Top 5 Things to Do in Leshan | Recommended Leshan Activities

As a city famous for stunning nature, authentic Buddhist culture and mouth-watering food, Leshan gains increasing popularity among tourists. A visit to the Giant Buddha and Mount Emei has been a routine itinerary. Is there anything else we can do or is there any other way to visit Leshan? Get some ideas about what to do in Leshan from the following selected activities.

Top 1: Paying a Hiking or Boating Visit to Leshan Giant Buddha

Nine Bends Plank Road to Leshan Giant Buddha and Boat Sightseeing

For first-time visitors, it is a must-do to see Leshan Giant Buddha. You can visit it by hiking or boating. The hiking to the Giant Buddha is not very difficult, about 30 minutes from the entrance and you can see the head of the Buddha. If you want to have a closer look at the Buddha, you can keep walking along the Nine Bends Plank Road to the Buddha feet and come up from the other side.

Apart from that, taking a boat sightseeing is another popular way to see Leshan Giant Buddha. In this way, you can see the Giant Buddha more leisurely and discover the Giant Sleeping Buddha (three mountains behind the Giant Buddha form a shape of sleeping Buddha: Wuyou Mountain as the head, Lingyun Moutain the body and Guicheng Mountain the foot). In recent years, tourists are able to take a night boat trip touring Leshan to see the beautiful night scene of the mountain, river, Buddha and the city.

★ Useful Link: Which is the Better Way to Travel Leshan Giant Buddha: Boating or Hiking>>

Leshan Giant Buddha Boating Map

Leshan Giant Buddha Day Boating

• Where to Take the Boat: Baxiandong Dock 八仙洞码头 or Leshan Harbor 乐山港

• Opening Hours: 7：30-18：30 (April-October); 8：00-17：30 (November-March)

• Ticket: CNY 120-150/person

• Route: Baxiandong Dock/Leshan Harbor - Leshan Giant Buddha - Baxiandong Dock/Leshan Harbor

• Duration: about 30-40 minutes with a 5-10 minutes' stop in front of the Giant Buddha for tourists to have a better look at the Buddha and take pictures. There is no dock along the way, so tourists need to stay on the boat.

Leshan Three Rivers Night Tour 夜游三江

• Opening Hours: 2 shifts departing at 20：00 and 21：30 (April 1-October 7); 2 shifts departing at 19：30 and 21：00 (October 8-March 31)

• Ticket: CNY 220/person

• Duration: 1 hour

• Route 1: Baxiandong Dock - Minjiang 1st Bridge - Minjiang 2nd Bridge - Leshan Giant Buddha - Guanfo Pavilion - Baxiandong Dock

• Route 2: Wuyou Temple Dock - Leshan Giant Buddha - Guanfo Pavilion - Minjiang 1st Bridge - Baxiandong Dock

√ 2 Days Best Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Tour with Boat Sightseeing

Top 2: Hiking on Winding Mountain Paths to Mount Emei

Hiking Mount Emei to the Golden Summit

The hiking on Mount Emei is a little demanding but you will be awarded with the scenery both on the way and at the top. If you plan to hike all the way from the bottom up to the mountain top (hiking for about 60 km), it will need at least 16h and you can’t finish that in a single day. Eco-bus and cable car are available in Mount Emei Scenic Area, which can save you some time and energy while enjoying the fun of hiking. So you can arrange your tour in a more flexible way and decide to spend one or two days according to your own situation.

★ Useful Link: Mount Emei Hiking Guide>>

Click to Enlarge Mount Emei Hiking Map

0ne Day Mount Emei Essential Hiking with Leisure Pace

• Highlights: Wannian Temple, Golden Summit

• Route: Tourist Center - Eco-bus - Wuxiangang - Qingyin Pavilion - Walking - Wannian Temple - Cable Car - Eco-bus - Leidongping - Walking - Golden Summit - Cable car - Eco-bus - Tourist Center

• Walking distance: 10km/4~5 hours (starting from tourist center and ending at tourist center)

√ Mount Emei Leisure Hiking Tour from Chengdu

Two Days Mount Emei Classic Hiking with Moderate Pace

--- Eastern Route from Wannian Temple to Golden Summit via Elephant Bathing Pool

• DAY 1：Walking from Wannian Temple to Leidongping

Walking distance: 8km/2~3hrs

Route: Tourist Center – Eco-bus – Wannian Temple Parking Lot – Wannian Temple– Xixin Temple – Chu Temple – Huayan Temple - Leidongping

• DAY 2: Walking from Leidongping to Golden Summit

Walking distance: 27km/7~8hrs

Route: Leidongping - Walking - Jieyin Pavilion - Taizi Ping - Golden Summit - Cable car - Eco-bus - Tourist Center

√ Mount Emei Classic Walking Tour with Moderate Pace

Two Days Mount Emei Ecological Hiking from Qingyin Pavilion to Golden Summit

--- Western Route from Qinyin Pavilion to Golden Summit via Elephant Bathing Pool

• DAY 1：Walking from Qingyin Pavillion to Xixiangchi Temple

Walking distance: 32km/8~9 hours

Route: Tourist center - Eco-bus - Wuxiangang Parking Lot - Walking - Qingyin Pavilion - Wild Monkey Zone - Xianfeng Temple - Yuxian Temple - Jiuling Hill - Elephant Bathing Pool - Leidongping

• DAY 2: Xixiangchi Temple - Golden Summit

Walking distance: 15km/5~6 hours

Route: Elephant Bathing Pool - Leidongping - Walking - Jieyin Pavilion - Taizi Ping - Golden Summit - Cable car - Eco-bus - Tourist Center

√ 4 Days Mount Emei In-depth Hiking Tour including Leshan Giant Buddha

Top 3: Taking a Pilgrimage Trip on This Buddhism Holy Land

Wannian Temple on Mount Emei, Buddhist Ceremony and Devout Believers Worshiping Samantabhadra

If you are interested in religion or are a believer in Buddhism, Leshan is a place that will not let you down. Apart from the 71m tall solemn Maitreya Buddha sitting aside Min River, the direction it looks at - Emeishan - is a generally acknowledged Buddhism Holy Land. Mount Emei is not only one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China but also the place of enlightenment of the Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Every year, numerous followers will take a pilgrimage trip here and show them respect at Huazang Temple and Wannian Temple. When seeing the mighty statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on the mountain top, even ordinary tourists couldn’t help but putting their palms together and praying devoutly.

√ 2 Days Mount Emei Leshan Giant Buddha Smart Tour

√ 3 Days Mount Emei Leisure Tour from Chengdu

Top 4: Capturing Different & Distinctive Leshan Scenery with Your Camera

Attractions in Leshan

Leshan is not as famous as other tourist cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, which helps it better maintain the local conditions and customs. Apart from the reputed Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei, Leshan has the "living fossil" of industrial revolution - Jiayang Steam Train, one of the most complete and primitive ecological communities in China - Sichuan Heizhugou National Forest Park, authentic Sichuan little town where seven peoples live together harmoniously - Luocheng Ancient Town, perfect place for a road trip - Jinkou Gorge, etc. Each of them will present you a different yet distinctive Leshan.>>More about Top Leshan Attractions

√ 2 Days Leshan Giant Buddha Visit with Jiayang Steam Train Experience

√ 4 Days Classic Leshan & Mount Emei Tour from Chengdu

Top 5: Having a Bite of Local Snacks

Spiced Sweet Crispy Duck, Qiaojiao Beef, Boboji and Ye’er Ba

While people from home and abroad are flocking into Chengdu for a taste of Sichuan cuisine, Leshan is the city Chengdu or even Sichuan people would go for a food hunting. Spiced sweet crispy duck, Qiaojiao Beef, Doufunao, Boboji, Minjiang River fish hot pot, Bing Fen, etc. are all waiting for you in Leshan! You can find them at some food streets such as Zhanggongqiao Food Street (张公桥美食街), which is near Min River and only about 3km to Giant Buddha Scenic Area, and Jiaxing Road Food Street (嘉兴路美食街), which is only 4km from Leshan Railway Station, or wander around this city to find more delicacy scattering in the alleys and lanes.>>More about Leshan Food

How to Plan a Leshan Tour

Starting from Chengdu, people usually spend 1-3 days visiting Leshan according to the attractions included in your travel plan.

If you just plan to visit Leshan Giant Buddha, 1 day will be sufficient. You can take a high speed train (about 1h) to Leshan in the morning and come back in the afternoon. There will even be extra time for you to pay a visit to Chengdu Panda Base if you are interested.

√ 1 Day Giant Panda Visit & Leshan Giant Buddha Tour

√ 2 Days Best Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Tour with Boat Sightseeing

If you plan to visit both the Buddha and Mount Emei, it is recommended to set aside 2 days. On the first day after you finish visiting the Giant Buddha, take bus (1.5h) at the scenic area or take high speed train (16 min) to Mount Emei and spend the next day hiking and appreciating the mountain scenery.

√ 2 Days Mount Emei Leshan Giant Buddha Smart Tour

Apart from that, you can also visit Leshan together with Jiayang Steam Train, which is most beautiful in spring and late summer when the train passes through the blooming canola flowers and sunflowers.

√ 2 Days Leshan Giant Buddha Visit with Jiayang Steam Train Experience

If you have 4 or more days traveling, you can extend your Leshan tour to Chengdu, wonderland Jiuzhaigou, or other popular cities in China such as Beijing and Xian. Or you can customize your own tour according to your interests, budget, traveling time, etc. Just tell us your needs, and we will provide you with a satisfactory tour.

★ Recommended Tours including Leshan:

√ 6 Days Chengdu Xian Leshan Emei Enjoyment Tour

√ 7 Days Sichuan Discovery Tour (Chengdu / Leshan / Emei / Chengdu / Jiuzhaigou)

Leshan Giant Buddha Golden Summit on Mount Emei Jiayang Steam Train