In ancient times Leshan was known as Jiazhou and was reputed as the place 'Where there is the most beautiful landscape in all Sichuan, there is Jiazhou'. It was famous for its abundance of the Chinese flowering crab-apple and long ago was given the title of 'Haitang (crab-apple) Xiangguo (fragrant city)'. Nowadays Leshan is particularly well known as a city of National Key Tourist Attractions due to its natural landscape and wealth of cultural relics.

The city's governance covers four districts (Shizhong District, Wutongqiao District, Shawan District, Jinkouhe District), four counties (Jiajiang County, Jingyan County, Jianwei County, Muchuan County), two Autonomous Counties (namely the Yi Minority Autonomous Counties of Mabian, the Yi Minority Autonomous Counties of Ebian) and one county-level city (Emeishan City). As there is a large cultural heritage to be found in Leshan City, it is referred to as the 'Scholar-bureaucrat Shire'.

Leshan City is a renowned tourist resort as it boasts the 'No.1 Buddha under Heaven' - Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area (including the Giant Sleeping Buddha) and Mt. Emeishan scenic area which is renowned for four spectacles - Sunrise, Cloud Sea, Buddha Rays and Saint Lamps. There are many Buddhist temples in these scenic areas including Wuyou Temple, Lingyun Temple, Baoguo Temple, Hufu Temple, Wannian Temple to name but a few. Notable scenic resorts in the surrounding area are: Wutongqiao (nicknamed 'Small West Lake') which is an ancient waterside town located 24 kilometers (about 15 miles) south of Leshan City; Luocheng Ancient Town which is well-known for its ship like appearance located 60 kilometers (about 37 miles) northeast of Jianwei County in Leshan City. Moreover, Leshan is the hometown of Guo Moruo (1892-1978) a famous Chinese literary figure. The Former Residence of Guo Moruo located in Shawan District is also an attractive scenic spot.

Because of its advantageous location in the southwest of the Sichuan Basin, the climate here is fairly good and the two mountains Wuyou Mountain and Lingyun Mountain around Leshan City are luxuriantly green. As well as a mountainous area, aspects of the terrain take the form of a plain and an area of hills. The southwest mountain area of the Sichuan Basin has three dimensions to its climate featuring a mild winter and a relatively cool summer, with rain in both early spring and the fall. This means that the mountain area of Leshan is highly suitable for the propagation of vegetation.

Tourists coming to Leshan & Emeishan Scenic Areas will have no worries about transportation. There is Chengdu-Kunming Railway Line running through Leshan City. The sea route Leshan-Yibing-Luzhou-Chongqing is very convenient for traveling by water. Moreover, the highway network ensures convenient ways of getting to Leshan and reaching each of the scenic spots within Leshan and its environs. Whether tourists travel by road, sea or train, they will have a pleasant journey.