Mount Emei Travel Guide and Tours

Importance News – Mt. Emei is currently open to foreign visitors including expats in China.

Emeishan, or Mount Emei, is located in the southwestern Sichuan Basin, about 120 km (2.5 hours’ driving) away from Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, 7 km to Emeishan City, and 37 km from its famous neighbor destinations Leshan. Emeishan plays a very important role in Chinese Buddhism, which make it be ranked as one of “Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China.”(Another three are Wutaishan, Putuoshan, Jiuhuangshan). Emeishan, together with Leshan Giant Buddha, were ranked as UNESCO Natural and Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.

Buddhist temples and towers

As one of the most influential Buddhist sites in China, Emeishan is the sacred mountain with long-lasting Buddhism tradition and history. It is regarded as the bodhima, or place of enlightenment, of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra. Samantabhadra is known in Mandarin as Puxian Pusa. The most outstanding Buddhist building is the gilded statue of Samantabhadra on the Golden Summit which is 48 meters high. There are more than 30 monasteries located from the foot to the top of Emeishan. Baoguosi Monastery, Fuhusi Monastery, Wanniansi Monastery and Huazangsi are four most influential ones.

Natural sightseeing

Emeishan is also famous for pretty landscape. From the foot of mountain to the top, you can see different kinds of natural views – rivers, lakes, mountains, wild forests, cloud sea, flowers… and in different seasons you experience different features. Spring is a good time to see the azaleas blooming everywhere. While in summer, Emeishan is a great place for cool stay. Autumn is the most beautiful season when the mountain is dressed by different colors of trees, and the weather is also the best. Winter is the off season when there are fewer tourists and the price for hotel and food are relatively cheaper.

Wonderful hiking

Hiking is the best way to experience both the essence of culture and nature. There are stone-step paths starting from the foot of mountain to the top. It takes more than one day to hike the entire route, and you don’t have to. You are suggested take some classic parts. Generally, there are two classic routes. One is from Qingyinge to the top. Another is from Wanniansi to the top. The former route goes about 49 km, and the latter route goes about 29 km.

The highest apex on Emeishan is a Buddhist tower – Wanfong Ding which has an elevation of 3099 meters. But now this site is not open for tourists because of caused environmental problems by the construction of brief rail from Golden Summit to Wanfong Ding.