Mount Emei Hiking Guide: Best Trails

Mount Emei is one of the few sacred mountains in China where serious walking and comfortable sightseeing coexist. You can ride to the summit and never break a sweat, or you can walk the traditional pilgrim route from the base over two days. Most visitors do something in between.

This guide covers the main walking options, what each involves, and how to choose given your time and fitness.

How Walking on Emei Works

The mountain is organised vertically, with roads and shuttle vehicles serving the lower and middle sections, cable cars handling the steepest vertical gain, and stone paths connecting the temples. Walking is always an option; the question is how much vertical you want to cover on foot.

The Vertical Reality

The elevation difference between the base and the summit is large, and it is the defining fact for anyone planning to walk. A full ascent means gaining well over a kilometre of elevation over a very long distance, on stone steps, in humid conditions.

The Three Levels of Walking

Route One: The Lower Temple Walks

This is the walking most visitors should do, and it is easy to skip by accident because the shuttle makes it seem unnecessary.

Baoguo to Fuhu

A short, pleasant forest walk connecting the two main lower temples. Shaded, moderate, and one of the most atmospheric sections on the mountain. It is the best introduction to Emei’s forest character and takes well under an hour at an easy pace.

Fuhu and the Surrounding Paths

The area around Fuhu Temple has additional paths through dense forest. Quiet, damp, mossy, and full of the sound of water — this is where Emei feels least like a tourist site.

Why These Matter

Most visitors ride past these sections to get to the summit and then discover the lower mountain was the part they enjoyed most. Walking them costs an hour or two and substantially improves the trip.

Route Two: The Middle Ascent

The middle zone is where the mountain starts to feel serious. Walking from the lower temples up toward Wannian Temple and beyond is a genuine half-day or full-day undertaking with real elevation gain.

The Shape of It

• Stone steps for most of the way — relentless rather than technically difficult.
• Forest throughout, with temples at intervals as rest and water points.
• The monkey zone is on this part of the mountain.
• Steep in sections, and frequently wet.

Who Should Do It

Fit walkers who want more than a temple visit and have a day to spare. It is not technical, but the sustained step-climbing in humidity is genuinely tiring. Going up is harder than coming down, and the descent is hard on the knees.

The Monkey Section

Walking through the monkey area is one of Emei’s memorable experiences and also the part that needs the most care. Carry no visible food, keep bags closed, do not stop to eat, and do not approach the animals. Walk through steadily.

Route Three: The Full Ascent

The traditional pilgrim route from the base to the Golden Summit on foot is a serious undertaking — a very long distance with major elevation gain, traditionally spread across two days with an overnight at a temple.

What It Requires

• Genuine fitness and preparation.
• Two days, with accommodation on the mountain.
• Proper footwear and rain gear.
• Realistic pacing — this is not a walk to underestimate.
• A willingness to abort or ride part of the way if conditions turn.

Why People Do It

Emei has a long pilgrimage tradition, and walking the route is the way to experience that history directly rather than observing it from a cable car. For those with the fitness and the time, it is the most complete version of the mountain.

Using the Cable Cars

Cable cars are not cheating — they are how most visitors see the mountain, and using them well is a skill.

• Ride up, walk down — saves the hardest climbing while still giving you the descent on foot.
• Or walk up, ride down — better if you want the ascent but have knee concerns.
• Queue timing matters — mid-morning at peak season is the worst; early is much better.
• Check operating status through official channels before planning; cable cars close for weather and maintenance.

What to Carry

• Water — more than you think, given the humidity.
• Rain gear, year-round.
• Layers; temperature drops with elevation.
• Snacks, kept sealed because of the monkeys.
• A walking pole if you are doing the long descent; knees suffer otherwise.
• Blister plasters and a basic first-aid item or two.

Practical Tips

• Start early. Everything is better before the crowds and the afternoon weather.
• Shoes with grip are essential. Wet stone steps are the main hazard.
• Do not feed or approach monkeys, and keep food out of sight.
• Check weather and cable car status before committing to a long route.
• Build in a bail-out option — know where you can join a shuttle or cable car if the walk becomes too much.
• Respect the temples. These are active religious sites, not attractions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fit do I need to be for the middle ascent?

Reasonably fit. There is no technical difficulty, but sustained stone-step climbing in humid conditions is demanding. Anyone comfortable with a long hill day will manage.

Can I walk up and take the cable car down?

Yes, and it is the most popular combination for serious walkers who want to avoid the knee-punishing descent.

Is the full ascent safe alone?

People do it, but a long mountain route with variable weather is better with company, and you should tell someone your plan. Ensure your phone is charged and you know where the temples are for shelter and assistance.

What happens if weather closes the cable cars?

You walk or you wait. Check status before committing to a plan that depends on riding down, and keep enough time and energy in reserve.

Is there drinking water on the route?

Temples and some rest points have water available, but you should not rely on it. Carry what you need and top up where you can.

Mount Emei Hiking at a Glance

• Easiest worthwhile walk: Baoguo to Fuhu through the forest.
• Best half-day: The middle ascent toward Wannian Temple.
• Serious option: The full base-to-summit route, over two days.
• Smart use of cable cars: Ride one direction, walk the other.
• Essential gear: Grippy shoes and rain gear.
• Main hazard: Wet stone, and food around monkeys.