Quick answer
From Chengdu, the high-speed train reaches Leshan in about an hour and Mount Emei (Emeishan) in around 1.5 hours — fast and cheap, but it needs real-name booking and transfers at each end. A private car takes roughly 2–2.5 hours but goes door to door with flexible stops. Trains suit budget and solo travellers; cars suit families, tight schedules and those who want zero hassle.
- Train: Chengdu → Leshan
- ≈1 hour
- Train: Chengdu → Emeishan
- ≈1.5 hours
- Car: Chengdu → Leshan
- ≈2–2.5 hours (~150 km)
- Best for train
- Budget, solo/couple, flexible on transfers
- Best for car
- Families, luggage, tight or visa-free schedules
By high-speed rail
High-speed trains leave Chengdu (mainly Chengdu East and Chengdu South stations) frequently through the day. Leshan is about an hour away; Emeishan station is around 1.5 hours. It's inexpensive and reliable.
The catches for foreign visitors: tickets are real-name and tied to your passport, the stations are large and Chinese-signed, and you still need local transport from Leshan or Emeishan station to the actual sites. We can handle the booking and arrange a pickup at the far end.
By private car
A private car with a licensed driver is slower on paper — about 2–2.5 hours to Leshan — but it collects you at your hotel, keeps your luggage with you, and lets you add stops. For a Leshan-plus-Emei combo, a car removes all the station transfers and waiting.
It's the easiest choice for families, older travellers, and anyone on a tight visa-free window who can't afford a missed connection.
Which should you choose?
- One-day Leshan Buddha, watching the budget: high-speed train + local pickup.
- Leshan + Emei over two days: private car for seamless door-to-door travel.
- Family, luggage or limited mobility: private car every time.
- Want English help at the sites too: add a companion to either option.
How we make it easy
Tell us your hotel, dates and group size and we'll recommend the option that genuinely fits — not the most expensive one. We book train tickets or match the right car, arrange pickups so you're never stranded at a station, and can send an English-speaking companion for the day.
Independent local companion & travel-assistance service. Not a licensed tour guide or travel agency. Prices, opening hours and visa rules can change — please confirm current details before you travel.