# Mount Emei Scenic Area (峨眉山风景名胜区) Chengdu, Sichuan Province · Southwest, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5 Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mount-emei-scenic-area Language: en ## Key facts - **Admission:** Entrance ticket: ¥160 in peak season, ¥110 in off-season. Golden Summit cable car: peak season ¥65 up, ¥55 down; off-season ¥30 up, ¥20 down. Wannian cable car: peak season ¥65 up, ¥45 down; off-season ¥30 up, ¥20 down. Temple admission fees also apply: Baoguo Temple ¥8, Fuhu Temple ¥8, Wannian Temple ¥10. Skiing ¥120 per person per hour. - **Time needed:** 1–3 days - **Good for:** Architecture, Temples, Photography, Nature ## About Mount Emei Scenic Area “Higher than the Five Great Mountains, most splendid under heaven.” Mount Emei is one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China. Among the country's famous scenic mountains, it is arguably the tallest, its main peak, Wanfo Golden Summit (万佛金顶), rising to 3,099 metres above sea level. Baoguo Temple (报国寺) is the gateway to Mount Emei and the point every visitor passes, whether arriving by bus or on foot. From the summit, on a clear day, you can make out the silver peaks of the Gongga Snow Mountain hundreds of kilometres away. At the Duguang Terrace (睹光台) on Golden Summit, visitors can witness four spectacular natural phenomena: the magnificent sea of clouds, sunrise, the “Buddha's Light” (佛光) unique to Mount Emei, and the Sacred Lantern (圣灯). Halfway up the mountain are two highlights: Wannian Temple (万年寺) and Qingyin Pavilion (清音阁). Near Qingyin Pavilion, the “One Line Sky” (一线天) path is regularly visited by troops of monkeys. The traditional Ten Scenes of Mount Emei are: Golden Summit Auspicious Light, Elephant Pool Moonlit Night, Nine Elders' Immortal Abode, Snow over Daping, Dawn Rain at Hongchun, Autumn Wind at Baishui, Clear Music over the Twin Bridges, Verdant Peaks at Lingyan, Clear Clouds over Luo Peak, and Evening Bell at Shengji. Just from their names they sound beautiful, but due to natural weather conditions and environmental changes, only seven survive today, and it is very hard to see all of them in one visit. As a result, a set of New Ten Scenes has been proposed: Golden Buddha of Golden Summit, Ten Thousand Buddhas Paying Homage, Xiaoping Romance, Light through One Line Sky, Monkeys in the Secluded Valley, Clear Music Lake, First Mountain Pavilion, Wushu Town, Pearl Lake Embraced by Greenery, and Health and Beauty Lake. ## Tips from the guidebook - 1. Mount Emei has two bus stations: the Jiuzhu (Long-Distance) Passenger Transport Centre (九珠（长途）客运中心) in Emei City, about 6 km from the scenic area (roughly 10 minutes by car), and the Tourist Passenger Transport Centre inside the scenic area. If you are at the Jiuzhu station, take a taxi to Baoguo Temple or catch a bus outside the station to reach the scenic area. - 2. Tourist shuttle: if you are short on energy or time, consider taking a tourist shuttle bus directly up to Leiyin Flat (雷洞坪). - 3. Winter essentials: from Leiyin Flat, walk to Jieyin Hall (接引殿), where you can take a cable car or walk up to Golden Summit. Winter paths are slippery, so buying local simple crampons or straw sandals is well worth it. Army greatcoats are also available for rent. These items are cheaper at the visitor reception centre at Jieyin Hall than at the street vendors outside. - 4. Eighty-Four Bends: descending from Golden Summit, the first stop is Jieyin Hall. It is about 7 km from Golden Summit to Jieyin Hall, a walk of roughly 1 hour. From Jieyin Hall, go about 1.5 km down the winding stone steps known as the “Eighty-Four Bends” (八十四盘) to reach Leiyin Flat. This stretch is a concentration of Emei alpine rhododendrons, all of them unique varieties. In early summer, when they are in full bloom, the scenery is at its most spectacular. - 5. Descent routes: from Leiyin Flat, the road on the left goes up the mountain, while the small path to the right leads to Xiyi Pool (洗象池). From Xiyi Pool to Jiuling Ridge (九岭岗), visitors can choose among different routes down. The left route passes Huayan Peak, Chudian and Wannian Temple, making it the shorter option. The right route passes Yuxian Temple, Xianfeng Temple (Jiulao Cave), Hongchun Ping, the Monkey Mountain, One Line Sky and Qingyin Pavilion, and you can descend from Qingyin Pavilion, or continue from Qingyin Pavilion via White Dragon Cave (白龙洞) to Wannian Temple before heading down. This route takes in more sights but is longer. - 6. Jiulao Cave: beside Xianfeng Temple is the famous Jiulao Cave (九老洞), the largest cave on the mountain, over 1,500 metres long, with a height difference of 84 metres between its entrance and its floor. It has three sections: the first can be walked upright and is about 120 metres long; the middle section, about 160 metres long, is not advisable to explore deeply; the lower section is a fissure-type cave too narrow to enter. Xianfeng Temple and Hongchun Ping are about 15 km apart, with the route passing the “Ninety-Nine Bends” (九十九道拐), one of the mountain's three steepest slopes. This route takes about 2 days. - 7. One Line Sky: although the One Line Sky path on Mount Emei is no longer as perilous as it once was, when the wooden planks were laid down, it can still be a challenge for city dwellers used to comfort. At its narrowest point, the plank walkway is only 3 metres wide, barely enough for two slim people to walk side by side. Those without a fear of heights can lean over the railings to take in the stunning views. - 8. Ski slope: about 500 metres down the road from Leiyin Flat is a ski slope, suitable only for beginners to have some fun. The price is ¥120 per hour. - 9. Luggage storage: the Tourist Passenger Transport Centre has a left-luggage office where you can store bags at ¥0.5 per hour, but only for short periods. Alternatively, you can leave bags at a snack shop next door, where the price is negotiable. - 10. Best seasons: spring and autumn are the best times to visit Mount Emei and Leshan, when the climate in both places is pleasant and the scenery is at its most enchanting. - 11. Snow konjac: Mount Emei is also known for a special local delicacy, snow konjac (雪魔芋), a staple food of monks in the temples in the old days. Packaged dried versions are sold throughout the scenic area. - 12. Snack street: in the centre of Emei City, there is a snack street offering a wide variety of authentic Sichuan snacks. Inside the Baoguo Temple scenic area on Mount Emei there is also a famous snack street, selling local Mount Emei specialities. - 13. Accommodation: Mount Emei has many scattered attractions, so to enjoy them properly you should stay at least one night inside the scenic area. Emei City has many budget hotels, and there are numerous star-rated hotels near Baoguo Temple. In the Zhongshan area, there are farmhouse inns around Qingyin Pavilion. In the high mountain area, Golden Summit Grand Hotel (金顶大酒店) is located on the summit, and there are farmhouse inns near Leiyin Flat. In addition, many of the mountain temples, such as Baoguo Temple, Qingyin Pavilion and Wannian Temple, have guest rooms, priced from ¥10 to ¥160. --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 351. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel. Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.