Leshan

Understand

History Leshan city has a history of over 3000 years.

Getting there

By train The Chengdu - Leshan - Emeishan Intercity High Speed Railway provides service from Chengdu East Railway Station, Chengdu South Station, and Shuangliu Airport Station to Leshan Station (and at the end of the line Emeishan Station). Depending on train, it takes between 52 minutes to about 1 hour, 20 minutes to get between Chengdu East to Leshan (¥54).

1 Leshan Railway Station (乐山站, Leshan Station), Baolian Road, Shizhong District (市中区宝莲路) (Bus routes 1, 12, 21, 22, 304, 601, 605, 701, Circle Route 1, Leshan H1, and Night Bus 1). From Leshan Station the trip by bus K1 via Leshan City to the Giant Buddha (¥2) with stops along the way in the city takes 30 minutes. Departure for the bus K1 is in the bus station building, across the street to the right side of the train station on exiting. The bus K1 can be taken back to Leshan Station before 18:00 but afterwards bus 3 is available to go back, taking 45 minutes. (updated Apr 2019) Leshan North Station (乐山北站) (in the neighbouring Jiajiang area, around 30–40 minutes' drive from the main sites of Leshan). (updated Sep 2025)

By bus Arrivals from Chengdu, Chongqing, Emei, Jiajiang, Kangding, Ya'an, Yibin, Zigong and most other surrounding towns and cities.

2 Leshan Central Bus Station (乐山汽车客运中心站 Lèshān Qìchē Kèyùn Zhōngxīn Zhàn), Zhile Road, Shizhong District (市中区至乐路) (local bus routes serving the station include routes 1, 12, 21, 22, 304, 308, 601, 605, Circle Route 1 and Leshan H1. The bus station is just a few hundred metres north of the Leshan Railway Station), ☏ +86 833 2450710. Buses are available from Chengdu, Emei, Jiajiang, Kangding, Meishan, Pengshan, Shawan, Ya'an, Yibin, and Zigong. Also long-distance buses to/from Dujiangyan, Guanghan, Jiuzhaigou, Mianyang, Nanchong, Shanghai and Shenzhen. (updated Apr 2019) 3 Leshan Lianyun Bus Station (乐山联运汽车站 Lèshān Liányùn Qìchēzhàn), 526 Longyou Road East Section, Shizhong District (市中区龙游路东段526号) (local bus routes serving the station include routes 1, 1a, 2, 21, 205, 701, Circle Route 1 and Leshan H1), ☏ +86 833 2447114. Has buses from Emei, Qianwei, and Wutongqiao. (updated Apr 2019) 4 Xiaoba Tourist Bus Station (肖坝旅游车站 Xiàobà Lǚyóu Chēzhàn), 451 Xiaoba Road, Shizhong District (市中区肖坝路451号) (local bus routes serving the station include routes 1, 1a, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13 and 701), ☏ +86 833 5016669. Buses are available from Mount Emei (Baoguo Si), Chengdu (Xinnanmen), and Emei. (updated Apr 2019)

Getting around

Navigation Maps of the city are available for ¥4 from street kiosks, printed on every bus stop and online.

Public transport Pedicab - Leshan has many pedicabs that are cheap and convenient for short journeys. Public bus - Buses are regular and uncrowded in Leshan. Most are fairly modern and charge ¥2 per journey which you normally pay to the conductor. You may have to request your stop. Taxi - During the day the first 2 km are charged at ¥3, and after at the rate of ¥0.70/km. A fuel surcharge of ¥0.50 is added at the end of the journey and is explained by a white sticker in front of the front passenger seat.

See

Central Leshan 1 Leshan Ebony Museum (乐山乌木文化博览苑), 768 Le'e Road West Section, Suji Town, Shizhong District (市中区苏稽镇乐峨路西段768号) (bus routes 209 and 601; route 601 runs past the Grand Buddha and the Leshan Railway Station), ☏ +86 833 2568598. 08:30-18:00. This is well worth a visit if you are not familiar with ebony and the amazing carvings that can be made from it. Some of the displays are a bit tacky but there are some spectacular carvings of famous Chinese literary and legendary scenes. ¥90. (updated Apr 2019)

2 Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛), 2435 Lingyun Road Central Section, Shizhong District (市中区凌云路中段2435号) (bus routes 13, 601, 605 and K1), ☏ +86 833 2302121. 1 Apr-7 Oct: 07:30-18:30; rest of the year: 08:00-17:30. One of the main attraction to see is the Leshan Giant Buddha. The Giant Buddha is a 71 m (230 feet) high sculpture carved into one of the large cliffs by the river. In addition to the Giant Buddha, there are also numerous smaller carvings of various Buddhas on the Grand Buddha Cliff Road. Other than carvings, there are also various temples and shrines scattered about, the beautiful Haoshang bridge, and some wonderful small waterfalls. The Buddha was carved into the mountain face to watch over a part of the river that while very busy for transport was claiming the lives and stock of many boats. Upon completion of the now largest Buddha in the world the river became safe, and thus Buddha saved "us all". Modern scientists will point out the rock displacement to the river bed would have changed the currents, and killed off the eddies that were pulling boats down. If you go late in the day, you will not have to compete with many Chinese tour groups who seem to go in the morning. There are two ways to see the giant Buddha: on foot and by river ferry. To see the giant Buddha Statue by ferry you can take one of the ferries from the dock for ¥70. The ferry will cross the river and stop in front of the statue for 10 minutes for everyone to go to the top deck and take pictures and then return to the dock. Ferry fare does not include admission to the park. Taking the ferry allows you to view the two guards carved into the cliff face which are not visible by foot. The total trip will take around 40 minutes. The view from the ferry is not much different from the view at the base of the statue, which would make it unnecessary unless you're dead set on having a photo taken of yourself with the Buddha. An alternative is take a taxi or bus (#13 from downtown) to the statue and climb up and down on the cliff surrounding the Buddha. There is a staircase next t

Do

Browse the markets at wùyān jiē (婺嫣街) and xīngfā jiē (兴发街). 1 Haitang Park (海棠公园 Hǎitáng Gōngyuán), Shizhong District (市中区) (bounded by Xian Street (县街) on the west, Fu Street (府街) on the south and Dingdong Street on the east (叮咚街); there is a bus stop of the same name on the eastern side of the park, which is served by bus routes 8 and 9). 08:00-20:00. Free. (updated Apr 2019) 2 Laoxiaoding (老霄顶), Shizhong District (市中区) (about 200 metres southwest of the intersection of Dingdong Street (叮咚街) and Haitang Road (海棠路); from Moruo Square take the road heading north to its end and then along the winding uphill path. The park gate will be to your right; the nearest bus stop is the Gas Company (煤气公司) bus stop, which is served by bus routes 6, 8, 10 and 13). 09:00-17:00. The tallest hill within Leshan's old city limits. Now it is a pleasant park with pavilions and tea houses. Free. (updated Apr 2019)

Eat

As people from across China visit Chengdu for its culinary delights, every weekend thousands of Chengdu natives take the trip to Leshan to engorge themselves on some of the best food in China. Some popular local dishes include:

Tian Pi Ya / You Tang Ya (甜皮鸭 / 油烫鸭) - roast duck, similar to Beijing Duck, with a crispier, sweeter skin. You can buy this is air-tight bags and is a common treat shared with friends of family within a couple of days of visiting. Dou Fu Nao (豆腐脑) - Literally 'Tofu Brain', this bean curd mixed with nuts and spices - a delicious option for traditional, local breakfast Ka Bing (卡饼 / 咔饼) - Usually ordered together with Tou Fu Nao, ground beef in bread with a local mix of salt and spice Shao Kao (烧烤) - Barbequed skewers with meat and vegetables. Available all day, but commonly eaten sitting outside with friends and local beers You Zha Chuan Chuan (油炸串串) - Similar to shao kao, but fried in oil Qiao Jiao Niu Rou (翘脚牛肉) - Multiple dishes of beef, varying between boiled, fried and grilled. The dishes can cover everything from slices of traditional beef, to cow's bone marrow or stomach Bo Bo Ji (钵钵鸡) - Chicken and root vegetables marinated in a spicy sesame broth, often on skewers Bing Fen (冰粉) - Popular across China but originating in the region, 'iced jelly' is a slightly sweet dessert Saqima (沙琪玛)- a sweet rice cake, made with bean curd Shumai(烧麦)- a snack with rice and meat wrapped in a thin layer of skin Mi Liang Gao (米凉糕)- a kind of cake made from rice or other grains, most of which are served with boiled brown sugar water.

Whilst many of the best restaurants are across the city, the majority of food downtown, near the riverside offers great variety of all local and Sichuan dishes.

Zhanggongqiao Jie (张公桥街)- A fun and busy place to eat and drink at night.

Drink & nightlife

There are hundreds of teahouses in Leshan. The best are those outdoors; especially those along the banks of the Dadu and Min rivers and in Leshan's parks. All great places to play Majiang or Leshan's unique erqishi card game.

杨家老宅茶馆 (yángjiā lǎozhái cháguǎn) - 52 gǔlóu jiē (鼓楼街52号). +86 833-2115000. Open Monday to Sunday. An atmospheric teahouse set within a cluster of old buildings and decorated with old photographs of Leshan and the Grand Buddha. Banana Club. Don't expect much, 1 of 2 night clubs in Leshan. Busy on Saturdays, but will die down by 23:00 on weekdays. Try Zero Beer (brewed for a good time). ~¥30/bottle

Sleep

Budget 1 Jintaoyuan Hotel (金桃源宾馆 Jīntáoyuán bīnguǎn,), 136 Binjiang Road South, Shizhong District (市中区滨江南路136号) (next to Leshan Port), ☏ +86 833 5026600. Probably the most convenient hotel for most travellers especially since it's across the street from where the Leshan Buddha tourist boats start their 30-min cruise. Room rates start from ¥132.

Mid-range

Splurge 2 Jinhaitang Hotel (金海棠大酒店 jīnhǎitángdàjiǔdiàn,), 512 Haitang Road (海棠路512号) (next to Fish Bay Park), ☏ +86 833-2128888. Leshan's only four-star hotel.

Go next

Possible destinations after Leshan include the following.

Chengdu (成都) - Travel north on the ChengLe Expressway to the capital of Sichuan making stops at Meishan and Huanglongxi. Chongqing (重庆) Dafengding (大风顶) - Dafengding is a China National Nature Preservation Zone. Emei (峨眉) - Make the short journey west to see the famous Emei Shan and then take the train south towards Kunming or north towards Chengdu. Jiajiang (夹江)- Visit the Thousand Buddha Cliff and then take the train south towards Kunming or north towards Chengdu. Kangding - Start your visit to western Sichuan from its capital. Shawan - Former residence of Guo Morou and Meinufeng Stone Forest. Ya'an (雅安) - Mount Mengding is known as the "Holy Mountain of World Tea Culture".（世界茶文化圣山） Yibin (宜宾) - Famous for its distilleries. Zigong (自贡) - Salt mines and a dinosaur museum.