Emeishan

Mount Emei (Emeishan) is a place of profound spiritual significance and wide-open natural beauty. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, it hosts China's first Buddhist temple, built in the 1st century. The highlight of any visit is the Golden Summit (Jinding), where a monumental 48-meter-high golden statue of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra sits above the clouds. Visitors often arrive before sunrise to witness the famous 'Sea of Clouds' and the 'Emei Halo.' Hiking trails wind through dense, biodiverse forests with giant trees and numerous waterfalls. Along the way, you frequently encounter the famous Tibetan macaques, known for their interaction with tourists. Beyond nature, the mountain is home to over 30 monasteries, including Wannian Temple with its impressive architecture. The mountain's spiritual energy is palpable everywhere in the clouds of incense and the chants of monks. Culinarily, one should try local Emei tea (Emei Xueya) and vegetarian temple meals. Emeishan is accessible by high-speed train from Chengdu in about an hour. The best times to visit are spring (azalea blooming season) and autumn (clear views). In winter, the mountain turns into a fairytale snowscape. Cable cars are available for the ascent, but the true experience is the multi-day hike.

Nearby cities

Chengdu

Chengdu is a relaxed metropolis famous as the home of giant pandas and the incredibly spicy, numbing Sichuan cuisine.

Wuhan

Wuhan is a bustling metropolis divided by the Yangtze River, famous for its historic Yellow Crane Tower and vibrant cherry blossoms.

Chongqing

Chongqing is a sprawling megacity in southwest China, famous for its hilly terrain, vibrant night views, and spicy hotpot.

Zhengzhou

The capital of Henan province and one of the ancient capitals of China.

Luoyang

One of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, located in Henan province.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie fascinates its visitors with gigantic, towering sandstone pillars that famously inspired the blockbuster movie Avatar.

Shangri-La

Shangri-La offers a truly mystical atmosphere with authentic Tibetan monasteries and spectacular mountain scenery.

Wulong

Wulong is renowned for its spectacular karst landscapes, including giant sinkholes, natural bridges, and underground caves.

Wulingyuan

Wulingyuan is famous for its thousands of towering quartzite sandstone pillars, which inspired the floating mountains in the movie Avatar.

Jiuzhaigou Huanglong

Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are renowned for their multi-tiered waterfalls, colorful lakes, and snow-capped peaks.

Qinghai Lake

The largest inland and saltwater lake in China, surrounded by stunning mountains and bright yellow rapeseed flowers.

History & landmarks

Leshan

Home to the world's largest stone Buddha statue, carved directly into a red sandstone cliff at the confluence of three rivers.

Dengfeng / Shaolin

Dengfeng is the spiritual home of martial arts, famous worldwide for the legendary Shaolin Temple and Zen Buddhism.

More places

Longmen Grottoes

Tens of thousands of statues of Buddhist figures and their disciples, carved into the limestone cliffs of the Xiangshan and Longmenshan m…

Kaifeng Dragon Pavilion

A park built on the site of the imperial palaces of several dynasties when Kaifeng was the capital of China.