2 Days in Mount Emei: A Complete Travel Guide

Are you ready for an unforgettable adventure in one of China’s most stunning locales? Mount Emei is not just a destination; it’s an experience that combines breathtaking scenery, rich cultural history, and thrilling hiking! This guide will ensure you have all the essential information at your fingertips for a fantastic two-day trip.

🌍 Essential Info

📍 Destination: Mount Emei Scenic Area (One of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains / UNESCO World Heritage Site)
🎯 Perfect For: Hikers, culture enthusiasts, sunrise chasers

🚌 Transportation Guide

Getting There

• High-Speed Train: Chengdu East Station → Emeishan Station (1.5h, ¥65), last train at 20:50
• Bus 601: Emeishan Station → Baoguo Temple Visitor Center (last bus at 20:00, ¥5, or take a taxi for ¥25)

Within the Scenic Area

🗺️ Optimized 2-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Cultural Exploration at the Base

⏰ 14:00-18:00

• Baoguo Temple: Free incense for blessings, focus on Ming Dynasty porcelain Buddha and Seven Buddha Hall (30min)
• Fuhu Temple: 1.5km walk (flat terrain), explore the 500 Arhat Hall and Huayan Bronze Pagoda (45min)
• Food: Must-try “Emei Tofu Pudding” (Hu’s Old Shop) + Night Wontons (near Hongzhu Mountain Hotel)

Day 2: Golden Summit Sunrise + Hiking

⏰ 4:30-17:00

• 4:30 Depart from Leidongping (stay at Golden Summit for a 5:00 wake-up)
• 5:00-6:30 Hike to Golden Summit (2.5km/1.5h) or take the first cable car (30min+ queue)
• Sunrise Time: ~6:10 in summer, ~7:30 in winter
• Golden Summit Must-Dos:
  ✅ Circle the Ten Directions Samantabhadra Statue 3 times (Buddhist blessing tradition)
  ✅ Touch the “Diamond Mouth” rock (legend says it helps with fertility)
  ✅ Capture the sea of clouds + Buddha’s Halo (best before 10:00)

🚶 Hiking Details

Route Options & Time Estimates

🏨 Where to Stay

For Sunrise Chasers

• Golden Summit Hotel (¥800-1200):
  ✅ Oxygen machines in rooms
  ✅ Hot ginger tea at 5:30
  ✅ 3min walk to sunrise viewing platform

• Budget Option at Leidongping (¥400-600):
  ⏰ Wake up at 4:00 → Hike 1.5h or take the first cable car

Budget-Friendly (No Sunrise):

• Baoguo Temple Homestays (¥80-150):
  ✅ Recommended: “Gui Qu Lai” Inn (English-speaking host)
  ✅ Free ice cleats/trekking pole rentals

🐒 Monkey Zone Survival Guide

Monkey Zones You Can’t Avoid

• Leidongping → Jieyin Temple: Monkeys present all day, safer during staff hours (8:00-17:00)
• Jiulao Cave → Xianfeng Temple (Hiking Route): Wild monkeys, more aggressive

How to Avoid Trouble

• ❌ Don’t carry plastic bags/expose food
• ✅ Bring a bamboo stick (¥5 at base, doubles as hiking aid)
• 💡 Walk in groups, women stay on the inner side

Pro Tips

Packing List

• Must-Have: Anti-slip hiking shoes (mossy steps are deadly!), windbreaker (8℃ colder than forecast at the summit)
• Optional: Pulse oximeter (3079m altitude), waterproof phone case (waterfall sections)

Safety Alerts

• Last shuttle bus downhill: Leidongping → Baoguo Temple 17:00 (miss it? Private car ¥300+)
• Cable car breakdown: Call rescue service (☎️ 0833-5098080), ¥200/person

🍜 Food Guide

💡 Local Secrets

• Hidden Sunrise Spot: “Broken Cliff Rock” east of Golden Summit, fewer people but no guardrails (for pros only)
• Cultural Easter Egg: 12 zodiac carvings on the Golden Summit copper hall edge – find your sign and circle it 3 times for blessings