Quick answer
From Chengdu (mainly Chengdu East and Chengdu South stations), 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 pick you up at Leshan station, or skip the station transfers altogether by sending a car to your Chengdu hotel.
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 + a pickup at Leshan station.
- 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. By train, we book your tickets and pick you up at Leshan station; by car, we pick you up at your Chengdu hotel and bring you back afterwards. We also run direct transfers from Tianfu Airport to Leshan, 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.