2 Days in Mount Emei: A Complete Travel Guide

Mount Emei is not so much a destination as it is a dance between spirit and stone—a place where sacred halls meet silent peaks, and the fog seems to know its way around the mountain better than anyone. This two-day guide takes you from incense-lit temples to the snow-kissed summit, with just enough creature comforts (and monkeys) to keep things lively.

🌍 Essential Info

📍 Destination: Mount Emei Scenic Area  – One of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, also a proud UNESCO World Heritage Site.
🎯Best suited for: Devoted hikers, heritage buffs, and anyone chasing sunrises above the clouds.

🚌 Getting There Without Losing Your Zen

High-Speed Train: From Chengdu East to Emeishan Station (1.5h, ¥65). Final departure: 20:50.
Bus 601: From station to Baoguo Temple Visitor Center (¥5, final run at 20:00). Or take a taxi (¥25).

Within the Scenic Area

🗺️ Two Days in Emei: A Gentle Pilgrimage

Day 1: Temples, Tofu & Tranquility

⏰ 14:00–18:00

• Baoguo Temple – Light free incense for blessings. Look for the Ming Dynasty porcelain Buddha and Seven Buddha Hall. (~30 min)

• Fuhu Temple – Just 1.5km away on a shaded flat path. Visit the serene 500 Arhat Hall and golden Huayan Bronze Pagoda. (~45 min)

• Dinner Delights – Try the legendary Emei Tofu Pudding (Hu’s Old Shop), then hunt down night wontons near Hongzhu Mountain Hotel.

Day 2: Sunrise Above the Clouds

⏰ 4:30–17:00

• 4:30 – Depart from Leidongping (Golden Summit Hotel guests can rise at 5:00).

• 5:00–6:30 – Hike 2.5km uphill (1.5h) or opt for the first cable car (30 mins plus queue).

• Sunrise: Around 6:10 in summer, 7:30 in winter—plan accordingly.

At the Summit, Don’t Miss:
✅ Walk thrice around the Ten Directions Samantabhadra statue—a sacred tradition.
✅ Touch the “Diamond Mouth” rock (rumored to bless fertility).
✅ Watch the sea of clouds shift and, if lucky, catch the legendary Buddha’s Halo (best before 10:00).

🚶 The Hiker’s Handbook

🏨 Resting Your Bones

For Sunrise Chasers
🌄 Golden Summit Hotel (¥800–1200)
✅ Oxygen machines, hot ginger tea at 5:30 AM, and just 3 minutes to the viewing deck.

Budget at Altitude
🏠 Leidongping Inns (¥400–600)
⏰ Wake at 4:00, then hike 1.5h or catch the first cable car.

Sleep Cheap, Skip Sunrise
🛏️ Baoguo Temple Homestays (¥80–150)
✅ “Gui Qu Lai” Inn is English-friendly. Free trekking poles and cleats if needed.

🐒 The Monkey Business Survival Guide

Can’t Avoid Zones

• Leidongping → Jieyin Temple: Monkeys are always on duty. Safer between 8:00–17:00.

• Jiulao Cave → Xianfeng Temple: Home to the rowdier kind.

Tips for Staying Monkey-Free
❌ No visible snacks or plastic bags.
✅ Buy a bamboo stick (¥5)—works wonders.
💡 Group travel is safest. Women: walk inside the group line.

🎒 Final Tips from the Trail

• Packing Essentials
  ✔️ Anti-slip hiking shoes (moss-covered stairs are no joke)
  ✔️ Windbreaker—Summit temps can be 8°C colder
  🛠 Optional but wise: Pulse oximeter, waterproof phone case

  Safety Notes
  🚍 Last shuttle down: 17:00 (miss it? A private car will set you back ¥300+)
  📞 Cable car outage? Call rescue: 0833-5098080 (¥200/person)

🍜 Eat Like a Local

💡 Local Secrets

🔭 Hidden Sunrise View: “Broken Cliff Rock” east of Golden Summit—fewer tourists, zero guardrails (not for casual wanderers).
🔮 Secret Blessing: Golden Summit’s copper hall hides 12 zodiac carvings. Find yours and circle it thrice—luck may follow.