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Mount Emei (also known as “Emei Mountain”) is a branch of the Qionglai Mountain Range, located on the southwestern edge of the Sichuan Basin in China, between 29°16′ and 29°43′ north latitude and 103°10′ and 103°37′ east longitude. It rises abruptly from the Emei Plain, The mountain range extends north to south for 105 kilometers. The main peaks are Da Emei Mountain, Er Emei Mountain, San Emei Mountain, and Si Emei Mountain. Among these, Da Emei Mountain is the Emei Mountain Scenic Area, covering an area of 154 square kilometers. The main peak is Jin Ding, and the highest peak, Wan Fo Ding, has an elevation of 3,099 meters.
I. Ticket and Transportation Fees
Scenic Area Tickets:
Peak Season (January 16 to December 14): Full price 160 yuan per person, half price 80 yuan per person (children between 1.2 and 1.5 meters tall, students, and seniors aged 60 to 69).
Off-season (December 15 to January 15 of the following year): Full price 110 RMB per person, half price 55 RMB per person.
Free Admission Policy: Seniors aged 70 and above, military personnel, and disabled individuals may enter free of charge with valid identification.
Cable car fees:
Golden Summit Cable Car: Peak season one-way 65 RMB per person, return 55 RMB per person; off-season one-way 30 RMB per person, return 20 RMB per person.
Wan Nian Cable Car: Peak season one-way 65 RMB per person, return 45 RMB per person; off-season one-way 30 RMB per person, return 20 RMB per person.
Sightseeing bus fees:
Round-trip across the entire mountain (High-Speed Rail Station/Baoguo Temple/Huangwan-Leidongping): 90 RMB per person.
Half-mountain round-trip (High-Speed Rail Station/Baoguo Temple/Huangwan-Wuxianggang/Wannian Temple): 40 RMB per person.
II. Hiking Time and Route Recommendations
Hiking:
Classic Route: Baoguo Temple → Qingyuan Pavilion → Ecological Monkey Area → Hongchunping → Jiulao Cave → Xixiang Pool → Leidongping → Jieyindian → Jinding.
Duration: Approximately 50 kilometers in total, taking 2-3 days (recommended to complete in two days, with overnight stays at Xixiang Pool or Xianfeng Temple).
Tips: Bring hiking poles, slip-resistant shoes, snacks, and water; enjoy waterfalls, monkey groups, and ancient temples along the way.
By Car + Cable Car:
Route: Take the sightseeing bus from the high-speed rail station/Baoguo Temple to Leidongping (2 hours), walk 1.5 kilometers to Jieyin Hall, then take the Golden Summit Cable Car (5 minutes) directly to the Golden Summit.
Duration: Can be reached in half a day, suitable for time-constrained visitors.
III. Recommended Photography Spots
Golden Summit:
Highlights: Ten Directions Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Statue, sea of clouds, sunrise, Buddha’s light.
Photography Time: Around sunrise (approximately 6:00 AM in summer, 7:30 AM in winter).
Qingyige Pavilion:
Highlights: Shuangqiao Qingyige, waterfalls, and the ecological monkey area.
Photography tips: Use a slow shutter speed to capture the silk-like effect of the waterfall. The soft light of early morning or evening is ideal for photography.
Yixiantian:
Highlights: Narrow mountain crevices and a sliver of blue sky.
Composition suggestion: Place the subject at the center of the frame, with the blue sky in the background and the rocks in the foreground creating a contrast.
Xiangxiang Pool:
Highlights: Ancient temple, autumn colors, moonlit nights.
Best season for photography: Autumn foliage or moonlit nights during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Leidongping-Jieyindian:
Highlights: Rhododendron flower fields (April–May), snowy landscapes (winter).
4. Historical and Cultural Background
Buddhist Sacred Mountain:
Mount Emei is one of China’s Four Great Buddhist Mountains, renowned as the sacred site of the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra. It currently houses over 30 temples, including Baoguo Temple, Fuhu Temple, Wannian Temple, and Huazang Temple.
Wannian Temple: Founded during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the temple houses a collection of Northern Song Dynasty palm-leaf manuscripts, a Buddha tooth relic, and a Ming Dynasty imperial seal.
Geological Wonders:
Formed during the Ediacaran Period 800 million years ago, the mountain features internationally recognized geological formations such as “Emei Mountain Basalt” and “Hongchunping Limestone.”
Scenic Spots: Jiulao Cave (the largest natural cave), Golden Summit Cloud Sea, and Buddha’s Light (a phenomenon of sunlight diffraction).
World Heritage Site:
In 1996, it was jointly listed with the Leshan Giant Buddha on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural and natural heritage site.
5. Recommended Local Cuisine
Tianxiu Restaurant (Leidongping):
Address: Next to the Leidongping Parking Lot.
Specialties: Open 24 hours a day, recommended dishes include Snow Taro Braised Duck and Emei Mountain Smoked Pork.
Average Price: 65 yuan.
Jinding Cuisine Forest Restaurant:
Address: Near the Jinding Cable Car Station.
Specialties: Sichuan cuisine, including fish-flavored eggplant and spicy tofu.
Average price per person: 74 yuan.
Emei Mountain Tofu Pudding:
Recommended store: “Dongmen Tofu Pudding” in the city center.
Specialties: Smooth tofu pudding served with beef or intestines, topped with chili oil and crushed peanuts.
Ye Er Ba:
Recommended restaurant: Snack stalls in the city.
Specialty: Glutinous rice wrapped around bean paste or meat filling, steamed in banana leaves.
- Travel Tips
Best season:
Spring and autumn (March to May, September to November): Pleasant climate, suitable for hiking.
Winter (December to February): Spectacular snowy landscapes, but be cautious of slippery conditions.
Notes:
Avoid carrying plastic bags in monkey-inhabited areas (such as the ecological monkey zone) to prevent provoking the monkeys.
High-altitude regions (Jin Ding Peak at 3,079 meters): Ensure adequate sun protection and warmth.
Accommodation Recommendations:
Mountain base: Hotels near Baoguo Temple (economy class: 120–200 RMB per night).
Mountain mid-section: Guesthouses around Qingyige or Wannian Temple (300–500 RMB per night).
Mountain summit: Golden Summit Hotel (500–1,000 RMB per night; advance booking required).
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)