Sichuan · Emeishan
One of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains, Mount Emei rises from subtropical foothills to the Golden Summit at 3,079 metres, and locals say it holds four seasons on a single slope. Temples have stood among its forests for over a thousand years, and at the top the 48-metre golden statue of Samantabhadra gleams above a sea of clouds. Come for the classic trio of wonders: a sunrise breaking over the cloud ocean, the drifting sea of clouds itself, and, on lucky afternoons after rain, the rainbow ring of Buddha’s halo. Autumn, from September into November, brings the clearest skies and the best odds of all three, while spring covers the slopes in rhododendrons and winter turns the summit silver. For a deeper experience, stay overnight near the summit and walk the old stone pilgrim trails between Baoguo Temple, Wannian Temple and Qingyin Pavilion, where moss, birdsong and incense smoke replace the crowds.
Tips: Take the shuttle bus from the foot of the mountain to Leidongping, then the cable car to the Golden Summit; stay overnight near the summit if you want the sunrise. The summit runs 10–15°C colder than the base, so bring layers and rain gear even on a fine day. Keep food and phones out of reach of the wild macaques, and never feed them. Pair the trip with the Leshan Giant Buddha, an easy side trip from the same base.
Photo: Min Zhou / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)