Mount Emei, how to visit the sacred Buddhist mountain in Sichuan (China)

When planning your Trip to china you can plan a stage in Chengdu, in the province of Sichuan,

This place will take you the opportunity to visit the giant panda conservation centers, or the imposing Leshan Buddha,

But you also have the opportunity to go up to the Buddhist sacred mountain known as the Mount Emei, one of the four Buddhist religions that exist in China.

If you like great natural landscapes, and also hiking, the Mount Emei It can be an interesting stage in your trip to chengdu.

Mount Emei, a sacred mountain and World Heritage Site in China

Declared Heritage awarded by the Unesco, there have been human settlements since ancient times on Mount Emei.

It is also known that 5.000 years ago a Chinese emperor climbed Mount Emei to learn Taoist thought, and 1.900 years ago the Temple of Heaven was built on Mount Emei. first Buddhist temple in all of China.

Currently, the Mount EmeiAt just over 3.000 meters high, it is the highest of the four sacred Buddhist mountains in China, and up to 17 Buddhist monasteries are located there.

That Buddhist atmosphere extends throughout the natural environment, with paintings, sculptures, etc.

Every year thousands of tourists go to visit Mount Emei en Sichuan.

What to see on a visit to Mount Emei

On the one hand there are the pilgrims who go up to the Golden Summit, an enclave where, together with Buddhist monasteries and temples, such as Golden Temple, There are large gilded sculptural groups.

In this regard, it is worth highlighting the monument to Samantabhadra Buddha, known in China as the Puxian Buddha.

But, also, the Mount Emei It is a great natural setting that encourages great scenery, especially with their seas of clouds, which has turned its sunsets and sunrises into a great tourist attraction.

During your visit you will have the opportunity to take a long excursion Hiking ascending the slope of the Mount Emei, something that many hikers do and that takes a couple of days.

To visit Mount Emei you have to go by bus from Chengdu o Leshan a Emei Shan, the town located at the base of the Chinese sacred mountain.

How to climb Mount Emei, cable car and bus

To enter the natural environment of Mount Emei you have to pay an entrance fee of 150 CNY (16 euros).

From there you can start the hiking excursion, in which it is not necessary climb the whole mountain on foot.

To overcome the first section, there is a first funicular which takes you to a height of 1.000 meters (65 CNY; 7 euros).

From there you can begin the ascent along the mountain trails, which will take you several hours. Throughout it, you will find groups of monkeys They will insistently ask you for food, which tourists have become accustomed to.

Finally you will reach the foot of another funicular, known as the Jinding, where there is also a hotel where you can stay for between 20 and 30 euros per room.

If you take this other funicular to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei (same price as the previous one), you will save a few hours of climbing on foot.

However, the option most used by visitors to the Mount Emei is to take a bus in Emei Shan that in two and a half hours you will get close to the Jinding cable car.

To get there you must climb a path of stairs that will take you a little more than half an hour. And on the funicular you will access the Golden Summit.

In this enclave you can now visit the main Buddhist temples and monasteries and enjoy beautiful Panoramic views.