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.
Emei Shan, one of the best known Buddhist mountains in China, is located in Sichuan province, in the southwest part of China. The lush mountain scenery with many tea-tree plantations and a big population of monkeys -– be careful while hiking as they tend to steal everything that hikers don't have attached to their body –- make this place something special. Head for the mountain trails to get off the beaten track of the tourist crowds and tours. The temples are not very old and won't be the best in this place.
Emei Shan is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, so unfortunately, you will have to pay an entrance ticket where your photo will be stamped -– it will be a nice and simple souvenir from this place, along with the impressive photos of the mountain that you will be able to take. The most popular route starts in the Long Life Monastery and goes all the way up to the summit. Choose the same way to come back, or use an alternate way that make a loop until the Elephant Bathing Pool -– note that it will be in the descent that you will be able to get the best sights and views of the Emei mountain.
Emei town is the main place to arrive and depart from this mountain experience. It is located seven kilometers east from the mountain. There are buses coming from Chengdu every half an hour or less and the ride takes about two hours. There are also some trains coming from Chengdu and Kunming, but the train station is three-and-a-half kilometers from Emei town. The hostels in Emei Shan are not many, so be sure you book your accommodation in advance before arriving. Emei Shan's hostels are very basic, but can provide what you need for your journey in the mountain. Be aware that some of the hostels in Emei Shan belong to the monasteries' guesthouses.
Written by local expertz for Mount Emei
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