Poetic Leshan Station in China: Leshan Attractions Recommendation
【Leshan|More Than Just the Giant Buddha! Locals' Secret Spot List✨Hidden Gems + Bustling Old Streets + Stunning Landscapes Fully Unlocked】
Who says Leshan is only about the Giant Buddha?
This ancient city, embraced by the Min River, Qingyi River, and Dadu River,
hides cliffside plank roads, a living fossil industrial steam train,
the mysterious Black Bamboo Valley at 30°N latitude, and a millennia-old irrigation heritage...
Few people, wild scenery, slow pace—every snapshot looks like a Bashu landscape painting🌿
🗿 1. Leshan Giant Buddha + Lingyun Plank Road
The world's tallest ancient stone-carved sitting Maitreya Buddha (71 meters)!
✅ Don’t just admire from afar—be sure to walk the Lingyun Plank Road down to the Buddha’s feet!
The narrow cliffside path winds around, river breeze in your face,
looking up at the Buddha, you truly understand “the mountain is a Buddha, the Buddha is a mountain.”
📸 Tip: Visit early morning or on weekdays to avoid crowds and capture better light and shadows!
🚂 2. Jiayang Steam Train
The world’s only operating narrow-gauge steam train!
762mm gauge, passing through fields of rapeseed flowers and sunflowers,
the “living fossil of the Industrial Revolution” clanks through the valley,
white steam rising over golden flowers in spring,
riding through green tunnels in summer,
full of vintage romance~
Depart from Yuejin Station, with stops to check out the Banan Industrial Site at Bajiagou.
🌲 3. Black Bamboo Valley
“China’s Bermuda Triangle”! The unsolved mystery at 30°N latitude~
Pristine forests, sea of clouds waterfalls, hot spring lakes,
and mysterious legends of people and animals disappearing,
hike to explore Beehive Rock and Shimen Pass,
if lucky, encounter wild monkeys,
a must for adventure lovers & nature enthusiasts!
🌊 4. Dongfeng Weir - Qianfo Rock
Sichuan’s first World Irrigation Heritage site!
By the Qingyi River, Tang Dynasty cliff carvings are chiseled by the water,
over 1,000 Buddha statues quietly watching the river flow,
the ancient irrigation channel is still in use today,
walking in the morning mist feels like traveling back to the flourishing Tang Dynasty.
✅ Free admission! A local favorite for morning exercise.
🏯 5. Wuyou Temple
A Zen secret within the Giant Buddha scenic area!
An ancient temple on an isolated island,
red walls and yellow tiles nestled among bamboo groves,
climb to the top for a panoramic view of the three rivers converging,
the incense is serene, calming the heart instantly.
📸 Wear a plain long dress, red walls + bamboo shadows = perfect ancient-style photos!
🏞️ 6. Suji Ancient Town
The birthplace of Qiaojiao Beef!
Bluestone paths, century-old banyan trees, old teahouses, bamboo weaving shops,
not overly commercialized,
sit by the river in the afternoon sipping covered bowl tea,
watching elders play cards and children play,
time slows down here.
✅ Must-eats: Qiaojiao Beef, rice flower candy, tofu pudding.
🌸 7. Green Heart Park
Leshan’s “urban green lung”!
A free circular ecological park,
flowers all year round: peach blossoms in spring, lotus in summer, osmanthus in autumn, plum blossoms in winter,
perfect for cycling, running, picnics, and kite flying,
a popular weekend family outing spot,
a natural oxygen bar, great for stress relief and relaxation!
🏯 8. Oriental Buddha Capital
An open-air stone carving art complex beside the Giant Buddha!
Built along the mountain, gathering Buddha statues from various eras,
the reclining Buddha stretches 170 meters, majestic and grand,
quiet bamboo paths, few people and beautiful scenery,
perfect for those who love cultural tranquility.
🌉 9. Pingqiang Little Three Gorges
Leshan’s version of the “Little Three Gorges”!
Qingyi River canyon section, green mountains flank the clear water,
take a boat tour to see cliffs, karst caves, and ancient plank road ruins,
rapeseed flowers bloom along the banks in spring,
reeds sway like snow in autumn,
a quiet, less crowded spot with stunning photo opportunities!
🌿 10. Muchuan Bamboo Sea
Ten thousand acres of bamboo forest on Danxia landforms!
Negative oxygen ions off the charts,
climb the Guanhai Tower to overlook the rolling bamboo waves,
listen to the sound of waves, watch the sunrise, search for tree ferns,
a perfect summer retreat, purifying body and mind~
📸 Hidden Gems
- Guo Moruo Former Residence (Shawan): birthplace of the literary giant, a blend of Chinese and Western architecture
- Jiadingfang: ancient-style commercial street, dreamy night light shows
- Dadu River Jinkou Grand Canyon: hiking, rafting, rock climbing, an outdoor paradise
Travel Tips:
- Jiayang Steam Train requires advance booking in peak season; rapeseed flower season (March) is the most beautiful
- Black Bamboo Valley is remote; self-driving and traveling with companions is recommended
- Wear non-slip shoes in the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area; plank roads can be slippery
- Many attractions are free (Green Heart Park, Dongfeng Weir, Pingqiang Little Three Gorges)
The beauty of Leshan
is the grandeur of the three rivers converging beneath the Giant Buddha’s feet,
the romance of the steam train passing through flower seas,
the everyday charm of a bowl of Qiaojiao Beef in Suji Ancient Town.
It carries the weight of world-class heritage,
and the warmth of local life.
This weekend, why not come to Leshan—
between mountains, waters, and everyday life,
steal a moment of slow time❤️
Leshan Travel