From Wikitravel

Mount Emei (峨嵋山; Éméishān) is a sacred Buddhist mountain in the southern part of Sichuan, China.

[edit] Understand

Mt. Emei stands at 3099 meters (10,167 feet), and is associated with Puxian Bodhisattva (Samantabhadra) - a representation of 'Great Practice' and 'Great Virtue'. Ever since Buddhism arrived in China, it has been an important center of refuge, and the mountain contains more than one hundred temples and monasteries. The mountain is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

[edit] Get in

Mt. Emei is 150 kilometers south of Chengdu, 130 kilometers from the Shuangliu International Airport and 28 kilometers from Leshan city. There are regular overnight trains between Emei Shan and Kunming as well as buses to/from Chengdu (Xinnanmen Bus Station) and Le Shan. Buses and trains either go to Emei Shan or the nearby town of Baoguo. Three-day entry tickets cost ¥150 (¥80 concession).

[edit] Get around

Maps are available at the mountain, and visitors are free to travel around and enter the monasteries. The mountain is big, but the monasteries offer cheap accommodation (10Y to 50Y per person). To comfortably see the whole mountain, you'll need at least three days, though you can reach the summit in a day. The more interesting spots are the secluded ones away from the tourist areas.

There are buses that will take you halfway up the mountain (¥20) or to near the top (¥40, ¥35 down). From the top bus station, you can also take a cable car (¥40 up, ¥30 down) the rest of the way to the summit. Restaurants are located at convenient intervals so there is little need to carry food. If you do, be aware of the thieving monkeys, have lost their fear of humans due to unregulated handouts of junk-food from Chinese tourists and note that they can be VERY AGGRESSIVE and dangerous more so than cute. Caution is strongly advised. Some people take sticks for their defense.

[edit][add listing] See

• Wan-nian Monastery - A large monastery with a fantastic statue of Puxian Bodhisattva, who is depicted as riding a white elephant with six tusks. The monks there are great, and they add a good deal to the ambience of the mountain. A part of the temple is a modern re-construction.

• Leiyin Monastery - This temple, and some of the others temples tucked away in the seams of the mountain, are worthy of exploring, although many are cheaply-made, modern constructions.

• Baoguo Temple - Contains a massive bronze bell, said to be heard from 10 miles away when rung

• Jin Ding Temple - Near the summit, there is a terrace with a fine view

• Jiu Lao Cave - Close to the Xianfen Temple. Deep Taoist cave. Lots of pilgrims go there to burn incences. Entrance fee : 2RMB.

[edit][add listing] Do

Hiking is one of the main attractions, with trails criss-crossing the park. If you are tired there you can take a sedan chair carried by people. Cable cars go to the summit and there is another one to the south to lessen the strenuous climbs. One of the most picturesque area is located between Niuxin Pavilion and Xianfeng Temple.

During winter there is a skiing area, close to the summit.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Hawkers sell straw or bamboo poles and crampons to attach to boots, which will be necessary when paths are slippery in the winter and / or spring

[edit][add listing] Eat

The monasteries all offer delicious vegetarian fare. However, if you want a meat based Chinese meal, there are restaurants close to the tourist temples. You can also get snacks at several places along the trails.

[edit][add listing] Drink

Do not drink from the mountain streams. There are several shacks along the way that sell bottled water for only ¥5. They are frequent enough that you don't need to worry about water when hiking. And there's boiled water in almost every temple.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

The best places to stay are the monasteries. Most of them offer accomodation. Like Xianfeng Temple, Elephant Bathing Pool, Hongchun Ping, Huayan Peak, Jieyin Hall and Wannian Temple. Again, you can find regular hotels close to the tourist spots that are inexpensive. Baoguo Village is the closest place to the foot of the mountain. Here you'll find the popular Teddy Bear Cafe & Hotel. They will hold your luggage until you return. Note that accommodation at monasteries closest to tourist spots tends to be more expensive. Bathrooms tend to be primitive and not for the faint-hearted.

Note; if you've a room at the hotel at the top of the mountain and you are at the skiing area, check the departure time for the last bus leaving either up or down the mountain to avoid being stranded for a very cold stay at the mid-mountain hotels. They are pretty much not heated. The heat they do have is so little that it will be below zero in your room. During this time of the year much of the plumbing is also shut down so do not expect running water anywhere Including the toilets! Instead, toilet bowls are lined with plastic garbage bags which get carried off in the morning.

• Emei Mountain Youth Hotel, (in Baoguo Village, just off the main road), ☎ 5591698. checkout: 12. A great, atmospheric little place at the foot of Emei Mountain. 30 kuai for a dorm bed (before bargaining) and 50 for a double room (without ensuit). The staff speak a little english, and are very helpful. Restaurant is, unfortunately, as exorbitant as everywhere else in this tourist area. On the main road, look for a big sign to a big hotel. Underneath the hotel name it mentions a youth hostel. Thats your place.  edit

• Teddy Bear Hostel, No. 43 Baoguo Road, Baoguo Village, ☎ 0833-5590135, [1]. checkout: 12. The original budget accommodation in Emei Shan. Located one block from Baoguo bus station. Dorms (30RMB), single (80-100), double/twin (80-200 depending on ammenities)and triples (150-200). All rooms come with a bathroom. They also offer free hiking information and free pickup from Emei Bus/Train station. Western breakfast available.Great crepes.  edit

[edit] Stay safe

Aside from being careful at the top of the mountain, one main thing to remember are the aggressive monkeys who pester hikers for handouts, keep food packed away. These monkeys have been severely teased by many tourists so their behaviour is unpredictable. If you come across any monkeys outside of the temples, do not stop to take pictures or stare as they will bite if provoked. Just walk briskly away and talk in a soothing voice to calm the monkeys enough to leave you alone. Pack rain gear and wear stout footwear as the paths get slippery, especially from October to April. Hawkers sell straw poles and crampons to attach to boots. Warm clothing is essential at the summit year round. Don't forget that even though it's touristy, it's still a mountain. Staircases can be tiring, and the distances are quite far (120 km in two tracks).

[edit] Get out

• Leshan Grand Buddha - A massive, 230 feet high buddha carved into the mountainside.

• The city of Chongqing is a grand city on the Yangtze

• The Yangtze River offers many scenic cruising options to the north

• Chengdu is both historic and modern

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