Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei are often included in the same Sichuan itinerary, but the tour methods of the two scenic spots are different. You can choose to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha by mountain climbing or view the Giant Buddha from the river; Mount Emei is divided into different tourist areas. Going to the high mountain area also involves scenic sightseeing cars, cableways and reservation time slots.
Therefore, whether you can play in a day does not just depend on the distance on the map. If you mainly want to see the Leshan Giant Buddha and then go to the lower mountainous area of Mount Emei to experience it, you can do it in one day. If you want to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha slowly and also want to go to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei, two days will be more suitable.
Some people only have one day, some bring the elderly and children, and some specifically want to see the Golden Dome. It will be easier to have fun more comfortably if you first look at what you care about most, and then decide whether it will be one day or two days.
If you have limited time and mainly want to see the Leshan Giant Buddha and experience it in the low mountainous area of Mount Emei, you can arrange it in one day. If you want to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha and the Golden Summit of Mount Emei or the main scenic spots more completely, two days will be more suitable. Private private charters can continuously connect Chengdu hotels, two scenic spots and accommodation locations. However, after entering the Emeishan traffic control area, you still have to transfer to sightseeing cars and other internal transportation according to the regulations of the scenic spot.
What are the differences in the tour highlights between Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei?
The Leshan Giant Buddha is not just a giant Buddha. Walking to the mountains allows you to experience the Giant Buddha and the historic sites around Lingyun Mountain up close from the mountains; if you choose to tour the river during the day, you can see the entire Giant Buddha and the coastal landscape where the three rivers meet from the river. The two methods have different feelings. Whether to experience them at the same time depends on the time of day, physical strength and cruise operation conditions.
In Emeishan, you must first decide which area you want to go to. If you want to go to the Golden Summit, you need to set aside time for scenic sightseeing buses, walking and cableway connections; if you prefer mountains, forests and temples, you can also choose low-mountain or mid-mountain areas. Mount Emei does not end when you drive to the top of the mountain. The time required for the actual tour must be calculated separately.
You can choose to go on a mountain tour to see the monuments up close, or you can take a boat to see the entire Big Buddha and the Sanjiang landscape from the river.
The time required varies greatly depending on the tourist area; if you plan to go to the Golden Summit, you must include the sightseeing car, cableway and reservation time.
One day or two days, it depends on how much you want to play
One day is suitable for guests with limited time, good physical strength, and clear travel goals. Usually we start from Chengdu in the morning, focusing on the Leshan Giant Buddha, then go to the low mountainous areas or foothills of Mount Emei in the afternoon, and return to Chengdu in the evening.
Two days are suitable for guests who want to visit both scenic spots seriously, or who want to take the elderly or children with them and want to leave more space for rest, queuing and weather changes. After visiting Leshan Giant Buddha on the first day, we stayed near Mount Emei. On the second day, we spent most of our time in Mount Emei and then returned to Chengdu.
| How to choose | One day plan | two day plan |
|---|---|---|
| Tour highlights | Focus on the Leshan Giant Buddha, a lightweight experience in Mount Emei | You can allot time for the Leshan Giant Buddha and the main areas of Mount Emei |
| Departure rhythm | Need to leave early and return to Chengdu on the same day | After the transfer on the first day, we stayed near Mount Emei and returned on the second day. |
| Who it suits | Limited time, good physical strength, and clear travel goals | Family tourists, taking the elderly and children, want to go to the Golden Summit or take a leisurely tour |
| Luggage arrangements | When traveling by car, pack as lightly as possible | The vehicle connects to the hotel, making it more convenient to change hotels and pick up luggage. |
| overall feeling | The content is compact and the focus is on time utilization | The pace is more natural, allowing for reservations, queues and weather |
You only have one day, so you can refer to this lightweight route
This route is suitable for guests who "the Leshan Giant Buddha is the focus, and they want to experience Mount Emei along the way." The departure time can be discussed based on the season, scenic spot reservations, and the schedule of the travel companions, but if you want to connect the two places in one day, it is usually more stable to go earlier.
- Departure: The driver arrives at the Chengdu hotel or designated location in advance to wait. Guests can get on the bus as soon as they leave, and their luggage can also be placed in the vehicle;
- Morning: Visit Leshan Giant Buddha, choose mountain tour or river tour based on physical strength and operating conditions of the day;
- Noon: Have a meal in Leshan, take a short rest, and chat with the driver about local tastes and dining areas along the way;
- Afternoon: Go to the low mountainous area or the foot area of Mount Emei for a relaxing tour, without cramming the Golden Summit and multiple areas into the same day;
- Return trip: Drop off at a Chengdu hotel, restaurant, airport, station or other agreed location, not necessarily back to the morning pick-up point.
Arrange two days to enjoy the two scenic spots more completely
The value of the two-day plan is not just to stay one more night, but to separate the tour time of Leshan and Emeishan. On the first day, you don’t have to visit the high mountains of Mount Emei while watching the Giant Buddha. On the second day, you can choose a more suitable tourist area based on reservations and weather.
On the first day, the driver picks up the guests from the Chengdu hotel or designated location and goes to the Leshan Giant Buddha. After the tour and meal, you will be sent to the booked hotel near Mount Emei. Your luggage and accommodation will be connected by the same car.
On the second day, go to a location convenient for entering the scenic spot from the hotel, and then visit the Jinding, Low Mountain or Zhongshan areas as scheduled. Afterwards, the driver will pick you up at the agreed location and return to the Chengdu hotel, airport, station or other agreed location.
Two days is not a fixed template. If there is a late flight or high-speed train the next day, you can arrange the return destination directly to the airport or station; if you don't want to get up early, you can stop in Leshan for a while on the first day and set off at the scheduled time the next day.
The convenience of private chartering is mainly reflected in the connection between the two places
A private charter picks up guests from Chengdu hotels or designated locations, and one car continuously connects Leshan, Emeishan hotels and the return location. The departure time, tour sequence and final delivery location can all be discussed in advance based on the actual situation.
The driver will arrive early and wait, and can assist in opening and closing the car doors and loading and unloading ordinary luggage when getting on and off the bus. From Chengdu to Leshan, and then to the Emeishan Hotel, the luggage will follow the vehicle when transferring, and there is no need to re-carry the luggage to find a car at each stage.
There is no need to go to a fixed meeting point with your luggage first, you can get on the bus directly at the appointed place.
Arrive in advance on the day of departure so that guests can start their trip when ready.
It is recommended to leave early for a one-day series; the two-day itinerary can be adjusted around appointments and work schedule.
From Chengdu to Leshan and then to Emeishan Hotel, you don’t have to carry your luggage and find a car every time.
Choose safe and convenient transfer points within the limits allowed by road and scenic area management.
The driver can give some references based on familiar areas, and the final choice is up to the guest.
After the Leshan tour, there is no need to look for transportation to Mount Emei.
You can return it to your hotel, or go to a restaurant, airport, station or other agreed location.
The car model and cost can be viewed together like this
The reference starting price for this route starts at RMB 600, which corresponds to a basic one-day trip from Chengdu. The specific cost will be determined based on whether it is one day or two days, actual driving time, number of people, vehicle type, luggage space, pick-up location, hotel waiting, multiple pick-up points, parking fees, tolls, and the driver's food and accommodation during the two-day trip.
Tickets to scenic spots, sightseeing cars, ropeways, cruise ships, accommodation and meals are usually not part of the vehicle reference price. The final price is based on the route, vehicle model and service scope confirmed by both parties.
| Peer situation | Car models to consider | What needs are more suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 1-4 people | Five-seat sedan or SUV | There are fewer people and not much luggage, so it is more flexible to travel in one or two days. |
| 1-6 people | GL8, Odyssey and other MPVs | If the ride takes a long time, you may wish to be more comfortable, or bring the elderly and children with you. |
| Multi-person small team | Coaster or minibus | Travel together as a group of friends, family or company |
| More people | bus | Extended itineraries for team travel, team building or conferences require unified scheduling |
Before setting off in 2026, pay attention to the arrangements for these scenic spots
If you plan to go to Mount Emei Golden Summit, make an appointment first. According to the announcement of the Emeishan Scenic Area, passenger flow management will be implemented in the Jinding area from May 23, 2026, and mountain sightseeing tickets will also be limited and time-sharing reservations will be implemented. Relevant engineering and operational arrangements may continue to be adjusted. It will be more stable to read the official notice before departure.
Chartered cars cannot replace internal transportation in the Emeishan Scenic Area. Traffic management is implemented on scenic roads above zero kilometers, and self-driving vehicles cannot continue to enter. The chartered driver will deliver the guests to the connecting location agreed by both parties and permitted by the road, and then transfer according to the rules of the scenic spot.
Leshan Giant Buddha mountain tour and river tour can be chosen according to the conditions of the day. During the day, you can see the entire Big Buddha from the river when you are traveling on the river, while when you are traveling in the mountains, it is more suitable for a close-up walking tour. Cruise ships are easily affected by weather, water levels, maintenance and on-site scheduling. Whether they are operated or not is subject to notification from the scenic spot on the same day.
- Emeishan Jinding Area Tourism Management Announcement in 2026: https://www.leshan.gov.cn/lsswszf/gsgg/90053490/808058894643269.html
- Tips for safe travel from Leshan City’s cultural and tourism department: https://swglj.leshan.gov.cn/whgdl/aqcx/202309/4391cfdc1fbe4c3db81571472b3e8314.shtml
- Leshan Giant Buddha River Tour Public Information: https://www.leshan.gov.cn/lsswszf/gyqy/90053490/9f9dd4d3c4fe4de081cc77beb.html
If you only have one day, focus on the key points; if you have two days, relax the rhythm
Leshan Giant Buddha is suitable for viewing historical monuments and Sanjiang landscape, while Mount Emei needs to be arranged according to the tourist area. One day does not mean that you cannot walk, but you need to accept a light experience; two days does not mean that you simply stay one more night, but you do not have to rush to the two scenic spots.
After confirming the date, tell Baifen Fleet the number of people, luggage, boarding location in Chengdu, whether you want to go to the Golden Summit and where you will finally send it. The driver arrives and waits in advance, picks you up from your hotel in Chengdu, continuously connects Leshan, Emeishan and your accommodation, and finally returns you to Chengdu, the airport, the station or other agreed locations.
Some frequently asked questions
Can I visit Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei at the same time in one day?＋
Can do lightweight series connection. The Leshan Giant Buddha is usually regarded as the main attraction, and Mount Emei arranges experiences in the lower mountainous areas or at the foot of the mountain. If you still want to go to the Golden Summit and have an in-depth tour of Leshan, two days would be more suitable.
Where do I need to stay for a two-day trip?＋
Generally, after visiting Leshan on the first day, staying near the Emeishan Scenic Area will make it more convenient to enter the mountain on the second day. The specific hotel location can be selected based on the tourist area and budget reserved for the next day.
Can a private charter drive directly to Emeishan Golden Summit?＋
Can't. Traffic management is implemented on the roads in the scenic spots above zero kilometers in Mount Emei. To go to the high mountainous area, you need to transfer to sightseeing cars, ropeways and walk according to the regulations of the scenic spots. Chartered buses are responsible for continuous transfer between hotels in Chengdu, Leshan, Emeishan and permitted connection points.
When taking care of the elderly and children, is one day or two days more recommended?＋
If you want to go to both scenic spots, we recommend two days. This makes it easier to adjust daily car and walking times and leaves room for breaks, queues and weather changes.
Where should I store my luggage for a two-day charter?＋
The vehicle will connect guests and luggage from Chengdu to Leshan and then to the Emeishan hotel. Before entering the scenic spot, you can put away your large luggage according to your accommodation arrangements. It is recommended to carry valuables such as documents, cash, and electronic equipment with you.
Does the starting price of RMB 600 include tickets, ropeway and accommodation?＋
Not included. Starting from RMB 600 is the reference starting price for a basic one-day car trip from Chengdu. Tickets, sightseeing cars, ropeways, cruise ships, accommodation, meals and actual parking fees, tolls, etc. are subject to the service list and scenic spot regulations confirmed by both parties.