Leshan | Perfect Time to Visit in April-May with Fewer Crowds and Beautiful Scenery!

Hey there! 🌸 Spring is the perfect time to visit Leshan! With average temperatures above 20°C in April-May, cherry blossoms rain down at the Three Rivers Junction 🌸, azaleas burst into pink fireworks at the peak of Mount Emei 🎆, and the aroma of Suji Ancient Town's signature beef soup wafts through the air. This local insider's guide will help you unlock a divine holiday where "Buddha's light shines on your left while spicy flavors tempt on your right!" ➤About Leshan 🌟This UNESCO "double heritage city" boasts the 71m-tall Leshan Giant Buddha 🏯 and the 3,099m-high Golden Summit of Mount Emei ⛰️! In spring, the Dadu River sparkles like jade, the Jiayang Steam Train runs through seas of rapeseed flowers 🚂, and the city buzzes with street life 24/7. Best of all - fewer crowds, beautiful scenery, and only 1.5h by high-speed rail from Chengdu! ➤Spring Highlights ❶ Buddhist Flowers: Kapok trees blaze red at the Giant Buddha's feet, while azalea seas surge at Mount Emei's peak 🌺 ❷ Magical Experiences: Night tour of Lingxun Mountain to see Buddha's halo, time-travel through tunnels on the Jiayang Steam Train 🚞 ❸ Ancient Meets Modern: Thousand-year-old stone paths in Suji Ancient Town + trendy cafes, perfect for hanfu enthusiasts 📿 ❹ Culinary Delights: Bobo Chicken, Sweet Skin Duck, Tofu Pudding... feast until you can barely walk for just RMB 50 per person 😭 ➤TOP 5 Attractions ❶ Leshan Giant Buddha (National 5A Scenic Spot) 📍Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💰Admission: RMB 80/person | 🕒Hours: 7:30-18:30 ✨Spring Special Activities: • Must-do "Buddha's Foot Blessing"! Descend the Nine-Bend Plank Road to touch the Buddha's toes for good luck. In April, blooming kapok flowers cast red clouds on Buddha's form - perfect for vertical phone shots of "human and Buddha together" 📸 • Night Tour Bonus 💫: After 19:30, light show illuminates Three Rivers, Buddha glows in seven colors. Best photo spot: 2nd floor of Buddha-viewing Building. Hanfu silhouettes look divine ✨ • Secret Photo Spot: Take a boat ⛵ from Wuyou Temple Dock, use telephoto lens to capture the "Buddha within Buddha" phenomenon 💡Tips: 👉🏻Plank roads can be slippery! Wear non-slip shoes + bring mosquito repellent 👉🏻No restaurants in scenic area, bring snacks and water ❷ Mount Emei (National 5A Scenic Spot) 📍Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💰Admission: RMB 160/person | 🕒Hours: 6:00-17:00 ✨Photo Guide: • Rush to "Golden Summit Sea of Clouds" ☁️! April brings dove-like dove tree blossoms mid-mountain. Capture "Castle in the Sky" shots while riding cable car through clouds 📸 • Hikers must try "Qingyin Pavilion-Ecological Monkey Zone" route 🐒. 4km forest walkway with wild cherry blossoms. Hide snacks when monkeys appear! • Hot Spring Bonus ♨: Lingxiu Hot Springs at mountain foot, RMB 138/person. Soak while stargazing to soothe hiking soreness 💡Photography Tips: ✅Stake out 6am sunrise + Buddha's halo, wear bright colors for better photos ✅Capture "snow cedar and azalea" together between Leidongping and Jieyindian ❸ Heizhugou National Forest Park 📍Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💰Admission: RMB 48/person | 🕒Hours: 8:30-17:30 ✨Secret Adventure: • Enter "China's Bermuda"! Mali Cold Prairie becomes a sea of wildflowers in April. Wear white dresses for forest-style photos under dove trees 🌿 • Hike "Honeycomb Rock" primitive forest, spot red pandas 🐾 by waterfalls. Bring waterproof phone case for moss macro shots! • Yi Culture: Join Saturday bonfire dancing 🔥, learn moon guitar and rice wine, be a Yi person for a day 🎶 💡Safety Tips: 👉🏻Some areas undeveloped, follow guide 👉🏻Large temperature differences, bring jacket + heat packs ❹ Jiayang-Shuoluo Lake Scenic Area 📍Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💰Train Ticket: RMB 80/person | 🕒Train Times: 9:00-16:00 ✨Time Travel Guide: • Ride the "living industrial fossil" steam train 🚂! April brings rapeseed flowers + white steam. Capture "Spirited Away" train scenes at Duanjiawan Bend 🎬 • Explore "Huangcunjing" coal mine ruins ⚒️, wear miner's helmet 154m underground. Perfect for families! • Retro Blast: Take 70s-style poster photos in Bajiaogu Town, red slogan walls + old cinema super photogenic 📻 💡Foodie Radar: ✅Must try Miner's Canteen plantain pork + derailed chicken! ❌Narrow train carriages, choose window seats ❺ Suji Ancient Town 📍Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 💰Admission: Free | 🕒Open: 24 hours ✨Explorer's Guide: • Visit "Rugong Bridge" thousand-year stone path, rent hanfu for Jiangnan-style photos by Emei River 🌧️ • Intangible Heritage: Make beef balls by hand 🍡, RMB 68/person for workshop at time-honored "Gushi Xiang" • Must-do at Night: Watch ancient town light show from bamboo raft, RMB 20/person for "Dream of Splendor" views 🎇 💡Food Map: 👉🏻Birthplace of Qiaojiao Beef! Choose Zhou Ji or Gushi Xiang 👉🏻Xu's Cool Jelly RMB 3/bowl, brown sugar sweeter than first love 🗺️3 Days 2 Nights Spring Itinerary D1 Arrive Leshan➡Giant Buddha foot blessing + Three Rivers night tour➡Zhang Gong Bridge night market feast D2 Mount Emei Golden Summit clouds + Qingyin Pavilion hike➡Hot springs at mountain foot D3 Jiayang Steam Train through flower fields➡Make beef balls in Suji Ancient Town➡Stock up on Sweet Skin Duck before leaving 🍜Must-Try Foods ❶ Bobo Chicken: Chicken feet + boneless duck feet in Sichuan pepper oil, perfect with Emei snow soda 🌶️ ❷ Tofu Pudding: Beef + crispy pork + peanuts + peas, savory-spicy heaven! ❸ Sweet Skin Duck: Zhao's Duck/Ji Luniang, minimum half duck, addictive honey-crisp skin 🦆 ❹ Ka Bing: Pork intestine + steamed beef combo, carb bomb YYDS! 🛏️Accommodation Tips ❶ Zen Homestays: Buddhist-style courtyards in Giant Buddha area, morning bells and evening lights ❷ Hot Spring Hotels: Japanese-style private baths at Mount Emei foot, soak while snacking on duck neck 🚗Transportation Guide ✈️Flight: Transfer to high-speed rail at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport, 1h direct 🚄High-speed Rail: Direct to Leshan Station, RMB 10 taxi to city center 🚌Scenic Area Shuttle: Special bus between Giant Buddha↔Mount Emei, RMB 25/person 💌Spring Tips ❶ April has scattered showers! Bring umbrella + camera rain cover ❷ Book Giant Buddha visits through "Giant Buddha Tourism" WeChat account ❸ Mount Emei monkeys steal food! Hide plastic bags and snacks ❹ Buy souvenirs at Jiaxing Road Market, 30% cheaper than scenic areas