Hiking Mount Emei
Climbing Emei Shan is a great chance to see Buddhism in China
Mar 4, 2009 Christopher Evan Hearne
History of Mount Emei
The mountain’s history as a sanctuary for Buddhism in China began in the 3rd century AD, when the followers of the Puxian school of Buddhist thought began building temples there. Later in the 9th century, a delegation from the Song court returning from India stopped at the mountain and added more temples. The Ming Dynasty restored many of the older structures and converted some of the Taoist shrines to Buddhist temples
Hiking Mount Emei
Climbing Mount Emei (or Emei Shan in Chinese) holds numerous attractions. While some prefer to take a bus from Emei Town at the bottom the mountain, hiking the mountain is far more rewarding. At over 3000 meters above sea level, those hiking the mountain should reserve 2 – 3 days for the trek upward (depending on your fitness and schedule).
The natural scenery on the mountain is second to none. When hiking Emei Shan, travelers should be sure to look out for the scenic views on the side of the trail. These range anywhere from breathtaking glimpses of natural scenery to terrifying cliff-face drops off the side of the mountain.
Probably the most impressive aspect of hiking Mount Emei is a chance to see the other 30 Buddhist temples that line the trail leading upward. These temples range in size from sprawling and complex, such as the Elephant Bathing Pool, to small and cozy, with just a few caretakers. Each temple is loaded with history and is well-restored, so history and Chinese culture buffs will have a field day.
There are some hotels along the way up Mount Emei, but it’s best to stay in the Buddhist temple dormitories. Not only is this an extremely cheap option (50 – 100 RMB per night), but staying at a temple overnight is a great way to experience some of the flavor that hiking Mount Emei has to offer.
Warnings About Hiking Mount Emei
While hiking Emei Shan is quite safe, there are a few precautions hikers should pay attention to. Several areas of the trail up the mountain are riddled with monkeys. Travelers should beware to not attempt to play or feed the monkeys, as they can become violent and attack when provoked. Areas frequented by monkeys will be pointed out by signs on the trail.
In winter, the lower part of the mountain is quite temperate, but the upper reaches can be frigid and the steps covered in ice. Crampons can be purchased from vendors along the way and attached to the bottom of one’s shoes to make hiking Mount Emei easier.
Some of the more popular temples can be noisy and crowded, but if you wait for the tour buses to leave you'll have the area more or less to yourself. Temples that don't have connections to the road don't see traffic from tour buses and are great places to rest and take in the pristine atmosphere.
Golden Pavilion on Mount Emei
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