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Leshan

Ancient Giant

2 days

history natural beauty

recognised for both its breathtaking natural beauty and its profound cultural significance. This 2-day itinerary pairs the world's largest stone Buddha with the sacred clouds of Mount Emei, easily accessible via a 1-hour high-speed train from Chengdu.

Leshan — the 71-metre Giant Buddha carved into the red sandstone cliffs at the river confluence — hero image for a private Sichuan travel guide by Boutique China

What you'll experience

  • Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area: Leshan is home to the
  • UNESCO Dual Heritage Explore one of the few sites in the world honored for both its physical geological beauty and its thousand-year-old spiritual history.
  • Monolithic Grandeur Stand at the feet of the 71-meter tall Giant Buddha, a masterpiece of 8th-century engineering carved directly into the red sandstone cliffs.
  • Culinary Soul of Sichuan Discover why Leshan is considered the "snack capital" of the province, famous for its distinct sweet-skinned duck and aromatic "Bobo" chicken.
Snippet 01

The Colossus on the River

  • Board a 45-minute high-speed train from Chengdu to Leshan, where your private chauffeur will take you to the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area.
  • Experience the Buddha from two perspectives a private boat cruise to witness the full scale of the statue from the water, followed by a cliffside hike down the "Nine Turns" plank road to reach the Buddha's feet.
  • Wander through the Oriental Buddha Park, a hidden complex of thousands of stone carvings and the world's longest reclining terracotta Buddha, nestled in a lush forest setting.
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (1)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (2)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (3)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (4)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (5)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (6)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (7)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (8)
The Colossus on the River — Leshan (9)
Snippet 02

The Golden Summit of Mount Emei

  • Take a 15-minute high-speed rail or a short chauffeur drive to Mount Emei, one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and a UNESCO natural sanctuary.
  • Ascend via the "Golden Summit" cable car to pierce through the sea of clouds, reaching the Wanfoding (Ten Thousand Buddha Summit) to see the 48-meter tall golden statue of Samantabhadra.
  • Descend to Wannian Temple, the oldest temple on the mountain, to walk through ancient gardens where wild macaques roam and the air is thick with the scent of mountain tea.
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (1)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (2)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (3)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (4)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (5)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (6)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (7)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (8)
The Golden Summit of Mount Emei — Leshan (9)
Plan your trip

Private Chengdu & Jiuzhai Valley

Giant Pandas at the Chengdu Research Base, then three days in the alpine lakes of Siguniang or Jiuzhai Valley. City culture first, mountain silence after.

6 – 8 days · From $3,300 pp / twin share
See the full itinerary →
Common questions

Planning your Leshan trip

01 How do I get to Leshan from Chengdu?

One hour by high-speed rail from Chengdu East Station to Leshan Station — comfortable, frequent, and drops you 20 minutes by car from the Giant Buddha scenic area. Drivers are another option (~2h each way) and useful if you're combining Leshan and Mount Emei in one trip with luggage. We usually build it as a 2-day loop from Chengdu with one night at the foot of Mount Emei.

02 Can I see both Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei in one trip?

Yes — they're less than an hour apart and usually combined. Day 1: Giant Buddha (boat view then cliff walk), overnight at the foot of Mount Emei. Day 2: pre-dawn cable car to the Golden Summit for sunrise above the sea of clouds, descend via the monasteries and hot springs. Back to Chengdu by evening. This is the classic 2-day Sichuan spiritual side-trip.

03 What's the best season for Mount Emei's golden summit?

April to June and September to October for clear sunrise views from 3,077m. Winter brings snow and atmosphere but also fog that can block the golden sunrise; summer brings afternoon thunderstorms that clear by dawn. October is the sweet spot — mountain autumn colour plus the highest chance of a clear sea-of-clouds morning. We monitor the forecast and can adjust the summit morning by a day if conditions look poor.

Keep exploring

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Chengdu
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Jiuzhai Valley
Jiuzhai Valley
Leshan
Leshan
Seda
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