Emeishan 峨眉山市

History

Emei County was created under the Sui in 593 and became a city in September 1988. Mount Emei, one of China's four famous Buddhist mountains, was inscribed as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site in December 1996. The city government names Li Bai (李白), Lu You (陆游) and Xu Xiake (徐霞客) among the figures of the past who lingered on the mountain and left lines about it.

Setting and landscape

The scenic area on Mount Emei covers 154 square kilometres. Its highest peak, Wanfo Ding (万佛顶), rises to 3,099 metres, while the Golden Summit (金顶) at 3,077 metres is the highest point most visitors reach. Because the mountain is so steep, its climate changes with height, and land above 2,000 metres is usually under snow and ice from October to April. The city government counts more than 3,700 wild plant species, about a tenth of China's total, and notes that a giant panda was found in Suishan (绥山镇) in 1992.

What to see

Baoguo Temple (报国寺), at the foot of the mountain, is the usual gateway. Founded in the Wanli years of the Ming, it was renamed by the Kangxi emperor; its halls climb one behind another along a central axis. Qingyin Pavilion (清音阁) stands at 710 metres where the Black and White streams meet; at the confluence below it lies a large rock shaped like an ox heart, Niuxin Rock (牛心石). On the summit, Huazang Temple (华藏寺) dates from the Tang, and the Golden Summit is the place for the sunrise, the sea of clouds and the "Buddha's glory" (佛光) halo.

The five national protected sites in the city include the Feilai Hall (飞来殿), the bronze and iron Buddhas of Wannian Temple (万年寺), and the bronze pagoda and bronze bell of Shengji Temple (圣积寺). Emei martial arts (峨眉武术) is on the national intangible-heritage list. Besides the 5A scenic area of the mountain, the Great Buddha Monastery (大佛禅院) is a 4A scenic area. Southwest Jiaotong University has an Emei campus at the foot of the mountain.

Food and local products

Emei sweet rice cake (峨眉糕), Emeishan tea (峨眉山茶), Emeishan Zhuyeqing tea (峨眉山竹叶青茶) and Emeishan snow konjac (峨眉山雪魔芋) are all Chinese geographical-indication products.

Highlights

• Golden Summit 金顶: At 3,077 metres, the viewpoint for sunrise, the sea of clouds and the Buddha's glory.
• Baoguo Temple 报国寺: Ming temple at the foot of Mount Emei, renamed by the Kangxi emperor.
• Qingyin Pavilion 清音阁: Temple at 710 metres where the Black and White streams meet.
• Wannian Temple 万年寺: Its bronze and iron Buddhas are a national protected site.
• Great Buddha Monastery 大佛禅院: 4A scenic area of Buddhist culture.
• Emei sweet rice cake 峨眉糕: Chinese geographical-indication product.