Mount Emei

Overview

Mount Emei

Mount Emei in Sichuan is the seat of the bodhisattva Samantabhadra and one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism. Famed for its elegance (“Emei is the most beautiful under heaven”), it is counted among the three great mountains of China and the four great sights of Sichuan, and in 2005 Chinese National Geography named it one of China’s ten most beautiful mountains.

The highest point is Wanfo Peak; the Golden Summit is the main viewpoint. Both are over 3,000 m high. On clear days the snow peaks of Gongga and Siguniang can be seen from it, and sometimes the “Buddha’s halo”, a glory in the clouds. Other sights are Baoguo Temple, Hongchunping, Qingyin Pavilion, Wannian Temple and the Elephant Bathing Pool.

Troops of wild Tibetan macaques beg food from visitors along the mountain paths.

It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996 as part of “Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area”, as a mixed site. It is in the first batch of national parks of China (national scenic areas) named by the State Council in 1982.

Main sights

Wannian Temple: its Ming-dynasty beamless brick hall houses a bronze Samantabhadra on a white elephant, cast in 980 under the Northern Song, about 7.85 m high and weighing about 62 tonnes.

Baoguo Temple: at the foot of the mountain, built in the Ming. Its front hall holds a Ming copper Huayan Pagoda, about 7 m high in 14 tiers, cast with over 4,700 Buddha figures and the text of the Avatamsaka Sutra.

Qingyin Pavilion: the Black and White Dragon streams meet below it and strike a rock shaped like an ox heart; a stone arch bridge spans each stream (the Twin Flying Bridges), one of the Ten Views of Emei.

Fuhu (Crouching Tiger) Temple: west of Baoguo Temple, rebuilt from 1651 by the monk Guanzhi as a complex of thirteen halls, set in a grove of nanmu trees; the Kangxi Emperor gave it the inscription “Ligou Yuan”.

Hongchunping: at about 1,120 m; a small hermitage in the Song, enlarged in the Ming as Qianfo Chanyuan. It is named after the ancient hongchun (toona) trees in front of the temple.

Travel tips

Getting there: take the high-speed train from Chengdu to Emeishan station, then a bus or taxi to the visitor centre near Baoguo Temple. Park buses do most of the work going up the mountain.

Booking: park buses up to Leidongping (for the Golden Summit) are sold under your real name for a set time slot, and the summit area has a daily limit; book ahead on holidays. Leidongping bus station and the summit cable car are being rebuilt, so boarding points and capacity have changed.

Golden Summit: take the park bus to Leidongping, walk to Jieyin Hall, then ride the cable car or walk to the summit. The summit is over 3,000 m and much colder than the foot of the mountain.

Middle mountain: take the park bus to Wuxiangang and walk to Qingyin Pavilion, then on through Yixiantian and the monkey area to Hongchunping. Wannian Temple has its own cable car.

Hiking: walking from Baoguo Temple to the summit takes two to three days on long stretches of steps; some temples along the way take overnight guests.

Monkeys: there are many monkeys around the monkey area; they grab food and bags. Do not feed them, and keep hold of your things.

Time: the summit alone can be done in a day; allow two days to add the temples of the middle mountain.

Where to stay: most visitors stay near Baoguo Temple; to see the sunrise, stay on the summit or around Leidongping.

Leshan Giant Buddha: on the edge of Leshan city, not far from Emeishan; allow another half day. The cliff path down to the Buddha's feet has long queues on holidays; you can also see it from a tour boat on the river.

Stamps

On 16 November 1984 China Post issued T.100 “Scenery of Mount Emei”, six stamps: Baoguo Temple at the foot of the mountain (4 fen), Leiyin Temple in green shade (8 fen), ancient trees at Hongchunping (8 fen), dawn glow at the Elephant Bathing Pool (10 fen), clouds and mist at Woyun Hermitage (20 fen) and the Buddha’s halo over a sea of clouds at the Golden Summit (80 fen).

On 28 April 2003 an 8-yuan souvenir sheet 2003-7T “The Leshan Giant Buddha” was issued.

Map

Photo credits: Mount Emei: George N (CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons)

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