Emei Mountain from Chengdu: Cable Car & Golden Buddha Day Trip
What happens when you ride a cable car to a 48-meter Buddha statue at 3,000 meters?
You're picked up from your hotel and driven to Mount Emei, then ride the cable car to Gold Summit to see the 48-meter Golden Buddha and temple grounds with your guide. Lunch is included at the summit, and on the return, if time allows, you visit Baoguo Temple with its giant porcelain Buddha and 25-ton bronze bell. Hotel drop-off completes the day.
Step-by-step itinerary
- Mount Emei Entry included 2h
- Baoguo Temple Entry included 30m
Full day tour to Mount Emei
- Pick up from hotel lobby
- Drive to Emei Mountain Scenic Area
- Take local sightseeing bus to Leidongping
- Ride cable car to Gold Summit
- Admire the 48-meter Golden Buddha Statue
- Stroll and learn about Buddhism history
- Enjoy lunch at Gold Summit
- Descend by cable car
- Visit Baoguo Temple if time permits
- View giant porcelain Buddha and bronze bell
- Transfer back to hotel in Chengdu
What’s included
Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Chengdu, transport in a private air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fee to Mount Emei, round-trip cable car to Gold Summit, lunch at the summit, bottled water throughout the day, and an English-speaking guide who explains the Buddhist history and temples along the way.
Times
- Every day 07:00 07:30
Information
Prices and times updated 11 days ago
Operated by Unique Beijing Tours
The experience
You're in Chengdu for a few days and you've seen the panda sanctuaries, walked the teahouses. Now you want something that pulls you out of the city entirely, not a half-day thing, but a real shift in landscape and air. Mount Emei, about 2.5 hours south, is one of China's Four Great Buddhist Mountains, and it's a UNESCO site for both culture and nature. Your guide picks you up from your hotel lobby, and you drive through changing terrain while they explain what you're about to see. By the time you reach the base, the mountain is already visible, and you understand why monks chose this place.
The cable car ride to Gold Summit is the part that stays with you. You're rising through mist and forest, and then suddenly you're at 3,079 meters looking at a 48-meter Golden Buddha Statue that catches the light in a way photographs don't quite capture. Your guide walks you through the temple grounds and talks about Buddhist history in China, not as a lecture, but as context for what you're standing in front of. The scale of the Golden Buddha makes sense once you understand the role it plays. Lunch happens at the summit itself, not in a restaurant back in town.
The return cable car descent gives you time to sit with what you've seen. If there's time, you stop at Baoguo Temple on the way back: the largest temple on the mountain and the cultural center for Buddhist events, home to a giant porcelain Buddha and a 25-ton bronze bell. Your driver then takes you back to your hotel in Chengdu. It's a long day, but you cover a mountain, the Golden Buddha, a cable car ride and lunch without once having to figure out transport or timing yourself.
Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see one of China's major Buddhist mountains and the Golden Buddha without arranging your own transport or timing: the private vehicle and guide handle the logistics, and the cable car means you reach the summit and temples without a strenuous hike.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Chinese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
How long is the drive from Chengdu to Mount Emei?
About 2.5 hours each way by private vehicle.
What's included in the tour?
Hotel pickup and drop-off, private air-conditioned vehicle, English-speaking guide, entrance fee, round-trip cable car, lunch, and bottled water.
Is the cable car included or extra?
Round-trip cable car is included in the tour price.
What is there to see at the summit?
The 48-meter Golden Buddha Statue, temple grounds, and panoramic views of Mount Emei and snow mountains in the distance.
Do you visit Baoguo Temple?
Yes, if time permits on the return. It's the largest temple on the mountain and features a giant porcelain Buddha and a 25-ton bronze bell.
Is Mount Emei suitable for all fitness levels?
Yes, the tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels since you use the cable car rather than hiking the mountain.
Emei Mountain from Chengdu: Cable Car & Golden Buddha Day Trip
8h–10h · EN +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 318 per person