The Wuxiangang to Jieyin Hall trail is the classic walking approach up Mount Emei's stone stairway in Emeishan City, Leshan, favored by hikers who want to walk the mountain rather than rely primarily on cable cars. Access is by shuttle bus from Baoguo Temple to the Wuxiangang stop, covered by the main scenic area entrance ticket of CNY 110-160 ($15-22). From Wuxiangang at about 1,600 m, roughly 12 km of stone-step trail climbs steadily to Jieyin Hall at 2,540 m, where a cable car continues to the Golden Summit for those not walking the final stretch. The entire route is stone steps cut into the mountainside, shaded by forest for much of the lower and middle sections, with thousands of individual steps that place sustained strain on the knees over the 6-7 hours of walking. There is no technical exposure, but the sheer length and elevation gain make this one of the more physically demanding day routes on the mountain. Teahouses and small guesthouses are spaced along the route, though they can be unevenly distributed, with longer gaps in the upper reaches near Jieyin Hall. Many hikers break the ascent with an overnight stay at a mountain guesthouse partway up, both to manage fatigue and to time a summit sunrise the following morning via the connecting cable car.
| Distance | About 12 km of stone-step trail before the cable car to the summit |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6-7 hours of walking, often paired with an overnight at a mountain guesthouse |
| Difficulty | hard |
| Trailhead | Shuttle bus from Baoguo Temple to the Wuxiangang stop; combined with the main scenic area entrance ticket of CNY 110-160 ($15-22) |
| Best season | April-June and September-October for stable weather on the upper stone stairway |
| Address | Wuxiangang trailhead, Emeishan City, Leshan, Sichuan, China |
Trail facts
- Trail area
- Emeishan City, Leshan, about 165 km southwest of central Chengdu
What to bring
- Sturdy hiking boots - thousands of stone steps wear on the knees
- Trekking poles
- Layered clothing for the temperature drop with altitude
- Snacks, as teahouses along the route can be spaced far apart
Weather through the year in Sichuan
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Sichuan.
Location
Wuxiangang trailhead, Emeishan City, Leshan, Sichuan, China
29.5450, 103.3400 View on map
Highlights
- The full traditional stone stairway experience up Mount Emei
- Forested lower and mid-mountain sections with dense tree cover
- Jieyin Hall at 2,540 m, the trailhead's connection point to the summit cable car
- Teahouses and mountain guesthouses along the route for overnight breaks
- A quieter, more physically engaged alternative to the cable-car-heavy routes
Tips for visiting
- Use trekking poles to ease the strain on knees over the thousands of stone steps
- Plan for teahouse gaps in the upper sections by carrying extra snacks
- Consider an overnight stay at a mountain guesthouse to split the ascent over two days
- Wear sturdy, well broken-in hiking boots, as the descent is as hard on the legs as the climb
- Layer clothing, since temperature drops noticeably with altitude from Wuxiangang to Jieyin Hall
When to visit
April-June and September-October provide the most stable weather on the upper stone stairway, avoiding both summer rain and winter ice on the steps.
Accessibility
The trail consists entirely of stone steps over a sustained climb and is not accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, or hikers with significant mobility limitations.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Wuxiangang to Jieyin Hall walk take?
Most hikers take 6-7 hours to complete the roughly 12 km stone-step climb, often paired with an overnight stay before continuing to the summit.
Is this route harder than the Wannian Temple cable car approach?
Yes, it involves considerably more walking and elevation gain on foot, since it relies on stone steps rather than cable car sections for most of the ascent.
Can hikers continue to the Golden Summit from Jieyin Hall?
Yes, a cable car at Jieyin Hall connects directly to the Golden Summit for those not walking the final stretch.
Are there places to rest or eat along the way?
Yes, teahouses and small guesthouses are spaced along the route, though they can be more spread out in the upper sections near Jieyin Hall.