7 Days in Emeishan

Baoguo Temple, first raised in 1615, and the visitor museum lay out the route; buy maps and rain shells in town, and check trail conditions at the desk.

1. emeishan baoguo temple
2. emeishan museum

Up the valley path past the twin streams of Qingyin, through the cliff-slot of Yixiantian and the macaque zone — bags zipped — to overnight at Hongchunping, about 1,120 metres up.

1. emeishan qingyin pavilion
2. emeishan yixiantian
3. emeishan monkey zone
4. emeishan hongchunping

The long forest leg — some 15 kilometres of steps past the 99 Bends and Xianfeng Temple — ends at the elephant-bath pool of Xixiangchi at about 2,070 metres; temple lodgings are simple.

1. emeishan xixiangchi

Leidong Ridge, then cable-and-stairs via Jieyin Hall to the summit at 3,079 metres with its 48-metre Samantabhadra statue of 2006; overnight near the top for the sunrise.

1. emeishan golden summit

Dawn from the Golden Summit terrace, a walk out to Wanfoding at 3,099 metres — the range's highest point — then the cable down to Wannian Temple, its brick hall of 1601 and the bronze Samantabhadra cast in 980.

1. emeishan wanfoding
2. emeishan wannian temple

An honest neighbouring-city day about 40 kilometres east: the 71-metre Buddha carved between 713 and 803, best paired with a short river cruise, back by the evening train.

1. emeishan leshan giant buddha

The 45-hectare monastery complex at the foot of town in a slow morning, and the lane houses of Luomu old town nearby, then the train or flight out.

1. emeishan dafo chan monastery
2. emeishan luomu ancient town