5 Days in Emeishan

Baoguo Temple of 1615 and the cedar-shaded Fuhu Temple ease you in; the museum by the bus station lays out the geology and the two cable-car lines.

1. emeishan baoguo temple
2. emeishan fuhu temple
3. emeishan museum

The vast monastery complex at the foot of town, some 45 hectares completed in 2008, deserves a slow morning; an evening soak in the hotspring quarter repairs the legs.

1. emeishan dafo chan monastery
2. emeishan hot springs

Bus about two hours to Leidongping, the Jieyin Hall cable car five minutes more; the 48-metre Samantabhadra statue of 2006 stands at 3,079 metres, with cloud seas if the weather cooperates. Overnight near the top or descend to Leidongping.

1. emeishan golden summit

Down from the summit to the Wannian cable car: the brick hall of 1601, the 62-tonne bronze Samantabhadra cast in 980, the macaque zone and the twin streams of Qingyin Pavilion.

1. emeishan wannian temple
2. emeishan monkey zone
3. emeishan qingyin pavilion

An honest neighbouring-city day about 40 kilometres east: the 71-metre Buddha carved from the cliff between 713 and 803, seen from the stairway or from a river boat, then the train home from Leshan station.

1. emeishan leshan giant buddha