Mount Emei

Map of Mount Emei
Map of Mount Emei (Click to enlarge)

Mount Emei, aka Mt. Emei or Emeishan Mountain, is located in Leshan City, Sichuan Province. It is towering, beautiful, old and mysterious. It is like a huge green screen standing in the southwest of the Chengdu Plain. Looking its winding and beautiful figure, you will find that Mount Emei resembles very much an eyebrow of a girl. It is the highest one among all the famous sight-seeing mountains in China.

On the mountain there are four scenic regions: Baoguo Temple, Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion and Golden Summit. Its main peak, the Golden Summit, is 3079.3 meters (10,103 feet) above the 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. In 1996 Mount Emei was enlisted in the world natural and cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
 

Landscape on Mount Emei

Golden Summit of Mount Emei
Golden Summit
 Mount Emei Pictures

Emeishan Mountain is a wondrous world. The trees are verdant almost all the year round; the waterfalls are splendid; the whole scenery is beautiful and quiet. The landscape varies according to the seasons, the height and the climate. The poet Tan Zhongyue living in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) once concluded the beautiful landscape in Mount Emei into ten scenic sights. Today more and more new scenery has been discovered and given beautiful names such as Listen to the Spring beside the Tiger Brook, Plank Road above Longjiang River and Flying Waterfall Hanging over Dragon Gate. Go there and use your imagination, maybe you will discover a new sight by yourself.
 

Emeishan History

Mount Emei has a long history. According to the archaeological material, people in remote ancient times have lived in this place. As early as 5,000 years ago, the Emperor Xuanyuan paid two visits here to learn Tao thoughts. 1,900 years ago, a practitioner built the first monastery here, thus marked the mountain the birthplace of Buddhism in Yangtze Valley. Today the Buddhist culture has become the main body of Emei Culture. The Buddhist architecture, music, grottos and paintings in the mountain all reflect rich religious flavor and culture.

Mount Emei, Leshan
Emeishan Mountain, Leshan
Wannian Temple, Mount Emei
Wannian Temple

Entrance Fee

High Season (Jan.16 – Dec.14) Low Season (Dec.15 – Jan.15)
Mount Emei CNY 160 CNY 110
Baoguo Temple CNY 8
Fuhu Temple CNY 10
Wannian Temple CNY 10
 

Opening Hours

Jan.16 – Dec.14: 6:00 - 18:30
Dec.15 – Jan.15: 7:00 - 17:50
 

Best Time to Visit

Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November)
 

How to get to Mount Emei from Chengdu

By Train: Take a Chengdu-Leshan-Emeishan Intercity High-Speed Train or Shuangliu Airport - Emeishan Train to Emeishan Station, and then change to bus 5A, 8  or tourism bus to this site. 
By Long-Distance Bus: Take a bus from Xinnanmen Bus Station to Emeishan Tourism Bus Center (Baoguo Temple Bus Station) at the foot of Mount Emei, and then walk to the entrance. The bus departs once full occupied from 07:20 to 19:35. Its duration is about 2.5 - 3 hours and ticket fare is CNY51.
 

How to get to Mount Emei from Leshan

By Train: Take a train from Leshan Railway Station to Emeishan Station, and then transfer to bus to get here.
By Long-Distance Bus: Take a bus from Xiaoba Bus Station to Baoguo Temple Bus Station and then walk to the entrance. The bus departs once fully occupied from 07:30 to 18:00. Ticket fare is CNY11 and duration is about one hour.
By Chartered Bus: There are many private mini-buses sending passengers to this scenic spot from Leshan downtown or Giant Buddha scenic area. The fare is about CNY20-30 per passenger and duration is about one hour. Please note that Mount Emei is not located in Emeishan City area and one should confirm the driver will send you to the mountain scenic area before boarding.
 

How to travel around the scenic area

 
Sightseeing Bus:
Stations: Attractions to Visit:
Baoguo Temple Passenger Transportation Center Baoguo Temple,  Emeishan Museum
Wuxiangang Staion Qingyin Pavilion, Yixiantian, Joking Monkey Zone
Wannian Temple Station Xixin Place, White Dragon Cave, Qingyin Pavilion

Dragon Cave Lake
Leidongping Station Jieyin Palace, Golden Summit
Dates Running Time
Nov.  - Apr. 25 7:00-16:00,  every half an hour; every hour after 12:00
Apr. 26 - Oct. 30 7:00-17:00,  every half an hour
Chinese Public Holidays 5:00-17:00,  every ten minutes; every half an hour after 12:00
Cable Car
Time Price and Opening Hours
High Season (Jan.15 – Dec.14) Jinding Cable Car: CNY 65 (upper) / CNY 55 (lower)
Opening Hours: 5:30 - 18:00
Wannian Cable Car: CNY 65 (upper) / CNY 45 (lower)
Opening Hours: 6:40 - 18:00
Low Season (Dec.15 – Jan.14) Jinding Cable Car: CNY 30 (upper) / CNY 20 (lower)
Opening Hours: 7:30 - 18:00
Wannian Cable Car: CNY 30 (upper) / CNY 20 (lower)
 

Further Reading

- Last updated on Oct. 08, 2023 -
Questions & Answers on Mount Emei
Asked by Uriel from MEXICO | Feb. 08, 2024 14:49Reply
Buddha + Mt. Emei
Hi!

I would like to know if there is any chance to visit both places on the same day or it is impossible? (
Giant Buddha of Leshan and Mt. Emei - specifically to the Golden Summit.

If it can be possible, I would like to know how can I do that, I'll came from ChengDu on the earliest train or bus.

Thank you!
Answers (1)
Answered by Keith | Feb. 17, 2024 18:34
00Reply


As the two attractions are grand and super popular, you can hardly cover them in one day and at least 1.5 days are needed. One day for one attraction is better as you can explore every scenic corner.
Asked by Rachel from MALAYSIA | Oct. 02, 2023 08:00Reply
Buying Tickets
Hi could i check if there is a way to buy tickets for emei shan before i take a train down? It seems like I'd need a Chinese ID to do so but I do not have one. Appreciate if you could advice which platform is available that could I get the tickets from?
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Oct. 08, 2023 20:11
00Reply


At present, foreign passport holders can only buy tickets on spot.
Asked by Swee from SINGAPORE | Aug. 08, 2023 21:51Reply
Mt Emeishan climb.
Hi, I would like to know the shortest way and time to go from Emeishan train station to the Golden Summit of Mt Emei.
I'm taking the earliest train from Chengdu to Emeishan train station in Sept 2023.
Is the best and fastest way to Golden Summit is to use a combination of sightseeing bus and cable cars? How long will this take?
Does the sightseeing bus go to Leidongping station/temple?
After Emeishan, I want to go to Leshan Giant Buddha scenery area before heading back to Chengdu East train station.
I will take the Emeishan to Leshan train, then bus 3 to the Leshan Giant Buddha.
How frequent is Bus 3 and how long from Leshan train station to the Leshan Giant Buddha?
What is the last time bus 3 leave Leshan Giant Buddha.
How far is the nearest stop to Leshan Giant Buddha?
How much time will I need to see Giant Buddha and Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic area?
thanks, Swee

Answers (2)
Answered by Alex | Aug. 09, 2023 02:13
00Reply


1. The fastest way is to take the sightseeing bus from mountain foot to Leidongping, then change to the cable car to Golden Summit. The bus ride is about 50 minutes; it takes about 40 minutes-an hour to hike from Leidongping bus station to the cable car lower station; and the cable car ride takes 5 minutes or so.
2. Bus no.3 leaves with an interval of about 10 minutes. The service time is 06:50-22:05. It takes about an hour from Leshan train station to the scenic area. Getting off the bus at Shanlong Lukou, you need to walk about 700 meters to the entrance. You'd better leave at least 2 hours for the visit to the Giant Buddha. If there are lots of visitors, it may need longer time.

Actually, a faster way is to take bus no. K1, whose travel time from the railway station to Jiadingfang (about 400 meters from the entrance to the Giant Buddha scenic area) is about 45 minutes. But the last bus departs at 18:00.
Answered by Swee | Aug. 09, 2023 05:10
00Reply


Thanks Alex for your very useful information. Much appreciated.
Cheers, Swee.
Asked by valerie from AUSTRALIA | May. 23, 2021 00:34Reply
is there any place to leave my luggage at mount emei or the train station at emeishan thanks
Answers (1)
Answered by Adalyn | May. 23, 2021 18:58
00Reply


Don't worry. You can left your luggage at Tourist Service Center of Mount Emei.
Asked by Hector from MEXICO | Dec. 11, 2020 18:09Reply
About monasteries on the trek
I'm planning to do the three day climb on december 31-january 2 of the mountain and expect to sleep in some of the monasteries on the way. My question is: should I try to book these in advance? should i be worried about availability? i'm just worried that it's gonna be cold and with no place to sleep. Also, what should be the price range to expect so I can bargain
Thank you.
Answers (1)
Answered by Vanessa | Dec. 14, 2020 22:13
00Reply


Well, as I know, it is suggested to book these in advance. But I don't know the exact booking ways. Maybe you can ask help for the hotel staff or Chinese friends.
Ask a Question
Question Summary (100 characters)
Details (optional) (2,000 characters)
NameCountryEmail