China train guide · checked October 2026
Chengdu to Leshan by train
Leshan's Giant Buddha and Mount Emei lie on the same railway line, so they combine into one easy trip from Chengdu.
- Journey timeabout 1 hour
- Fastest train1 h
- Second classfrom ¥50 (about 29 PLN) – up to ¥70
- How oftenfrequent trains throughout the day
Stations
Show the Chinese name to your taxi driver.
Trains leave from Chengdu East (成都东站) or Chengdu South (成都南站).
About 20 minutes by taxi from the Giant Buddha.
Good to know
- Mount Emei is one more stop: Leshan – Emeishan (峨眉山站) takes only 15–20 minutes and costs about ¥10.
- Sleep near the Buddha and be at the gate when it opens – the narrow stairway down the cliff gets crowded by mid-morning.
Other ways: Buses from Chengdu take 2–2.5 hours.
On the way
South of Chengdu the train passes Meishan, the home town of the poet Su Dongpo (Dongpo pork is named after him), and runs through fields and green hills towards the Min River.
When you arrive
A taxi from Leshan station to the Giant Buddha takes about 20 minutes. The 71-metre Buddha was carved into the cliff in the 8th century; head for the narrow Jiuqu stairway as soon as you're in, before the queue grows. For lunch, go to Zhanggongqiao street for qiaojiao beef soup (跷脚牛肉) and sweet-skinned duck (甜皮鸭). There is left luggage at the station and by the Buddha ticket office.
How to book
- It's a short hop, but on weekends the morning trains fill up with day-trippers – buy tickets a few days ahead.
- Buy on Trip.com (English, foreign cards) or in the official 12306 app – tickets go on sale 15 days before departure.
- Your passport is your ticket: you book with its number and scan it at the gates. Bring the same passport you booked with.
- Be at the station 40–60 minutes early: there is a security check at the entrance, and gates close a few minutes before departure.
- Big suitcases fit at the end of each carriage or on the racks above the seats.
Times and fares are typical values for second class, checked in October 2026. Fares are dynamic (peak trains cost more) and timetables change – check the live timetable on Trip.com or 12306 before you travel.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do Leshan as a day trip from Chengdu?
Yes: about 1 hour by train each way plus 4–5 hours at the Buddha. Many people continue to Mount Emei instead, which is one more stop on the same line.
Is the boat to the Giant Buddha worth it?
If you're short of time or don't want to queue for the stairs, yes: the boat (about 30 minutes, about ¥70) stops in front of the statue so you see it whole. For close-ups, take the stairs.
