2-Day Leshan Giant Buddha & Mount Emei Hiking Tour from Chengdu

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Chengdu - Leshan Giant Buddha - Emeishan City
   See the giant panda up close, explore the Buddha with creative photo poses

   The first highlight of today is the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base. This base allows you to have a delightful encounter with the national treasure. You can see the most active pandas.

   Walk through the park with lush green trees and bamboo groves, and observe the pandas of different ages leisurely eating bamboo, playing and fighting, climbing trees, and rolling on the ground, all with cute expressions. Don't forget to visit the Panda Kindergarten to see the lively and adorable baby pandas.

   

   Then, drive about 2 hours to the World Cultural Heritage - Leshan Giant Buddha. This giant seated Buddha carved into the mountain is 71 meters high and is the largest and tallest stone-carved Buddha in the world. It took 90 years to complete.

   Slowly descend along the famous nine-turning stone path beside the Buddha, from the top of the mountain all the way to the foot of the Buddha, to appreciate this thousand-year-old giant Buddha from different angles and learn about the extraordinary wisdom of ancient Chinese craftsmen.

   

   Say no to stereotypical tourist photos. Come and unlock new ways to take photos of the Buddha! Skillfully use the technique of forced perspective to "touch the Buddha's head" to symbolize climbing higher step by step, or get creative and give the Buddha a pair of sunglasses — it's fun and sure to go viral on Ins!

   After the tour, drive about 50 mins to Emeishan City to check into a hotel, have a good rest, and recharge your energy for the essential hiking in Mount Emei the next day.

   Optional Activity: For the best view of the Buddha, take an optional river cruise. From the water, you'll enjoy a full frontal panorama of the statue and truly appreciate its monumental scale against the towering cliff.

   Vehicle

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   4-Star Hotel in Emeishan City
2. Day 2: Mount Emei Hiking - Chengdu
   Visit ancient temples and ascend to the summit to enjoy the sea of clouds

   After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you in the hotel lobby to take you to Mount Emei, where you’ll begin your hiking tour.

   Today’s hiking itinerary includes two routes:

   Qingyin Pavilion – Wannian Temple (approx. 1.5–2 hours);

   Leidongping – Golden Summit (approx. 1.5–2 hours).

   The first leg of the journey winds through secluded bamboo groves in a deep valley, accompanied by the gentle murmur of a stream, as you visit a thousand-year-old temple.

   The second half challenges you with steep stone steps up the mountain, leading to the summit shrouded in mist, where you can admire the majestic sight of the Ten-Direction Samantabhadra Golden Statue.

   Next, head to the Tourist Center of Mount Emei. Take the scenic eco-bus to reach the parking lot, and start your hiking tour of Mount Emei today.

   Walk along the stone steps in the forest, pass through the ancient forest with towering trees, and arrive at Qingyin Pavilion. This is one of the most spiritual scenic spots in Mount Emei, with a harmonious combination of mountains and water. You can slow your pace, breathe the breeze, and lose yourself in this mountain forest.

   

   Then continue hiking for about 2 hours to Wannian Temple, with a history of thousands of years. Along the way, enjoy the original and beautiful natural scenery of the low mountain area of Mount Emei. The temple houses a finely crafted bronze statue of Shakyamuni Bodhisattva riding a white elephant cast in the Song Dynasty, which is one of the most representative Buddhist art treasures of Mount Emei. In the midst of ancient trees, the sound of bells, and incense smoke, experience the profound Buddhist cultural heritage of Mount Emei.

   Then, take the eco-bus to Leidongping. Have lunch there and head for the Golden Summit. Unlike most tourists who choose to take the cable car, you will walk along the less-visited hiking path. Although some sections have a steep slope, the stone steps are well constructed, making the walk safe and comfortable.

   After reaching Taizhiping, the road gradually becomes flat, with lush original forests on both sides, fresh and pleasant air. Finally, reach the Golden Summit at an altitude of 3,077 meters. Standing on the Golden Summit, the magnificent 48-meter-tall, ten-armed golden statue of Shakyamuni is the first thing that catches your eye. Next to it is the long-standing Huazhuan Temple.

   Stroll on the Golden Summit, see the solemn Buddhist buildings, and overlook the mountainous scenery with overlapping peaks. On a clear day, you can encounter the magnificent sea of clouds, and even have the rare opportunity to witness the Buddha's halo phenomenon.

   

   Take the cable car down to the Jieyin Pavilion, then walk back to Leidongping, transfer to the eco-bus, and return to the Tourist Center.

   Drive for about 2 hours back to Chengdu. This is the end of your 2-day Leshan and Mount Emei exploration!

   Vehicle

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