Wei Zhang
What’s Inside
I’ve been leading groups up Mount Emei for over eight years. And I’ll be honest—the first time I brought my own family, I made every mistake you can imagine. Wrong parking lot. Overpaid for tickets. Stood in the sun for two hours. So let me save you that trouble.
Here’s the brutal truth: most foreign tourists follow outdated guides that tell you to start at 6 AM and hike the whole thing. They end up exhausted, missing the sunset, and spending a fortune. I’ll show you how to do it smarter.
Getting to Mount Emei
You need to get to Mount Emei Scenic Area first. The two main entry gates are Baoguo Temple at the base and Wannian Temple parking area. Most people start from Baoguo.
By Train
Take the high-speed rail from Chengdu East or Chengdu South to Emeishan Station. Not the old Emei station—that one is further. The ride takes about 1 hour, cost around 65 RMB. From Emeishan Station, bus No. 12 will take you directly to Baoguo Temple ticket center (30 mins, 2 RMB). Or a taxi costs about 20 RMB.
By Bus
If you’re coming from Leshan or other nearby cities, long-distance buses drop you at Emeishan Bus Station. From there, take a local bus or taxi to the scenic area (15 mins).
Driving? Here’s the Catch
If you rent a car, do NOT navigate to “Mount Emei Scenic Area” blindly. That will take you to a shady private parking lot where they charge 50 RMB for the day. Instead, input Baoguo Temple Parking Lot—official rate is 20 RMB per day. The difference is 30 RMB and a 10-minute walk.
Tickets & Entry
Mount Emei ticket price is 160 RMB per person (adult), valid for two consecutive days. No separate child ticket—kids under 1.2m are free, between 1.2m and 1.5m get half price. Senior discounts exist (65+ with ID).
Opening hours: The scenic area opens at 6:00 AM and closes at 18:00 (last entry at 16:00 for hiking, 17:00 for cable car). During holidays, they sometimes extend to 19:00, but don’t rely on that.
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult Ticket | 160 RMB | 2-day valid |
| Student Ticket | 80 RMB | Full-time students with valid ID |
| Free for Children | Under 1.2m | Must be accompanied |
| Cable Car (Golden Summit) | 65 RMB one way | From Jieyin Hall to Golden Summit |
| Cable Car (Wannian Temple) | 65 RMB one way | From Wannian Temple parking area |
Payment: WeChat Pay and Alipay are king. Cash is rarely accepted for tickets. If you don’t have these, bring a Visa/Mastercard—but only the official ticket office accepts international cards at a limited window (usually one, which means long queues).
Best Routes: Hiking vs Cable Car
This is where most people get it wrong. You have two main ways to reach the Golden Summit (3,079m), where the giant golden Buddha statue is.
Option A: Full Hike (Bad Idea for Most)
From Baoguo Temple to Golden Summit is about 50 km of stairs. Even fit people take 10-12 hours one way. You’ll need to stay overnight halfway. Unless you’re an ultra-marathoner, skip this. I’ve seen too many tourists collapse halfway and have to be carried down on a sedan chair (costing 800+ RMB).
Option B: Cable Car Combo (My Recommendation)
Take the scenic bus from Baoguo Temple to Jieyin Hall—it’s about 1.5 hours, winding roads, but comfortable. Then catch the cable car up to Golden Summit (10 minutes). Walk around the summit, enjoy the clouds, then either hike down partway or cable car back. This saves your knees and time.
Which cable car to choose? There are two types: the old small car (6 people, slow) and the new big car (100 people, fast). The new one often has shorter queues. I always tell my groups: if the line for the new car is longer than 30 minutes, take the old one—it moves faster surprisingly.
One-Day Plan: Can You Do It?
You can, but only if you start very early and take cable cars both ways. Here’s a realistic timeline, tested by my clients.
- 6:30 AM: Arrive at Baoguo Temple ticket office. Scan your pre-booked QR code, hop on the scenic bus.
- 8:00 AM: Arrive at Jieyin Hall. Immediately queue for the cable car.
- 8:30 AM: On the summit. Walk to Golden Temple, see the Buddha, take photos. The light is great in the morning.
- 10:00 AM: Start descending via cable car and bus.
- 12:00 PM: Back at Baoguo Temple. You can visit the temple itself (free with entrance ticket) and have lunch.
- 1:30 PM: Optional short hike to Fuhu Temple or leave for Chengdu.
Two-Day Plan: The Smart Way
Two days allows you to see the highlights without rushing. Here’s my go-to itinerary.
Day 1: Base to Mid-Mountain
Morning: Arrive, take scenic bus to Wannian Temple parking area. Hike down the ancient path through Qingyin Pavilion and Yixiantian (One-Line Sky). This section is stunning—waterfalls and monkeys. Stay overnight at a hotel near the monkey area or at Xixiang Chi.
Evening: Watch the sunset from Xixiang Chi. Dinner at your hotel (simple but warm).
Day 2: Summit and Descent
Start early (6:00 AM) by taking the scenic bus from Xixiang Chi to Jieyin Hall, then cable car up. Enjoy the sunrise at Golden Summit (around 7:00 AM in summer). Then take your time exploring before descending by cable car and bus.
Where to Stay
| Area | Hotel Example | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baoguo Temple (base) | Mount Emei Garden Hotel | 300-500 RMB/night | Easy access, good restaurants, convenient for start |
| Xixiang Chi (mid-mountain) | Emei Mountain Hongzhushan Hotel | 400-700 RMB/night | Close to monkey area, quiet, sunrise walk possible |
| Golden Summit (top) | Jinding Hotel | 600-1200 RMB/night | Sunrise from your window, but very basic and expensive |
My pick: Stay at Xixiang Chi area. It’s not as overpriced as the summit, and you can still catch a beautiful sunrise with a short walk. Plus, the monkeys come around in the evening—but keep your bags zipped; they will steal anything.
Food & Snacks
Don’t expect gourmet dining on the mountain. The restaurants at mid-level are passable. I always tell my groups: pack your own lunch. A sandwich, nuts, and water from the supermarket at the base (there’s a small shop near Baoguo Temple). On the summit, a bowl of noodles costs 30 RMB and tastes mediocre.
If you want a real meal, eat at Laoma Road near the base after your hike—try the spicy Sichuan dish Mapo Tofu. I recommend Yulin Restaurant, where the owner speaks basic English and the chicken with chilies is legit.
Crowd Avoidance
Weekends and Chinese public holidays (especially May 1st and October 1st) are a nightmare. The queue for the cable car can exceed two hours. If you must go during holidays, arrive by 5:30 AM.
Otherwise, aim for a Tuesday or Wednesday. I never bring groups on Monday—many Chinese attractions are closed but Mount Emei is open, so crowds flock here.
Golden hour for photos: The summit gets harsh light from 10 AM to 2 PM. Come at 4 PM in summer—the clouds are dramatic and the golden statue glows. But remember, the last cable car down is at 18:00, so plan accordingly.
Frequently Skipped Questions
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