Emei Mountain

Mount Emei (an elevation of 3,099 meters), located 165 kilometers from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province, draws the most attention for its 154-kilometer spread, attracting tourists since ancient times with phenomenal views all the year round.Its highest peak, the Wanfo Summit, starts at 500 meters above sea level and rises to 3,099 meters above sea level, giving it a remarkable variation of temperatures. 

Emei Mountain China

Therefore as the saying goes, four seasons co-exist on one mountain, where the temperature of one place is different from another only five kilometers away. Indeed, in March when flowers bloom at its base, Mount Emei's Peak is still thick with snow. In summer, it is scorching hot at the foot but comfortably cool higher up. 

The seasons each bring its own stunning beauty to Mount Emei. The azaleas of springtime are brilliantly red, while summer is lush and verdant because of the trees and grass. In autumn, the mountain is decorated by autumnal leave, only to be blanketed in winter by fresh white snowfall. 

emei mountain monkeys

Ancient temples, trees and mountain slopes are all covered with snow. The snow can absolutely dazzle tourists. Bitter cold hardens it into ice, turning the trees into "ice flowers".A local story about how Mount Emei got its present name reflects the legendary stature of the beauty and romance of the mountain. 

Emei is a poetic term for "beautiful women". Legend has it that there was a temple outside the west gate of the town where a monk gave shelter at one time to a painter. The painter repaid his kindness with four pictures, each of which had an elegant, and lovely young girl on it. 

The painter told the monk the paintings must remain in a trunk for 49 days after his departure. But the monk, too impressed to give attention to the painter, hung them on the wall immediately. When the monk returned that evening, he was shocked to see four girls giggling away in the hall, the pictures now completely blank. As the monk realized that they had leaped from the portrait, the girls ran out of the room. 

Sunrise and Sea of Clouds in Emei Mountain

Giving chase, he was only quick enough to hold the skirt of the youngest girl who, in desperation, escaped his clutches by changing into a mountain peak. The other three, hating to abandon her, did likewise, which explains why Mount Emei had three peaks close together and a fourth standing a little distance apart.Mount Emei is more than a big mountain to many people. It can also be a frame of mind, and not just because looking up at its monumental heights forces tourists to recognize their smallness. 

Buddhist halo in Emei Mountain Chengdu

For centuries, the Chinese people have believed nature has a mysterious influence on man's character, and mountains supremely exemplify nature. Mixed up with this tradition was the ancient folk belief that mountains were the magical habitants of immortals.Like the three other sacred mountains - Wutai Mountain, in Shanxi Province, Juihua Mountain in Anhui Province, and Putuo Mountain in Zhejiang Province - Mount Emei's sacred character has been thoroughly institutionalized by many temples on its mountain slopes. 

Buddhism arrived on Mount Emei some 2,000 years ago and left behind more than 30 temples, including over 10 that represent a unique Mount Emei style.Famous spots on the mountain: The Baoguo Temple, The Wannian Temple, Hongchunping, Elephant's Bathing Pool, Golden Summit, The Fuhu temple, etc.

Entrance Tickets of the Emei Mountain

Entrance Fee:  CNY 185 (Jan.15 – Dec.14)   CNY 110 (Dec.15 – Jan.14)

Baoguo Temple:  CNY 8

Fuhu Temple:  CNY 10

Wannian Temple: CNY 10

Emei Mountain Opening Hours

6:00 - 18:30 (Jan.15 – Dec.14);7:00 - 17:50 (Dec.15 – Jan.14)

Best Travel Time to the Emei Mountain

Spring and Autumn

How to Get the Emei Mountain

Mt. Emei is 150 kilometers south of Chengdu, 130 kilometers from the Shuangliu International Airport and 28 kilometers from Leshan city. Tourist can fly to Chengdu, and then take train or bus to the mountain.

Train

There are regular overnight trains between Emei town and Kunming, which cost approximately ¥190 for a hard sleeper (Aug 2013) and take approximately 12 hours. Regular trains also depart from Chengdu to Emei, taking 2 hours and costing ¥20. From the train station Bus 8 (¥2) directly transfers to the main gate of Baogou Village (last stop). Baogou Village is the departing point for buses going up mount Emei and also the starting point for trekking.

Bus

Buses to/from Chengdu (Xinnanmen Bus Station) cost ¥48 and travel every 20 min (from 07:20-19:20), and arrive at Emei town main bus station. Buses also travel to/from Leshan (from around 7:30-17:30 for ¥8) and take one hour.

From Emei Shan Bus station get into bus 1 (¥1) at the roundabout with the golden horse statute. From there it takes a while; pass by another roundabout and get of at the next big roundabout with another big golden statue. Cross the roundabout and take bus 5 (¥1), which goes to Baogou Village. The Village starts at the stone arch. Watch out, the other bus 5 does not go there.

How to Visit the Emei Mountain

1) The first choice is taking a hiking route, which takes three days from the foot of the mountain to its top - Golden Summit.

2) Taking the local sightseeing bus to Wannian Monastery (Wannian Temple) parking lot and then go to visit the Wannian Monastery located at the waist of Emei Mountain, then walk down to Qingyin Pavilion and the monkey mountain, then come back from the monkey mountain to Wuxiangang where you can catch the sightseeing bus back to the mountain foot. This is a very nice hiking way.

3) Taking the local sightseeing bus directly to Leidongping parking lot where you need to walk about 20 minutes to Jiexin hall to cake the cable car for the top of Mt.Emei-Golden Summit. After sightseeing there, you can either walk down to  Leidongping parking lot or take the cable car down there.

Please note that the cable cars at Wannian Monastery and Golden Summit close at 18:00 in the peak travel season from Mar.- Oct. and 17:00 in the low season from Nov.- Feb.

The local sightseeing bus to the golden summit and Wannian monastery will stop at 4:30 usually.


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