This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Leshan.
Leshan is a prefecture-level city in the Sichuan province in southern China. It lies at the confluence of the Dadu and Min Rivers, in the mountains and in the Tibetan region of China. Although it is a very small city, Leshan is well-known for its many cultural relics, including one very large, stone carved Buddha at Mount Lingyun, which is in the Mount Emei scenic reserve. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The Lingyun Temple is nearby.
To get to Leshan, you can fly to Chengdu and then take a train. Leshan is on the Mianyang–Chengdu–Leshan rail line. Once you’re here, its easy to get around the city by rail or bus. The same buses can take you to the tourist parks.
Leshan has a few backpacker hostels. Most of the hostels are in the city, but there are some in the outlying areas if you are here to do any trekking. Hostels in China, for the most part, aren’t as spacious or as clean as hostels in other parts of the world, but the staff is usually very friendly and willing to help with tours and transport. The word for “hostel” in Chinese is “宿舍” which is pronounced “su-she.”
The Sichuan Province is known for its spicy food and Leshan has become somewhat of a destination for foodies. You can get all sorts of Sichuan food here, especially street food like barbecue and bobo chicken. The city is also a popular resort city with the Chinese. You can visit the many Buddhist temples, spend time exploring the ancestral home of Chinese writer Guo Moruo, or hike through lush mountains. Two popular spots are Wutongqiao and Luocheng Ancient Town. Both are about two hours from the city centre. Leshan has a lot of natural attractions outside of the city. If you can, get out to the Fairy Pools (Nen'en Sangcuo) near Dalu, or the Jinkou Grand Canyon in the Emei mountains.
Written by local enthusiast for Leshan hostels
Jakob Lombardi
