Leshan

Leshan (乐山 Lèshān) is a city in Sichuan Province. Sitting on the confluence of the Dadu, Mín and Qingyi rivers it is most famous for its huge riverside cliff-carving of Buddha and nearby Mount Emei; which together are a World Heritage Site.

By train
The Chengdu - Leshan - Emeishan Intercity High Speed Railway provides service from Chengdu East Railway Station, Chengdu South Station, and Shuangliu Airport Station to Leshan Station (and at the end of the line Emeishan Station). Depending on train, it takes between 52 minutes to about 1 hour, 20 minutes to get between Chengdu East to Leshan (¥54).

In early 2021, a new station, Leshan North (乐山北站), was opened. This is located in the neighbouring Jiajiang area, around 30–40 minutes' drive from the main sites of Leshan.

By bus
Arrivals from Chengdu, Chongqing, Emei, Jiajiang, Kangding, Ya'an, Yibin, Zigong and most other surrounding towns and cities.



History
Leshan city has a history of over 3000 years.

Navigation
Maps of the city are available for ¥4 from street kiosks, printed on every bus stop and online.

Public transport

 * Pedicab - Leshan has many pedicabs that are cheap and convenient for short journeys.
 * Public bus - Buses are regular and uncrowded in Leshan. Most are fairly modern and charge ¥2 per journey which you normally pay to the conductor. You may have to request your stop.
 * Taxi - During the day the first 2 km are charged at ¥3, and after at the rate of ¥0.70/km. A fuel surcharge of ¥0.50 is added at the end of the journey and is explained by a white sticker in front of the front passenger seat.

Do

 * Browse the markets at wùyān jiē (婺嫣街) and xīngfā jiē (兴发街).

Eat
As people from across China visit Chengdu for its culinary delights, every weekend thousands of Chengdu natives take the trip to Leshan to engorge themselves on some of the best food in China. Some popular local dishes include:

Whilst many of the best restaurants are across the city, the majority of food downtown, near the riverside offers great variety of all local and sichuan dishes.
 * Tian Pi Ya / You Tang Ya (甜皮鸭 / 油烫鸭) - roast duck, similar to Beijing Duck, with a crispier, sweeter skin. You can buy this is air-tight bags and is a common treat shared with friends of family within a couple of days of visiting.
 * 乐山豆腐脑.jpgDou Fu Nao (豆腐脑) - Literally 'Tofu Brain', this bean curd mixed with nuts and spices - a delicious option for traditional, local breakfast
 * Ka Bing (卡饼 / 咔饼) - Usually ordered together with Tou Fu Nao, ground beef in bread with a local mix of salt and spice
 * Shao Kao (烧烤) - Barbequed skewers with meat and vegetables. Available all day, but commonly eaten sitting outside with friends and local beers
 * You Zha Chuan Chuan (油炸串串) - Similar to shao kao, but fried in oil
 * Qiao Jiao Niu Rou (翘脚牛肉) - Multiple dishes of beef, varying between boiled, fried and grilled. The dishes can cover everything from slices of traditional beef, to cow's bone marrow or stomach
 * Bo Bo Ji (钵钵鸡) - Chicken and root vegetables marianated in a spicy sesame broth, often on skewersYepopo_Bobo_Chicken.jpg
 * Bing Fen (冰粉) - Popular across China but originating in the region, 'iced jelly' is a slightly sweet dessert
 * Saqima (沙琪玛)- a sweet rice cake, made with bean curd
 * 乐山烧麦.jpgShumai(烧麦)- a snack with rice and meat wrapped in a thin layer of skin
 * Mi Liang Gao (米凉糕)- a kind of cake made from rice or other grains, most of which are served with boiled brown sugar water.


 * Zhanggongqiao Jie (张公桥街)- A fun and busy place to eat and drink at night.

Drink
There are hundreds of teahouses in Leshan. The best are those outdoors; especially those along the banks of the Dadu and Min rivers and in Leshan's parks. All great places to play Majiang or Leshan's unique erqishi card game.


 * 杨家老宅茶馆 (yángjiā lǎozhái cháguǎn) - 52 gǔlóu jiē (鼓楼街52号). 0833-2115000. Open Monday to Sunday. An atmospheric teahouse set within a cluster of old buildings and decorated with old photographs of Leshan and the Grand Buddha.

Go next
Possible destinations after Leshan include the following.


 * Chengdu (成都) - Travel north on the ChengLe Expressway to the capital of Sichuan making stops at Meishan and Huanglongxi.
 * Chongqing (重庆)
 * Dafengding (大风顶)- Dafengding is a China National Nature Preservation Zone.
 * Emei (峨眉) - Make the short journey west to see the famous Emei Shan and then take the train south towards Kunming or north towards Chengdu.
 * Jiajiang (夹江)- Visit the Thousand Buddha Cliff and then take the train south towards Kunming or north towards Chengdu.
 * Kangding - Start your visit to western Sichuan from its capital.
 * Shawan - Former Residence of Guo Morou and Meinufeng Stone Forest.
 * Ya'an (雅安)
 * Yibin (宜宾) - Famous for its distilleries.
 * Zigong (自贡) - Salt mines and a dinosaur museum.