In the morning, your private guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in downtown Chengdu and drive to Leshan, a small yet charming city at the intersection of mountains and rivers.

► Advice for Choosing a Hotel: It’s recommended to book a hotel downtown, ideally near Chunxi Road, Tianfu Square, or Jinli Ancient Street and Wuhou Temple area. If needed, we can also offer an additional booking service.

Today’s showstopper of our Leshan tour is the 71-meter-high (233-foot) Leshan Giant Buddha, the world’s largest and tallest stone Buddha statue carved out of a red sandstone cliff. Upon arrival, you will embark on a cruise to enjoy a full view of the Leshan Giant Buddha. Located at the confluence of three rivers, Leshan is often hit by floods that lead to shipwrecks; therefore, the Giant Buddha was initially built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) to bless passing ships, a process that took 90 years. Standing on the boat, like the countless others the Buddha has guarded over the past 1,300 years, you may wonder how the Giant Buddha can withstand the fierce floods. It turns out that the craftsmen had carefully designed a drainage, moisture-proof, and ventilation system with built-in grooves and caves extending from the Buddha’s head to its toes to handle both underground water and surface runoff, allowing the statue to remain unaffected by wind and rain, while still remaining stable after centuries.

After that, let’s transfer to Mt. Emei, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains. This afternoon, we will stop at its foothills to visit the Baoguo Temple, which features five magnificent halls spreading along the mountain, with an elegant layout dotted with pavilions and pagodas. If you are interested in ancient Chinese architecture, don’t miss Mahavira Hall, one of the best-preserved wooden buildings in the southern region of the Yangtze River. For ancient relics lovers, explore the room showcasing ceramics, jades, literature, paintings, metalwork, and unearthed weapons from the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC), definitively worth your time.

Upon finishing the visit, your guide will escort you to a well-chosen hotel nearby and assist with check-in. Rest up for tomorrow’s adventure up Mt. Emei.

 Accommodation: Building No. 5 of Hongzhu Shan Hotel (5 stars), Mountain-view Room

​

After breakfast, we will take the sightseeing bus to Leidongping station first. Then, continue walking - including climbing some stairs - for 30 to 40 minutes, approximately 1.5 kilometers (1 mile), to Jieyin Temple, where a cable car will take you up to the Golden Summit, the highest peak of Mt. Emei, at 3,077 meters (10,095 feet) high. Reaching the mountain top and taking a 10-minute walk to Huazang Temple, the highest temple in China, you will be awe-struck by the grandiose golden Ten-faced Puxian Stupa, which envelops you in an otherworldly atmosphere with a mist-wreathed landscape.

► Best Time to Catch the Four Wonders of Golden Summit

1. Sunrise

All seasons are available, but autumn and winter (October to March of the following year) have more sunny days and higher visibility.

Time: about 5:30 a.m. - 6:30 a.m. in summer and about 7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. in winter

2. Sea of Clouds

Autumn and winter (October to April of the following year) are perfect, especially when the weather clears up after rain or snow.

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

3. “Buddhist Halo” (a rare optical phenomenon)

More likely to be seen from late spring to early autumn (May to September) when humidity is high.

Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., when the sun shines obliquely through the clouds.

4. “Divine Light” (a natural phenomenon of chemiluminescence)

Summer (June to August), especially on moonless nights after rain.

Time: 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. The darker the environment, the clearer it becomes.

Your private Chengdu to Leshan trip comes to an end after you have fully explored the Golden Summit. Going downhill the same way, the driver and guide will escort you back to your hotel in Chengdu. We hope you’ve had a cheerful journey with us!

Meals: Buffet Breakfast