Trip Overview
When: October 2020 (Autumn - ideal weather for mountain travel)
Duration: 7 days
Travelers: Couple (夫妻)
Budget: Moderate (accommodation booked in advance during pandemic discounts)
Transportation: Flight from Guangzhou to Chengdu, high-speed train to Emei Shan, tourist buses and metro within Chengdu
Essential Foreigner Info
Getting There: Fly into Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (成都双流机场). Direct high-speed trains from the airport to Emei Shan (峨眉山) take about 30 minutes. Most attractions are accessible via tourist buses or public transport.
Money Matters: Mobile payment (WeChat Pay, Alipay) is standard throughout Sichuan. Have some cash ready for small vendors and tips.
Language: Mandarin is spoken everywhere. English is limited outside major hotels. Learn key phrases or use a translation app.
Transportation: Tourist shuttle buses run from 6 AM to 5 PM at Emei Shan. Book tickets in advance during peak season. The Chengdu Sightseeing Direct Bus (成都景区直通车) offers convenient round-trip transport to Dujiangyan and Sanxingdui.
Day 1: Guangzhou - Chengdu - Mount Emei
We boarded a China Southern Airlines flight from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场) bound for Chengdu. After landing at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (成都双流国际机场), we transferred directly to a high-speed train to Emei Shan - incredibly convenient!
The train ride took just over 30 minutes to reach Emei Shan. Our hotel had arranged a free pickup service - such a relief after a day of travel! The hotel was ideally located just 100 meters from the Emei Shan Tourist Transit Center.
After dropping off our bags, we explored the nearby area - the Tourist Transit Center sells both park tickets and bus tickets. Buses depart continuously from 6 AM, filling up and leaving immediately, or on the hour and half-hour during quieter periods.
Mount Emei (峨眉山): One of China's Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains, located in southwestern Sichuan Province. The mountain is known for its steep cliffs and scenic beauty - truly lives up to its reputation as "the beauty of all mountains." The highest peak, Wanfo Summit (万佛顶), reaches 3,099 meters.
Emei Shan is a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. The ancient building complex is a key national cultural relic protection unit.
We visited Baoguo Temple (报国寺) at the mountain's foot (altitude 551m) - the first temple and headquarters of the Emei Shan Buddhist Association. It's the gateway to the mountain and the starting point for any Emei pilgrimage.
The temple is surrounded by dense bamboo, red walls, and magnificent halls. The front gate faces east, greeting the rising sun. The famous plaque "宝相庄严" (Sacred and Majestic) hangs in the main hall.
We then visited Fuhu Temple (伏虎寺), also known as Fuhu Zen Monastery, located near Baoguo Temple. The temple is famous for its "Li Gou Yuan" (Dust-Free Garden) - a courtyard where no leaves ever accumulate on the rooftops, a phenomenon that astounds visitors. Emperor Kangxi personally wrote the plaque for this garden.
Fuhu Temple is the largest nunnery on Mount Emei. We saw nuns chanting in the main hall - a peaceful scene.
The temple houses the magnificent Huayen Pagoda (华严宝塔), cast in the Ming Dynasty (1585). At 5.8 meters tall, this bronze pagoda with 13 levels and over 4,700 Buddha statues is the finest bronze pagoda in China - a true national treasure.
Accommodation: City Convenience Hotel (城市便捷酒店, Emei Shan Branch)
Dinner: We tried the famous Sichuan "Qiaojiao Niurou" (翘脚牛肉) - a local specialty. Delicious!
Day 2: Mount Emei - Jinding (Golden Summit)
Today's highlight: ascending to Jinding (金顶 - Golden Summit)! After breakfast, we walked to the Tourist Transit Center and bought round-trip bus tickets (90 RMB/person) and round-trip cable car tickets from Leidongping to Jinding (120 RMB/person). Seniors 60+ can enter the mountain free with ID.
The bus wound through the mountain for about 2 hours to reach Leidongping (雷洞坪) at 2,430 meters altitude. From there, we hiked about 1.5 kilometers to the cable car station at Jieting Temple (接引寺).
Pro tip: The famous Emei Mountain monkeys (the largest alpine rhododendron protection area in China) inhabit this trail. We didn't spot any - maybe they were hiding!
We waited 20+ minutes for the cable car due to crowds, but the weather was beautiful.
Reality check: Just days before our visit, Emei Shan had experienced two heavy snowfalls. The mountain was still covered in snow - absolutely breathtaking! The day we arrived was sunny, and the snow was beginning to melt.
The Golden Summit (金顶): At 3,077 meters, this is the most concentrated area of temples and attractions on Emei Shan - the essence of the entire mountain. The highlight is the magnificent 48-meter bronze statue of Samantabhadra (普贤菩萨) riding a six-tusked white elephant.
We were incredibly lucky - locals said Emei Shan only has 4-5 sunny days per month on average! We caught a clear day with stunning sea-of-clouds views.
Seniors alert: The cable car makes reaching Jinding accessible for those who can't handle the steep climbs. Budget about 2 hours to explore Jinding at a leisurely pace with photo stops.
We took the cable car back to Leidongping, then the bus down to our hotel. Evening: delicious Sichuan cuisine - wok-fried kidney flowers (火爆腰花), blood tofu (血旺), bean curd (豆花), and intestines (肥肠).
Accommodation: City Convenience Hotel (城市便捷酒店, Emei Shan Branch)
Day 3: Leshan - Chengdu
We discovered Bus 601 right near our hotel - only 5 RMB to Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛)! But when we arrived at the Oriental Buddha Capital (东方佛都), we learned that visitors from Guangzhou (where we came from) were not allowed entry due to COVID-19 restrictions - even with green health codes. Disappointing local policy!
We decided to head to Chengdu instead. Unfortunately, all high-speed train tickets from Leshan to Chengdu between 2 PM and 7 PM were sold out. We ended up taking a long-distance bus from the Leshan bus station.
Accommodation: Mingyu Shangya Hotel (明宇尚雅饭店) - a 5-star hotel booked at pandemic prices! Great location near the river, easy metro access.
Dinner: Laoma Tihua (老妈蹄花) and wok-fried kidney flowers.
Day 4: Chengdu - Dujiangyan - Chengdu
After the hotel's excellent buffet breakfast, we took the metro to Kuanzhai Alley (宽窄巷子). At 10:40 AM, we caught the Chengdu Sightseeing Direct Bus (58 RMB round-trip) to Dujiangyan (都江堰).
Dujiangyan (都江堰): A UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site, this ancient irrigation system was built during the Qin Dynasty (256-251 BC) by Li Bing and his son. It's the world's oldest and only dam-less water diversion project still in use - a marvel of ancient engineering that created the "Land of Abundance" (天府之国).
The key components: Fish Mouth (分水鱼嘴) that divides the river, Flying Sand Weir (飞沙堰) for flood control, and Bottle Neck (宝瓶口) that controls water flow into the Chengdu Plain.
We crossed the famous Anlan Cable Bridge (安澜索桥), also known as "Couple's Bridge" - one of China's five ancient bridges, swaying dramatically over the river!
Returned to Chengdu at 4:30 PM. Evening: explored Jinli Ancient Street (锦里) - spectacular at night with lanterns glowing and crowds gathering!
Dinner: Hotpot! We tried 5-6 restaurants - all packed with lines out the door. Finally found "Shua Ye" (耍爷)火锅 with no wait. The aroma of Sichuan hotpot filled the streets - quintessentially Chengdu!
Accommodation: Mingyu Shangya Hotel (明宇尚雅饭店)
Day 5: Chengdu - Sanxingdui - Chengdu
Moved to Jinjiang Hotel (锦江宾馆) - another 5-star property across the river, also booked at pandemic prices including breakfast and dinner!
Back to Kuanzhai Alley for the 10:40 AM sightseeing bus to Guanghan (广汉) for the Sanxingdui Museum (三星堆博物馆). Round-trip: 66 RMB/person.
Sanxingdui (三星堆): One of China's most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. This 5,000-3,000 year old Shu Civilization site reveals that the Yangtze River basin was as important as the Yellow River in China's civilization development.
Must-see artifacts:
- Bronze Standing Figure (青铜大立人): 2.62 meters tall, weighing 180+ kg, wearing elaborate "tail coat" garments
- Bronze Sacred Tree (青铜神树): 3.84 meters tall with nine branches, birds, and a dragon
- Giant Bronze Mask (青铜兽面具): 138 cm wide, with exaggerated protruding eyes and massive ears - absolutely surreal!
- Bronze Sun Wheel (青铜太阳轮): Looks remarkably like a modern steering wheel!
- Golden Scepter (金杖): The earliest golden scepter in the world - 142 cm long
Returned to Chengdu at 3:30 PM. Evening: explored the Jinjiang River area - beautiful night views!
Accommodation: Jinjiang Hotel (锦江宾馆) - the first 5-star hotel in southwest China, established 1958
Day 6: Chengdu - Anren Ancient Town - Chengdu
Metro to Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station (茶店子客运站), then bus to Dayi County (大邑县) - 18 RMB/person, about 70 minutes to Anren Ancient Town (安仁古镇).
Anren Ancient Town (安仁古镇): Built during the Tang Dynasty, with most buildings from the late Qing and early Republican periods. Famous for its unique Western-Sichuan architectural style blending Chinese and Western elements.
First stop: Liu Wenhui's Former Residence (刘文辉公馆) - this warlord turned revolutionary has quite a story!
Jianchuan Museum Compound (四川建川博物馆聚落): A massive private museum complex founded by entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan. With 500 mu (about 82 acres) and 25 museums covering wartime history, this is China's largest private museum. The抗战 Veterans Handprint Square (抗战老兵手印广场) is incredibly moving - each handprint from a veteran who fought in the War of Resistance against Japan.
Museums include: China's Rock (中流砥柱馆) documenting Communist Party resistance, Frontline Battlefield Hall (正面战场馆) showing Nationalist forces' contributions, Flying Tigers Hall (飞虎奇兵馆) honoring American volunteers, and Sichuan Army Museum (川军抗战馆) highlighting local soldiers' sacrifices.
Liu Family Manor (刘氏庄园博物馆): The sprawling estate of the Liu family - 70,000+ square meters with 545 rooms, underground passages, and secret vaults. The famous clay sculpture "Rent Collection Courtyard" (收租院) depicts the exploitation of peasants with 114 life-sized figures.
Lunch: Anren's famous specialty - intestine and blood tofu (肥肠血旺).
Anren was recognized by the China Museum Society as "China's Museum Town" - the only town in China named after museums!
Returned to Chengdu by 5 PM. Evening: Jinjiang Hotel's VIP building 27th floor for buffet dinner.
Accommodation: Jinjiang Hotel (锦江宾馆)
Day 7: Chengdu - Guangzhou
Final morning: visited Wuhou Temple (武侯祠) - China's only shrine honoring both a ruler (Liu Bei) and his minister (Zhuge Liang) together. This is the most famous Three Kingdoms memorial site in China.
The temple complex covers 150,000 square meters including the Three Kingdoms historical zone, Three Kingdoms cultural experience area, and the famous Jinli Ancient Street.
Exit through the side gate into Jinli (锦里) - the ancient street packed with teahouses, inns, restaurants, theaters, and local crafts. "Visit Wuhou, soak in Jinli" is Chengdu's most iconic travel slogan!
Afternoon: China Southern Airlines flight back to Guangzhou - 7 wonderful days in Sichuan complete!