How to Get to Leshan - Usually from Chengdu City
Chengdu Leshan Transfer Map
Most travelers choose to travel to Leshan from Chengdu which can be easily reached by taking international and domestic flights as well as high speed trains from most big tourist cities in China.
High speed train and bus are both available to take you to Leshan from Chengdu, but high speed train is more recommended. It's quite convenient to take a high speed train to Leshan from Chengdu East Railway Station, Chengdu South Railway Station and Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The whole train journey takes about 1 hour only. Chengdu Xinnanmen Bus Station operates daily bus to Leshan Xiaoba Tourism Station in every 20 minutes.
To get rid of the hassle of public transfer, traveling with China Discovery is top recommended. We operate private cars with skilled drivers to take you from your hotel to the scenic area directly. You just need to focus on sightseeing.
Must-see and Must-do in Leshan - More than Giant Buddha
Highlights of Leshan Travel
Leshan Giant Buddha is the premier site to visit in Leshan. Carved out of a hillside in 803 (during Tang dynasty) and enjoying a height of 71 meters which can be compared to the size of the Statue of Liberty if he stands upright, it was credited as World Natural and Cultural Heritage with Mount Emei by UNESCO. Leshan Giant Buddha has looked down on the confluence of Min River, Dadu River and Qingyi River for about 1,300 years, and locals believes that it was him who suppressed the flood and brought peaceful life to Leshan people. Usually, it takes a half day to explore Leshan Giant Buddha. Traveling in Leshan, you are also recommended to experience Jiayang Steam Train - the only narrow-gauge coal-fired steam train operating in the world. If you travel Leshan in early and mid-March when rape flowers are in full blossom, don't miss it. If you want to experience a train running through the sea of sunflowers, just visit in August and September. Leshan is also a paradise of food and snacks, famous dishes including Qiaojiao Beef Soup Pot, Doufu Nao (Tofu Jelly), Boboji (Cold Pot with Skewers), Tianpiya (Sweet Skinned Duck) and Ye'erba (Sticky Rice Ball Wrapped with Leaves).
If you have one or two more days, paying a visit to Mount Emei - one of China's four holy Buddhist mountains is recommended. The Buddhist temples, natural beauty, diverse vegetation, as well as sunrise, sunset and sea of cloud (if weather permits) will make your trip unforgettable.
Best Way to Sightsee Leshan Giant Buddha - Hiking and Boating for Different Perpectives
Seeing Giant Buddha from DIfferent Angle
Leshan Giant Buddha's holiness and magnitude can be appreciated in three ways.
Walking close to Leshan Giant Buddha is the first recommended way to travel Leshan Giant Buddha. It allows you to enter into Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area and get a close view of the Buddha. You will get your first sight of the Buddha opposite his head, and then walk down a narrow plank stairway to his feet to look up him from a Liliputian perspective.
Taking a boat is another good way to see Leshan Giant Buddha, especially in Chinese holiday when the scenic area is crowed with travelers. Your boat will stop in front of the Buddha and give you several minutes for sightseeing and photography. In the boat, you can easily catch a full-length shot of the Buddha which can't be perfectly finished in the scenic area.
It is also available to enjoy a panoramic view of Leshan Giant Buddha from Sun Island. Sun Island is a small island poplar among locals. Many people like to spend several hours drinking a cup of tea or chatting with their friends there. From this island, you can overview Leshan Giant Buddha afar.
How to Design a Leshan Tour
Most travelers start a Leshan tour from Chengdu and then back to Chengdu because of the convenient transfer to get to and off Chengdu. Generally, a Leshan tour takes about a half day or one day, but it's worthwhile to extend your Leshan Buddha tour to surrounding, like Chengdu and Mount Emei.
▶ How to Spend 1 Day Traveling Leshan - Focus on Leshan Giant Buddha
Usually, it needs a half day to admire Leshan Giant Buddha highlights and take a walk in the scenic area, so one day is enough for a Chengdu Leshan essential discovery. You can firstly take a visit to Giant Panda in Chengdu and then drive Leshan for Giant Buddha. If you already traveled Chengdu, you can spend a whole day viewing Leshan Giant Buddha in different ways, like hiking and boating. It is also interesting to take a short break in an ancient town located between Chengdu and Leshan.
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1 Day Giant Buddha & Huanglongxi Ancient Town Tour
Leshan: Leshan Giant Buddha
Take the classic day trip to reach the largest stone Buddha in the world. Have a panoramic view from the top of the Giant Buddha, and climb down from its head to feet through Nine Bends Plank Road; walk on the path along the rivers to go further exploration in Wuyou Temple to comprehend profound Buddhism culture.
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1 Day Panda Visit & Leshan Giant Buddha Tour
Chengdu / Leshan Giant Buddha / Chengdu
Visiting the International Face Giant Panda is a MUST to do for all travelers in Chengdu, and easily can be done in a half day. What should you do next after panda? Definitely the world-famous Leshan Giant Buddha, a famous World Heritage Site as well as a sacred Buddhist site in Leshan City. You only need a day to visit both two beautiful places, usually seeing the pandas in the morning, and then driving about two hours from Chengdu to the Giant Buddha and returning to Chengdu after sightseeing.
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▶ How to Spend 2 Days Traveling Leshan - Travel with Chengdu and Mout Emei
2 days permits you to travel Leshan at a more leisurely pace. You are recommended to take a Jiayang Steam train and enjoy running in a sea of flowers. Or you can spend longer time travel Chengdu's essence and have a short visit to Mount Emei for the most highlighted sightseeing. Below are most recommended 2 days Chengdu itineraries:
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2 Days Best Chengdu Leshan Giant Buddha Tour
Chengdu / Leshan Giant Buddha / Chengdu
This 2 days tour with unique itinerary will take you to enjoy an in-depth exploration of Leshan Giant Buddha as well as the best of Chengdu. You will have a full day to discover the mystery of Leshan Giant Buddha and appreciate his magnitude from different angles – close sight, panoramic view and distant view and in two different ways – hiking and boating. Subsequently, drive back to Chengdu and immerse yourself in the relaxing & pleasurable time of Chengdu – to stay with the most attractive Giant Pandas and experience the slow-pace life in Chengdu’s popular sites, like People's Park, Wenshu Temple and Jinli Old Street. A lot of fun is ready for you.
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2 Days Mount Emei Leshan Giant Buddha Smart Tour
Chengdu / Mount Emei / Leshan Giant Buddha / Chengdu
Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei are together listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Mount Emei is even not only World Cultural Heritage but also World Natural Heritage. They are only about 30mins’ driving from each other. You should not miss any one of them in your trip. Putting them together in one trip will help you save a lot of time and money either, which is also the classic itinerary of the region at the same time. Our 2 Days Leshan Giant Buddha Mount Emei tour (starting from Chengdu) takes you to explore these two famous sites in a smart way – using cable car to save time, skipping unnecessary spots, visit the Giant Buddha in its most empty time. Good price and service are guaranteed either.
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2 Days Leshan Giant Buddha Visit with Jiayang Steam Train Experience
Chengdu / Leshan Giant Buddha / Jiayang Steam Train / Chengdu
In this era of high-speed rail speeding, it is difficult to imagine that there was once such a type of train burning coals, smoking thick white smoke, and crawling on the tracks. Unexpectedly, there is still a steam train operating in Qianwei County whose name is Jiayang Steam Train which is only about 55 km’s driving from Leshan Giant Buddha. Our private tour package will take you to explore the Giant Buddha first, and stay a comfortable night in Leshan city (you can go to enjoy the night view of the Buddha on your own), then go to ride the steam train next morning when the air is fresh and surrounding is beautiful. Ride this world's last operating steam train to enjoy canola flowers if you come in March, or sunflowers if you come in August to September. It is recommended for all kinds of travelers as a visual feast of both culture and nature.
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▶ How to Spend More Days Traveling Leshan - Extend Your Trip to Other Destination o Sichuan
Unsatisfied with a trip with Leshan Giant Buddha only in 2 days? Why not travel to Sichuan's other top tourist destinations except for Leshan, Chengdu and Mount Emei. If you are fond of Giant Pandas and want a closer contact of them, don't miss the panda volunteer program in Dujiangyan, Woolong or Yaan Bifengxia Pandas. If you like hiking or have interests in China Taoism, Qingcheng Mountain awaits. The surrounding Dujiangyan Irrigation System is a good place to enjoy the Chinese ancient people's wisdom. Moreover, 3 more days experience in JIuzhaigou Valley will be your lifetime-long memory, and you can see the most breathtaking waterscape in Jiuzhaigou.
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3 Days Mount Emei Classic Walking Tour with Moderate Pace
Mount Emei
Starting from Chengdu, this tour is recommended for those who are looking for a moderately paced hiking. Start two days' hiking the most important monastery of Mount Emei – Wannian Temple, then hike upwards to the top of the Mountain to enjoy beautiful Golden Summit with one night staying at Leidongping where the hotels are comfortable while prices are lower than Golden Summit. Apart from some old and peaceful Buddhist temples, you also have chance to experience the diversity of Mount Emei’s nature existence. A side trip to Leshan Giant Buddha, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also covered on Day 1.
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4 Days Classic Leshan Buddha & Mount Emei Tour from Chengdu
Chengdu / Leshan / Mt. Emei / Chengdu
A great tour of a visual feast to explore two magnificent World Heritage Sites around Chengdu - Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei in a leisure way, also visit the adorable Giant Pandas in Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and get other Chengdu highlights. Airport (train station) pick up and drop off, English-speaking guide, private cars are covered.
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7 Days Sichuan World Heritage with Dazu Rock Carvings Tour
Chengdu / Leshan / Mount Emei / Zigong / Chongqing
In Sichuan, the Land of Abundance, you will visit the lovely giant pandas, go to see Giant Buddha in Leshan, and climb up the magnificent Emei Mountain, explore different museums in Zigong and head to Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing. All are the best!
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Tips for Leshan Trip Plan
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① Best Time to Visit Leshan
- Leshan enjoys a monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate with mild temperature. It has a short and dry winter, long, hot and humid summer. The weather in spring and autumn is most comfortable. It is suitable to travel Leshan Giant Buddha all the year around, and it is advised to travel March, August and September if you want to enjoy a Jiayang Steam Train running through the sea of flowers. If you want to travel Emeishan as an extension, travel in spring (March ~ May), because you can see many beautiful rhododendrons and travel in winter (December ~ February) for better snow activities.
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② Where to Stay in Your Leshan Trip
- For travelers with short stay in Leshan, we suggest you travel back to Chengdu which offers plenty of choices from luxury hotels and boutique hotels to comfortable ones. If you want to accommodate in Leshan, we recommend you to choose a hotel in Leshan downtown or near Leshan Giant Buddha. It will be convenient to taste local food and see Leshan Buddha. Recommended hotels in downtown include 5-star Panlong Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel and 4-star Orange Hotel Select. Hotels near Leshan Giant Buddha include 5-stared Sangjaingyue Holiday Hotel and 4-star A Yard of Chan. If you plan to visit Mount Eemi after your Leshan trip, you can accommodate in Emeishan city or near Mount Emei as well. -
③ Do I Need a Visa for Leshan Trip
- Tourists from appointed 53 countries with valid travel documents & connecting flights to a third country/region can enter Chengdu via Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport and stay in Chengdu as well as Leshan and 9 other cities up to 144 hours in Sichuan without a Chinese visa. Therefore, travelers are able to get rid of visa application and enjoy Giant Panda and Leshan Buddha easily during a layover. However, Sichuan is very vast with many to see and do. To explore the Sichuan beyond its 144 Hours Transit Visa Free areas, we suggest you apply a Tourist Visa. Therefore, you can travel fairytale land Jiuzhaigou Valley and more beautiful places in Western Sichuan, such as Mount Siguniang, Daocheng Yading, Kangding, Danba…
Tailor-made China Tours including Leshan Giant Buddha
If you are planning a longer China tour including Chengdu and Leshan Giant Buddha, you can find a suitable tour with China Discovery. Based in Chengdu, we are specialized in offering high-quality private tour packages to all travelers who have desires to have an authentic China discovery. From the moment you have a travel plan to the moment you finish your China tour, we are always here at your service. Before your travel, you will be provided with our one-to-one consulting service as well as all itineraries-covered tickets-booking and hotels-booking. During your tour, our knowledgeable local tour guide and skilled driver will pick you up and escort you to your hotel and every attraction without any hustle of public transportation and troublesome navigation. All details will be taken care of, and you just need to focus on sightseeing. All tours can be tailor-made according to your plan, time, interests and demands. Please be free to contact us to unveil your Chengdu Leshan tour or China tour or choose one from our best-selling Leshan China tours:
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