A pilgrimage to Emei Mountain: seeking Bodhisattva Puxian (Samantabhadra) and Leshan Giant Buddha

A lifelong aspiration of mine has been to visit the Four Great Buddhist Mountains of China. In 2019, I fulfilled part of this wish by making a pilgrimage to Putuo Mountain, the sacred site of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. Earlier this year, I continued this spiritual journey with a visit to Emei Mountain, the revered abode of Puxian (Samantabhadra).
On the morning of September 21, 2025, I departed Chengdu after breakfast and boarded the Emei Special Bus, which is required for pilgrims and visitors heading to the mountain. The journey took approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, ending at the trailhead. From there, a 1.5-kilometer climb led to the cable car station. Along the way, I occasionally encountered macaques, though they were scarce due to the rain. The huge cable car could accommodate up to 100 passengers, and the ride up lasted only 3 minutes.