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 How to Plan a Trip from Chengdu to Leshan

How to Plan a Trip from Chengdu to Leshan

Written by Kelly PangUpdated Nov. 4, 2021

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.

Leshan giant buddhaLeshan Giant Buddha

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 boatSightseeing boat

Alternatively, 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 jellyTofu jelly

Leshan 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.

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2. Things to Do in Chengdu

PandasPandas in Wolong Panda Center

Seeing 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.

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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).

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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:

Mount EmeiGolden 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.

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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 roadChunxi Road

You 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

ChengduEating a hot pot in Chengdu

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