Leshan is a good destination for a Chengdu extension tour. The most famous attraction is the Leshan Giant Buddha, which is the largest and tallest stone Buddha statue in the world. Read on to find out how to plan a trip from Chengdu to Leshan.
1. Things to Do in Leshan
Visiting the Leshan Giant Buddha must rank top of your itinerary. A huge Buddha statue sits carved out of the the cliff face, staring ahead with a smile.
There are two ways to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha: on foot and by boat. If you want to get a close-up view of the Buddha, you can choose the walking route.
You will walk along the plank pathways to enjoy the changing view from various angles of the giant Buddha statue, from its head to its feet.
Sightseeing boatAlternatively, you can choose to visit the attraction on a sightseeing boat. This will let you view the Buddha from a distance and get a panoramic view of the statue.
There are many other attractions close to the Leshan Giant Buddha. Oriental Buddha Park (Dongfang Fodu Gongyuan) holds more than 3,000 Buddhist statues, including a 170-meter-long reclining Buddha, which is the largest in the world.
The Mahaoya Tomb Mausoleum (Mahaoyamu Museum) is a Han Dynasty building containing tombs and other burial artifacts from that period.
Tofu jellyLeshan snacks are also a must, such as beef soup pot, ye'er ba (a sticky rice dumpling filled with a sweet stuffing), Leshan sweet skin duck, and boboji (skewers of meat and vegetables cooked and served in a spicy soup).
Zhanggong Bridge food street (张公桥美食街) is one of the most popular night markets where most types of Leshan's famous snacks can be found.
Recommended tours:
2. Things to Do in Chengdu
Pandas in Wolong Panda CenterSeeing the cute pandas is an absolute must on your to-do list. You can have the chance to get up close and personal with pandas in the one-day Panda Keeper Program at Dujiangyan.
Try a hot pot and other delicious food. Chengdu is recognized as being a "food paradise". Taste a range of snacks and local dishes in our One-Day Chengdu Food Tour.
Visit People's Park to experience authentic local life in Chengdu - drink a cup of tea, get your ears professionally cleaned, and explore 'Matchmaking Corner'.
Read more information about Top Things to Do in Chengdu.
Chongqing, neighbouring Chengdu, has a unique 8D mountain city charm. If you have extra time to explore Chongqing's highlights, see our How to Plan a Trip to Chengdu and Chongqing.
3. Choose Your Preferred Transportation
There are two ways to travel from Chengdu to Leshan: by bullet train and by long-distance bus. We recommend taking a bullet train. The journey takes about 50 minutes.
There are over 20 bullet trains running between Chengdu and Leshan every day. Read more information about How to Get from Chengdu to Leshan (Leshan Giant Buddha).
4. Consider the Length of Travel
A Chengdu–Leshan tour requires 2 to 4 days. Spending one day in Leshan is enough to see its highlights while Chengdu needs 2 to 3 days to explore it. Read our suggested itinerary for reference:
Golden Summit of Mount Emei- Day 1: Chengdu city highlights tour, including Jinsha Site Museum, Wenshu Monastery, Jinli Ancient Street
- Day 2: one-day Panda Keeper Program
- Day 3: the Leshan Giant Buddha
Alternatively, you can include one more day to explore Mount Emei, which is a 15-minute journey away by bullet train.
If you have limited time, you can refer to our 3-Day Chengdu and Leshan Tour, offering an efficient way to let you explore the highlights of Chengdu and Leshan.
Recommended tours:
If you have more time and want to explore Chengdu's surrounding cities, such as Xi'an,see our 8-Day Natural Wonders of Xi'an and Chengdu.
Contact us for a private tour of Leshan and Mount Emei.
5. The Best Times for Visiting
Leshan is close to Chengdu and they have the same climate. Both Chengdu and Leshan are suitable for traveling around throughout the year.
However, the best periods to visit Chengdu are from March to June and from September to November. Spring and autumn are good times to see pandas and to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. Check our article about Chengdu Weather.
6. Accommodation Choice
In Chengdu, we recommend hotels near Chunxi Road and Tianfu Square because of the central location, convenient transportation, and better hotel facilities and services.
Chunxi RoadYou can get more accommodation information when you read Where to Stay in Chengdu.
There is no need to spend a night in Leshan because almost all tourists who travel there just visit the Leshan Giant Buddha. After your visit, you can take a train to return to Chengdu or head to your next destination.
If you want us to help you book your hotel(s), feel free to tell us your requirements.
Create a Chengdu–Leshan Tour with Us
Eating a hot pot in ChengduHere is our most recommended tour:
- 2-Day Giant Panda and Giant Buddha Tour: Visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and the Leshan Giant Buddha.
All of our tours can be customized. You can use our Create My Trip service to design a tour according to your interests and needs.