“Can I see both Leshan Giant Buddha (Lèshān Dàfó, 乐山大佛) and Emei Mountain (Éméi Shān, 峨眉山) in one day from Chengdu?”
I get this question every week.Most travel blogs say “no.”But thanks to China’s high-speed trains, the answer is yes—if you’re ready for a “special forces” style day.
A Brazilian backpacker once told me: “I only had one free day in Chengdu. I thought I had to choose one. You proved I could do both.”He left at 6 AM. Returned by 10 PM. And posted 27 photos of the Golden Summit.
This guide gives you the exact timetable, ticket links, and realistic warnings.No fluff. No “maybe.” Just a step-by-step plan that works—if you move fast. (One-day Leshan Giant Buddha and Emei Mountain trip from Chengdu for foreigners)
Yes, it’s intense. But it’s doable. And unforgettable.
Can You Visit Leshan Giant Buddha AND Emei Mountain in One Day from Chengdu? Yes—Here’s How (With Timetable!)
Morning: Leshan Giant Buddha by River Cruise (6:15 AM – 10:00 AM)
Start at Chengdu East Station (Chéngdū Dōng Zhàn, 成都东站).Take the 6:15 AM high-speed train to Leshan.Arrive at 7:07 AM. Ticket: ¥30. Ride time: 52 minutes.
From Leshan Railway Station, take a taxi to Jiāzhōu Ferry Terminal (Jiāzhōu Dùkǒu, 嘉州渡码头).
Cost: ¥25. Time: 25 minutes.Aim to arrive by 7:45 AM—before crowds form.
Now—skip the hiking trail.
Walking down to the Buddha’s feet takes 40+ minutes. Climbing back? Another hour.You don’t have time.
Instead, take the river cruise.
Boats run 7:30 AM–6:00 PM.
Ticket: ¥70.
Cruise time: 40 minutes.
You’ll see the 71-meter-tall stone Buddha in full view—his serene face, massive hands, and feet resting on the riverbank.
Pro tip: Book your cruise ticket online the night before.Lines at the dock can add 30+ minutes in peak season. （If you want to pre-book the cruise ticket, please contact me.）
By 9:30 AM, you’re back at the terminal.Take a taxi to Leshan Railway Station (20 minutes).
Catch the 11:20 AM train to Emei Mountain Station.Arrive at 11:35 AM.
Ticket: ¥6.
A Canadian couple tried this last spring. They said: “The cruise was perfect—quick, cool, and we got great photos without sweating.”
Warning: If you miss the 11:20 train, the next one is at 12:05. That could ruin your Emei summit chance.
Midday: Race to Emei Mountain Summit (11:35 AM – 4:00 PM)
From Emei Mountain Railway Station (Éméishān Zhàn, 峨眉山站), take a taxi to Baoguo Temple (Bàoguó Sì, 报国寺).Distance: 4 km. Time: 10 minutes. Cost: ¥15.
Buy your tickets at the gate:
- Emei Scenic Area: ¥160
- Full-loop scenic bus: ¥90
- Golden Summit cable car (round-trip): ¥120
Total: ¥370
If you love Buddhism, spend 20–30 minutes at Baoguo Temple—the mountain’s spiritual gateway.Then head to the Baoguo Temple Tourist Center for the shuttle bus.
Take the 12:00 PM bus to Leidongping (Léidòngpíng, 雷洞坪).Ride time: 1.5 hours.Arrive around 1:30 PM.
Walk 20 minutes uphill to Jieyin Hall (Jiēyǐn Diàn, 接引殿)—the cable car station.Here’s the make-or-break moment:
- Off-season (Nov–Mar): Wait 10–30 minutes.
- Peak season (Apr–Oct): Wait 60–120 minutes.
If you arrive by 2:00 PM, you’ll likely reach Golden Summit (Jīndǐng, 金顶) by 3:00–3:30 PM.
At 3,079 meters, you’ll see the Ten-Faced Puxian Statue, walk the She Shen Cliff (Shèshēn Yá, 舍身崖), and watch clouds roll below like an ocean.
DO NOT stay past 4:30 PM.Last cable car down:
- Peak season: 6:00 PM
- Off-season: 5:00 PM
Miss it? You’ll pay ¥600+ for a mountain hostel—or hike 12 km down in the dark.
A UK teacher wrote: “I made it to the summit at 3:45 PM. The light was golden. I cried. Then I ran to the cable car like my life depended on it.”
Evening: Return to Chengdu (5:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Cable car down → shuttle bus to Baoguo Temple → taxi to Emei Mountain Station.You’ll be back at the station by 7:00 PM.
Take the 8:30 PM or 9:00 PM train to Chengdu.Last train: 9:51 PM.Arrive in Chengdu by 10:50 PM.
Important: Book your return train in advance.Trains fill fast on weekends. Use Trip.com or China Railway’s English site.
Alternative (If You Have Budget):Hire a private car from Leshan to Emei Mountain (¥300–400).It takes 1 hour, same as train + taxi.But you skip station transfers and luggage stress.
Why This Works—And Who Should Skip It
I’ve visited Leshan 5 times and Emei 3 times.I’ve never done both in one day—but I’ve tested every leg of this route.
This trip is for you if:
✅ You’re fit and fast
✅ You love efficiency
✅ You prioritize “I saw it” over “I relaxed there”
Skip it if:
❌ You hate early mornings
❌ You want to hike or meditate
❌ You travel with kids or seniors
A German solo traveler told me: “It was exhausting—but I got two UNESCO sites in one day. Worth every minute.”
But another couple missed the last cable car. They slept in a temple. Not fun in winter.
So—plan every minute. Book every ticket. Move like a pro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it realistic to visit Leshan Giant Buddha and Emei Mountain in one single day from Chengdu?
A: Yes, but it is an extremely fast‑paced “special‑forces style” itinerary. It relies entirely on high‑speed trains, river cruise and cable cars. This route is only fit for travellers who are physically able and prefer sightseeing over slow relaxation.
Q: Can I hike down the Leshan Giant Buddha foot trail in this one‑day plan?
A: Generally no. Hiking down and climbing back takes more than 80 minutes, which will make you miss your connecting train to Emei Mountain. The river cruise is the time‑saving alternative for one‑day visitors.
Q: What happens if I miss the last cable car down Emei Mountain Golden Summit?
A: You will either need to pay a high price for mountain accommodation, or complete a 12‑km dark night hike downhill. Always start heading down before 4:30 PM.
Q: Should I book train and scenic spot tickets in advance for this day trip?
A: Definitely yes. Trains sell out quickly on weekends and holidays. Peak season cruise and cable‑car waiting time can stretch to 1‑2 hours, advance preparation saves critical time.
Q: Can families, seniors or casual hikers do this Leshan‑Emei one‑day tour?
A: Not recommended. This tight timetable requires early departure, fast transfers and long waiting times. Those groups should split into two separate days for Leshan and Emei Mountain.
Plan your Sichuan independent travel
Explore more Sichuan self‑guided travel resources. Visit our China self‑guided travel collection page to find more 144‑hour visa‑free PDF itineraries for independent travellers across China.
And if you want a less rushed Emei experience, grab our Emei Mountain Ultimate Travel Guide
Emei Mountain Ultimate Guide: Routes and Logistics
Tired of bad Mount Emei travel advice? This offline PDF guide delivers monkey‑avoidance tactics, 99‑Turn Trail pacing tips, sunrise planning, ticket booking guidance and click‑to‑go Amap routes. 3 complete itineraries for your sacred mountain pilgrimage.
It includes:✅ 4 custom routes (leisure, challenge, night hike, winter)✅ Direct booking links for trains, buses, and cable cars✅ Gaode Map pins for every stop (no Chinese app needed)✅ Best post-hike hotpot near Emei Station
Don’t gamble with Emei’s logistics.Get the guide. See the summit. Return to Chengdu with a story.
4 Responses
Hello! Thank you so much for this helpful blog post. I am planning to do this on 22/9. Could you please direct me where to pre-book the Leshan Buddha river cruise?
You can book tickets via the WeChat official account: 大佛旅游（Dafu Tourism）.
If you do not read Chinese, it may be a bit tricky, and you will need a translation app, since the booking service is only available in Chinese.
This is not peak season, so advance booking is not required. You can buy tickets on-site at the dock if you arrive early.
Boarding hours: 8:00 – 18:30. Tickets are available at two docks: Jiazhoudu Dock（嘉州渡码头） and Wuyou Temple Dock（乌尤寺码头）.
Scenic area phone: 0833-235557
Why does the itinerary end around 5pm? can we leave for chengdu for leshan a little later ie and visit mount emei first? take the last river cruise around 6pm?
Hi Bobby,
Doing the itinerary in reverse is totally workable — you can visit Mount Emei first and then head to Leshan Giant Buddha, which gives you a longer and more flexible schedule for the day.
With this reversed route, you won’t need to rush to catch the 6 PM river cruise in Leshan. There are evening cruises available for viewing the Giant Buddha, with two departures: the first at 20:00 and the second at 21:30. Please arrive at Wuyou Temple Wharf 30 minutes before departure. Each cruise lasts 40 minutes and costs 138 RMB per person.
One important reminder: the last train from Leshan back to Chengdu departs at 23:07. It takes around 40 minutes to get from the wharf to Leshan Railway Station by taxi, so please plan your timing carefully.
Hansong