Mount Emei Travel Guide

Mount Emei is a mountain rising in south-central Sichuan, southwest of Chengdu. The elevation gap from foot to summit is large, and the scenery and temperature change as you climb, from the mild climate below to the cool air above. As one of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, it has drawn devotion since ancient times.Many temples are scattered through the mountain, welcoming worshippers at Baoguo Temple at the foot, Wannian Temple, Qingyin Pavilion, and others. Wild monkeys sometimes appear along the stone-step paths, and people approaching them for food are a sight unique to this mountain. It is a mountain path where the breath of nature can be felt close at hand, even as it is a path of faith.At the Golden Summit at the top stands a golden statue of Samantabhadra, and many people climb seeking the sight of the morning sun rising above the sea of clouds. When conditions align, you may encounter the phenomenon known as the Buddha's halo, in which your shadow on the clouds is ringed by a rainbow of light. Mount Emei and the Leshan Giant Buddha are included as component sites of the UNESCO World Heritage listing.Mount Emei has been revered since ancient times as a mountain of pilgrimage and learning, and many writers visited. From Chengdu, take the railway to Emeishan Station at the foot, then connect to the scenic-area bus and cable car heading up. Hot springs at the foot suit a rest after mountain walks. It is a mountain of depth, where nature, faith, and food overlap.