Emeishan Trekking Guide: Golden Summit, Ancient Temples & Buddha’s Light Mount Emei UNESCO Site
How to Plan the Perfect Mount Emei Trek: Routes, Temples, Tips & Travel Essentials
Why Emeishan is a Must-Visit UNESCO World Heritage Site
Emeishan is one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China. It’s where Buddhism started and spread in the country. The place has a spiritual feel with clouds, forests, temples, monkeys, and incense, making it a fantastic journey for those wanting to meet Buddhist pilgrims at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
When to Visit Emeishan for the Best Experience
Best Time to Avoid Crowds at Emeishan
We visited Emei Mountain in late October, just after the long holiday season in China. Consequently, we encountered fewer people and almost no queues. The experience could have been less pleasant during the high season, as we saw pictures of long queues for the cableway and to climb the Golden Summit.
The average Chinese tourist reaches the Golden Summit in the morning and returns in the afternoon, making use of the cable car during its operating hours. Therefore, staying overnight on the Golden Summit is a rare experience, even though there are many temples and hotels available at a higher cost than average.
For those planning to trek, the stairs are so slippery, so be careful with what you wear and consider the weather conditions.
How to Plan Your Emei Shan Trek: Routes, Tips & Must-See Temples
Our primary goal was to witness the famous cloud sea view from the Golden Summit temple terrace. Therefore, our plan was to ascend as quickly as possible, using both bus and cable car to reach the summit directly. We intended to descend the day after on foot, visiting historical temples hidden in the forest, and enjoying encounters with monkeys and scenic mountain views until we reached Wannai Temple.
Essential Tips for Emei Shan: What to Pack & Where to Stay
Choose your base Town:
Baogao Village is a comfortable base as close to one of the major temples and has a bus station where all the buses to Emei Mountain leave. Moreover, in the evening there is the food street full of restaurants and good food.
Leave your luggage somewhere and pack a light backpack.
Wherever your base town to explore Emeishan, there will be lockers at the bus station to leave your luggage. In Baogao Village’s station, there is one staff member that speaks English to help you to use the lockers. Otherwise, you can choose to leave your luggage in a hotel.
Emei Mountain Tickets:
With your first bus ticket, you will also purchase tickets to enter Emei Mountain. Never ever trash these tickets as you will often be asked to demonstrate.
Patience Needed on the Summit:
The Golden Summit is covered by mist almost every day, be patient and take your time to be surprised by the winds and see the mystical Buddha light within the cloud sea.
Plan Wisely:
Do not plan to hike in one day especially if you want to climb uphill. In any way, don’t climb uphill unless you are a devoted Buddhist.
Beware of the Rain:
The well-maintained stone-block road becomes extremely slippery when wet, even a day after rain, making the descent hazardous.
Emei Shan: 5 Critical Things to Know Before You Go
Trekking or hiking in Emei Shan Mountain involves only shiny, slippery stone stairs.
Opt for the downward itinerary, as covering 26 km uphill in one or even two days is extremely challenging.
Not all routes shown on tourist maps may be open due to adverse weather conditions.
Even seemingly descending stairs may include infinite upward sections.
A hard, though unforgettable experience.
Emei Shan 2-Day Itinerary: Perfect Plan for Hikers & Non-Hikers
FIRST DAY IN EMEI SHAN:
Catch a morning bus to Wannian Bus Stop, take the cable car, and visit the marvelous Wannian Temple.
Return to Wannian Bus Stop using the same cable car, then take another bus to Longping Bus Stop.
From Longping Bus Stop, walk to the cable car and reach the Golden Summit (ensure you catch the cable car before 18:00).
Enjoy the sunset at the Golden Summit and have dinner at the Jingpeng Catering.
The second day:
Enjoy sunrise at the Golden Summit, then return to Baoguo Bus Stop (first cable car to descend to Longpingli, then take a bus to Baoguo Village).
Visit both Baoguo Temple and Fuhu Temple before catching the last train from Emei Station or enjoy the restaurant street and good food at the Baoguo Temple.
Quick Emei Shan Itinerary for Late Arrivals: Best and Easy Route
Take a bus from Baogao to Lingping, a 2-hour journey with a 15-minute stop.
Enjoy sunset, dinner, and sunrise on the Golden Summit without crowds.
From Lingping bus, take another to Wannian Bus Stop, use the cable car to reach and visit Wannian Temple.
Take a bus back down to Baogao Temple, visit the temple and Fuhu Temple, both reachable on foot within 1 km.
Complete Guide to Emei Shan Bus & Cable Car Routes
Understanding how to use Emei Shan’s transportation system is crucial for a smooth trip. Timing is important as the transportation options operate limited time during the day.
- Baoguo Bus Station is the main transit hub.
- Buses take visitors to Linggongli or Wannian Bus Stops.
- Two cable cars operate: one to Wannian Temple and another to the Golden Summit.
- Important: Last bus is at 16:00, last cable car at 18:00.
Emei Shan Golden Summit: What to Expect & How to Get There
After leaving our luggage and freshening up in a budget-friendly yet comfortable hotel near the Baoguo bus station, we immediately took the bus to the Linggongli stop, the highest bus stop close to the cable car that climbs up to the Golden Summit. We debated whether to visit Baoguo Temple before taking the bus, but we were concerned about being too late. We didn’t want to miss the sunset, and, more importantly, the last bus from the foothill was at 16:00, and the last cable car to the peak operated until 18:00.
Getting the bus ticket was unexpectedly easy at the Baoguo Station as hopefully there was one staff who spoke English. She immediately came to help us when she saw us enter the station, assisted us in purchasing our tickets, and showed us the way to the bus. If we hadn’t taken a hotel to leave our luggage, we could have left it at the lockers in this bus station, only if she had helped us, as all the instructions were in Chinese.he 2-hour bus ride was smooth with one stop. Once we arrived at Linggongli Bus Station, we followed the signs going up to the cable car for the Golden Summit. Just as we started climbing the stairs, we saw a shop where they rented coats. Unsure if we would return to the same point, we opted not to rent one. In hindsight, we could have, as we passed the same point on our way back, and the weather turned freezing after sunset.
From the bus station to the cable car station, there were large stairs to climb, full of snack shops and a monkey playing point for photography. There are two cable cars going up to the Golden Summit:
- A funicular (up to 100 people)
- A loop car (max 6 people, with views)
We were lucky to find no crowds in the afternoon and took the loop cable with a bit of a view.
Once at the top, we checked in near the station and left our bags. The weather was chilly and misty, so we had some street food and headed up the last short climb to the Golden Summit temples and terrace.
Even though the view was covered in mist, it felt magical. The golden temple and statue appeared and disappeared like a dream. We had Sichuan food at the Catering Center, the only restaurant.
In the morning, we skipped the sunrise (too cold!) Anyway, with the persistent mist until 8 o’clock, there was no hope, so we opted to enjoy the rare coffee shop we found with its coffee-like drinks close to the Jing Feng catering place.
Miraculously, the sun broke through, revealing the Buddha’s light and cloud sea—a breathtaking reward.
Golden Summit statistically experiences only four days of sunshine, so patience is key as you wait for the clouds to be dispersed by unexpected winds.
After concluding the most important part of our visit to Emeishan, the Golden Summit, we descended using the larger cable car back to theLinggongli Bus Station.
Following the road behind the bus station, we took the path to XIXICHI (Elephant Bathing Path. Along the way, we passed through a panoramic area with play invaded by monkeys, posing and playing in front of a captivating view.
Contrary to the typical ascent expected of devoted Buddhists, we opted for a descent.
The 7.5 km descent from the top bus station to the first temple was manageable, particularly at XIXICHI, an ancient red temple with a breathtaking view and a congregation of monkeys.
Accommodation is available in all temples, though cold and somewhat pricey, with outdoor toilets—a challenging experience in freezing weather. Once a dream of mine was to stay in a temple on a spectacular mountain with monks and monkeys; now faced with reality, we rush downhill to avoid it before sunset.
Moving from XIXICHI to Hahong Peak, we encountered a small structure resembling a motel, complete with a dog and a cat. While a pleasant spot for a brief rest, the toilet facilities, especially for women, were not commendable.
The 14 km descent to Wannian Temple posed its own challenges, making us question how Lonely Planet could recommend a one-day climb from Wannian to the Lingping bus stop—an almost impossible task.
On our way to Wannian Temple, we encountered a splendid residence palace temple and a panoramic pagoda.
Wannian Temple, the oldest temple on Emei Mountain, is truly beautiful and worth visiting. The cable car near the temple takes you to the parking lot, where you can purchase tickets and catch the bus.
Final Thoughts: Is Emeishan Trekking Worth It?
Our experience at Mount Emei (Emeishan) exceeded our expectations, though the 26-kilometer descent challenged us beyond what we had imagined. Looking back, it’s almost inconceivable to think about climbing up the mountain in a single day – such a feat would be impossible.
While staying in one of the mountain temples could offer a profound spiritual experience, the spartan accommodations and cold conditions aren’t suitable for everyone. Personally, while I can adapt to basic amenities, the cold is where I draw the line. Our decision to spend one night at the summit and dedicate an entire day to the descent proved to be the perfect choice.
We’ll never forget this experience—the monkeys, the mist, the sacred atmosphere, the historic temples, and the cloud sea. Mount Emei blends natural beauty, cultural heritage, and personal challenge into an unforgettable adventure.
There’s something profoundly moving about descending the same stone steps that once carried ancient Chinese philosophers on their own spiritual journeys. Mount Emei truly offers an experience worth undertaking, combining natural beauty, historical significance, and personal challenge into an unforgettable adventure.
