking from Qingyin Pavilion.

One Day Tour

Emeishan Station → Scenic Area Bus → Leidongping → Cableway → Golden Summit → Cableway → Scenic Area Bus → Emeishan Station. The whole journey takes about 7 hours.

Two Days Tours

Route 1

Day 1: Take the scenic bus to Qingyin Pavilion, and then start hiking.
Qingyin Pavilion → Bailong Cave → Wannian Temple → Huayan Peak → Jiulinggang → Xixiangchi → Leidongping → Cableway → Golden Summit, stay near Golden Summit. The whole journey takes about 8 hours.
Day 2: Watch the sunrise at Golden Summit → Wanfo Peak → Return to Golden Summit → Cableway → Leidongping → Scenic Area Bus → Emeishan Station. The whole journey takes about 4 hours, and you can visit the Leshan Giant Buddha or Baoguo Temple in the afternoon.

Route 2

Day 1: Take the scenic bus to Baoguo Temple, and then start hiking. Baoguo Temple → Fuhu Temple → Leiyin Temple → Chunyang Hall → Shenshui Pavilion → Guangfu Temple → Qingyin Pavilion → Hongchunping → Ninety-nine Turns → Xianfeng Temple → Jiulinggang → Xixiangchi → Leidongping Cableway → Golden Summit → Stay near Golden Summit. The whole journey takes at least 10 hours.
Day 2: Watch the sunrise at Golden Summit → Wanfo Peak → Return to Golden Summit → Cableway → Leidongping → The scenic bus → Wannian Temple → Bailong Cave → Exit at Qingyin Pavilion. The whole journey takes about 6 hours.

Tips:

The temperature in the Emeishan Scenic Area varies greatly at different altitudes. Generally speaking, the temperature difference between the top of the mountain and the foot of the mountain is about 14℃/57°F. It is necessary to bring thick clothes to keep warm.
If you meet monkeys during sightseeing, do not feed them; meanwhile, keep your distance.
Wear hiking shoes or non-slip shoes for hiking and prepare hiking sticks.
There are some famed vegetarian restaurants that are worth trying.

Best Time to Visit Emei

You can visit Mount Emei in any season. Relatively speaking, the best time to visit Mount Emei is from spring to autumn, especially from April to October, when the climate is mild and the scenery is charming.

Spring (March to May): Spring is warm and flowers are blooming, and the climate is pleasant. It is a good time to enjoy flowers and climb mountains. Cherry blossoms, azaleas and other flowers on the mountain are in full bloom.
‌Summer (June to August)‌: The temperature is suitable, making it a summer resort. Visitors can enjoy spectacular views of the sea of clouds, sunrise and sunset.
‌Autumn (September to November)‌: Autumn is clear and crisp, which is the best season for viewing red leaves and colorful forests. The maple leaves, sycamores and other trees on the mountain gradually turn red, and the layers of the forest are dyed.
‌Winter (December to February)‌: Although the temperature is lower, you can enjoy the snow scenery and ice waterfalls and experience a different kind of Mount Emei.

How to Get To and Around Emei?

Currently, the main ways to get to Mount Emei or the surrounding area are by plane, by train, and by bus.

By Plane

The nearest airport to Mount Emei is Shuangliu International Airport (CTU). After you arrive at Shuangliu International Airport by plane, you can take a high-speed train (about 1 hour) to Emeishan Railway Station and then transfer to a shuttle bus (about 20 minutes) to reach the scenic area or take a taxi to the scenic area. If you arrive at Chengdu Tianfu Airport (TFU), you can also take a high-speed train (about 2 hours) to Emeishan Railway Station and then transfer to the scenic area by shuttle bus or by taxi.

By Train

You can take a train from other cities in China to Mount Emei. Emeishan Railway Station is only 5 kilometers away from Mount Emei which is the preferred station for going to Mount Emei Scenic Area. Most travelers take the high-speed trains from Chengdu East Station to Emeishan Station for a ride of about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Second-class seat tickets are USD5-USD15 each. After arriving at Emeishan Railway Station, you can take a shuttle bus (about 20 minutes) to the scenic area or take a taxi to the scenic area (about 8 minutes).

By Bus

If your last stop is not far from Mount Emei, such as Chengdu, Leshan, etc., you can also take a tourist bus to Mount Emei Bus Station. There is usually a bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station to Mount Emei Jiuzhu Passenger Center every half an hour, about 143km. The whole journey takes about 2.5 hours and costs around USD12. After arriving at Mount Emei Jiuzhu Passenger Center, you can take a shuttle bus or a taxi to Mount Emei Scenic Area. There's also a bus from Leshan Xiaoba Bus Station to Baoguosi Station, which departs every 10 minutes, takes about 30 minutes, and costs about USD2 per ticket. Then, you can take a shuttle bus or a taxi to the scenic area.

Attractions nearby Mt. Emei