Mountain ToursMount Emei, as one of China’s four sacred mountains, is renowned for its steepness and landscape. It is referred to as “the most beautiful under heaven”. For tourists who want to explore its beauty in one day from Chengdu, this itinerary will be your best reference.
Transportation Options
Take the High-speed Rail
Taking the high-speed railway is convenient and fast. The train will take you about 1-1.5 hours from Chengdu East Railway Station to Mount Emei Railway Station. High-speed railway travel is comfortable and smooth, and you will have scenery along the way. After arriving at Mount Emei Station, take the scenic area shuttle bus directly.
Self-driving
Self-driving is convenient. It takes about 2-3 hours on the Chengle Expressway, depending on traffic volume. The virtue of self-driving is that you can stop at any place of interest along the way. However, beware that traffic congestion will be inevitable in the tourist peak season, and parking lot spaces in the scenic zone may be hard to come by.
Morning: Drive to the Scenic area and go to Leidongping
If you are traveling by the fast rail, take the morning train, ideally arriving at Mount Emei Station around 9:30 am. Catch the scenic area shuttle bus from the station to Leidongping directly. The bus ride takes 1.5 hours, winding through the mountains and occasionally catching glimpses of magnificent natural scenery.
If you go by your own car, depart very early in the morning. On arriving at the foot of Mount Emei, park your car at the car park. Then buy a ticket and take the scenic area shuttle bus to Leidongping.
Mid-morning: Hike to Jieyin Hall and Take the Cable Car
After you reach Leidongping, you’ll trek for a short distance of about 1.5 kilometers to the Jieying Hall. Ensure you have on comfortable footwear since this section of the trail slopes slightly. You may encounter some monkeys during your trip, but be careful not to offend them.
At Jieyin Hall, you can opt to ride the cable car to the Golden Summit. There are two types of cable cars: the reciprocating cable car takes more, about 50-100 passengers, and the circular cable car is a smaller vintage cable car. The cable car queues are long in peak tourist season, even up to 1-2 hours, so prepare to queue.
Noon: Arrive Jinding and Take Lunch
It only takes a few minutes to reach Jinding by cable car. Upon arrival at Jinding, you will see the giant statue of Samantabhadra, standing tall in the sunlight, emitting a solemn and sacred atmosphere.
There is a restaurant in Jinding for lunch, but the price is relatively high. Some light food and snacks such as bread, fruits and energy bars can be brought along as well. In case you would like to try the local specialties, you might as well go for the cured meat sausages and cured meat ribs in the snack bar, which are very delicious. The sausages are approximately 10 yuan each, and the ribs are approximately 20-30 yuan each.
Afternoon: Visit the Golden Summit and Start Your Descent
Spend some time checking out the Golden Summit. Drink in the scenic panoramic view of the mountains surrounding you, and if the weather is good, you can even see Mount Gongga in the distance. Stroll about along the trails, visit temples, and enjoy the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere.
Start at approximately 3-4pm, go downhill. Take the cable car down to the Jieyin Hall, then walk back to Leidongping. Take the scenic area shuttle bus from Leidongping to the scenic area entrance.
Optional: If Time Allows, Visit Wannian Temple
If you have time and energy, you can ask the shuttle driver to drop you at Wannian Temple on his return trip. Wannian Temple is a famous temple with profound history and unique building style. You can visit the temple, learn about Buddhism culture, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. But it will cost half a day longer, so plan your time carefully according to your own arrangement.
Evening: Back to Chengdu
Take either the car or high-speed rail back to Chengdu in the evening. If you take the high-speed rail, ride the shuttle bus from the entrance of the scenic area back to Emeishan Station, and then the train back to Chengdu. If driving, simply drive back the same road.
Conclusion
A day tour to Mount Emei from Chengdu is a full-fledged experience by which you can savor the natural scenery and the spirituality of Buddhist practices, and you will definitely be left behind. Don’t forget to check the weather first and dressing accordingly, and have fun. If you need more guidance or information, please feel free to contact Sichuan Tourism Agency.
