Must-See! Unveiling Leshan's Treasure Travel Guide

Leshan, hidden in southwestern Sichuan, is renowned for the Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is a travel paradise where nature and culture blend harmoniously. Here is a carefully crafted Leshan travel guide for you: I. Quick View of Attractions 1. Leshan Giant Buddha: With a majestic height of 71m, it is the tallest stone-carved Buddha statue in the world. You can climb from the North Gate and descend along the winding plank road to the Buddha's feet, enjoying a panoramic view of the confluence of three rivers. Take a boat trip on the river to admire the scenery, with the most charming light in the evening. The mountain climbing ticket is CNY 80, and the cruise ticket is CNY 120 (the night tour is even more stunning). During holidays, the queue for the plank road is long, so it is recommended to arrive before 8am. 2. Mount Emei (30 km from Leshan): Here, the sea of clouds and the Buddha's light at the Golden Summit are like a dream, and wild Tibetan macaques appear in the ecological monkey area. For a one-day tour, you can take a scenic bus to Leidongping and transfer to the cable car to the Golden Summit. For an in-depth tour, you can hike to Qingyin Pavilion - Ecological Monkey Area on the first day, stay at Leidongping, and return after climbing to the top the next day. Tickets are CNY 160, and sightseeing buses are CNY 90 (charged in sections). 3. Lesser-known attractions: The modern stone carving art of the Oriental Buddha Capital and the huge reclining Buddha in the underground palace are visually stunning (ticket price: CNY 80); the Jianwei Jiayang Steam Train travels through the blooming sea of rapeseed flowers in spring, and the journey takes 1.5 hours. II. Delicacies 1. Must-eat delicacies: For Qiaojiao Beef, "Feng Si Niang" and "Gu Shi Xiang" are highly recommended; the crispy and tender Sweetened Crispy Duck from "Zhao Yazi" and "Wang Hao'er Ji Liu Niang"; the authentic Bobo Chicken from "Ye Popo" and "Huang Ji Rou"; the "Jiu Jiu Tofu Brain" in Niuhua Town is served with steamed beef with rice flour and crispy pork, offering a rich taste; and the pork belly and chicken cartilage from Changyao Good Luck Fried Food (Wang Hedi's old shop) should not be missed. 2. Food streets: Zhanggong Bridge is a popular spot for tourists; Jiaxing Road and Dongda Street are the favorites of locals, where you can try Xiaodou Haitang and Jiumei Chicken Feet. III. Convenient Transportation 1. External transportation: From Chengdu to Leshan, the high-speed train takes only 1 hour, and the bus takes 2 hours (departing from Xinnanmen Station); from Mount Emei to Leshan, the high-speed train takes only 11 minutes, and there is also a direct scenic bus (about 1 hour). 2. City transportation: There are tourist bus lines to the scenic spots (such as K1 to the Giant Buddha); the taxi starting price is CNY 5, and it costs about CNY 15 from the city center to the Giant Buddha. IV. Accommodation Recommendations 1. Leshan City: For quality, you can choose "Leshan Chanyi Hotel" (near the Giant Buddha); for high cost performance, the B&Bs near Zhanggong Bridge are a good choice. 2. Mount Emei area: If you want to wait for the sunrise at the Golden Summit, stay at the "Golden Summit Hotel" (reservations are required in advance); at the foot of the mountain, you can choose the "Le Meridien Hotel" or the B&Bs in the Baoguo Temple area. V. Itinerary Planning 1. One-day quick tour: Leshan Giant Buddha in the morning (mountain climbing + boat trip), Qiaojiao Beef for lunch, Wuyou Temple or Oriental Buddha Capital in the afternoon, and a night tour of the Giant Buddha in the evening (light show). 2. Two-day classic tour: Leshan Giant Buddha + downtown food on the first day, and Mount Emei Golden Summit + Qingyin Pavilion on the second day. 3. Three-day in-depth tour: On the third day, go to Jianwei to take the Jiayang Steam Train, or visit Luocheng Ancient Town (boat-shaped ancient street). VI. Gentle Reminder 1. The Jiǔqū plank road of the Giant Buddha is narrow, so those who are afraid of heights or have poor physical strength are advised to choose a boat trip to see the Buddha. 2. Mount Emei has a high altitude, so you need to bring a windproof jacket, and remember to prepare rain gear during the rainy season. 3. Leshan cuisine is spicy, so those with sensitive stomachs should prepare medicines in advance. 4. March - May (when the azaleas of Mount Emei are in full bloom) and September - November (when the autumn is crisp and refreshing) are the best seasons to travel. Leshan brings together natural wonders, Buddhist culture, and Sichuan cuisine, making it suitable for a slow-paced and in-depth tour. Plan ahead and enjoy the unique charm of this "Buddhist Fairyland"!