Getting Around Leshan
Leshan is a compact, river-crossed city in southern Sichuan, and most of what a visitor wants to see — the Giant Buddha, the riverside districts, the food streets — sits within a manageable area. The city has no metro or tram system; getting around relies on buses, taxis, ride-hailing, pedicabs, and your own two feet. The good news is that public transport is cheap, regular, and rarely crowded outside commute hours.
Buses
Public buses are the workhorse of Leshan. They cover most of the city, linking the main attractions, hotel districts, and residential areas, with the Passenger Transport Center and the North Rail Depot acting as major hubs. Fares are flat and inexpensive, and you normally pay the conductor on board — so keep small notes or coins handy. Exact cash is welcome, and WeChat Pay and Alipay are also accepted. Buses generally run from early morning until around 9–10pm, and you may need to request your stop.
Several routes are especially useful for sightseeing. Bus 3 runs from the Central Bus Station past Leshan Square and on to the Giant Buddha, the Oriental Buddha Park, and Wuyou Temple. Bus 13 covers a similar sightseeing corridor, while routes 1, 6, 9, and 12 connect the river port, the walking streets, and the central bus and rail hubs. A dedicated tourist bus, K1, links Leshan Railway Station with the Giant Buddha and points in between; it departs from the bus station building across the street to the right as you leave the train station. Coming back, K1 runs until around 18:00, after which bus 3 is the fallback.
Two practical caveats: English signage on buses is limited, and buses generally lack accessibility features. Baidu Maps gives accurate routing and real-time bus locations; Google Maps works if you have a VPN. Buses can be crowded at peak commute hours. Printed city maps are sold cheaply at street kiosks and are also posted at bus stops.
Rail
Leshan is served by two stations. Leshan Railway Station handles intercity high-speed services, including the Chengdu–Leshan–Emeishan Intercity High Speed Railway and the Chengdu–Guiyang high-speed line. It is a comprehensive transport hub integrating rail, bus, coach, and taxi under one roof, and the Central Bus Station sits just a few hundred metres north of it. If you are heading onward to Mount Emei, note that the line continues to Emeishan Station at the end of the route.
Leshan North Station, in the neighbouring Jiajiang area, handles ordinary trains and is a fair drive from the main sights — useful to know so you don't book the wrong station. Within Leshan's territory you can also find the Jiayang Steam Train, a heritage experience rather than a way to commute.
Long-Distance Buses
Leshan has three main long-distance bus stations, and knowing which one you want saves time. The Central Bus Station is the busiest and sits just a few hundred metres north of Leshan Railway Station; it serves Chengdu, Chongqing, Emei, Jiajiang, Kangding, Meishan, Ya'an, Yibin, Zigong, and further afield, with frequent departures on many routes. The Lianyun Bus Station, north of the city, serves Emei, Qianwei, and Wutongqiao. The Xiaoba Tourist Bus Station is the one to remember for Mount Emei (Baoguo Si) and for buses from Chengdu's Xinnanmen station. A handful of special tourist routes also run from the central and port stations toward Emeishan, Shawan, and the Giant Buddha–Wuyou Temple area.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Licensed taxis are metered and easy to flag down; they are typically green or blue with a "Taxi" sign. Insist on the meter. Fares are low by international standards, with a small fuel surcharge added at the end of the journey — this is explained by a white sticker in front of the front passenger seat. Payment can be made in cash, by WeChat Pay, or by Alipay. For app-based rides, Didi Chuxing is the dominant service.
Pedicabs, Walking, and Cycling
Pedicabs are plentiful, cheap, and convenient for short hops — a pleasant way to cover a few blocks without hunting for a bus. Walking is genuinely viable in the city centre, especially along the riverfronts, and self-guided walking tours around the Giant Buddha and Lingyun Temple work well; local guides are available if you want context. Be aware that the Grand Buddha Scenic Area involves designated paths and many stairs, and accessibility is limited both there and in older parts of the city. Newer hotels and public facilities are more likely to offer accessible features, but it is worth contacting providers in advance if you need assistance.
Cycling is possible but not ideal: dedicated cycling infrastructure is limited and cyclists share the road with vehicles, so avoid major thoroughfares at peak hours. Some hotels rent bicycles, and public bike-sharing schemes exist but require local apps, a phone number, and local payment. Motorcycle and scooter rentals are not commonly available to travellers, and renting a car is not recommended for foreign visitors given licensing requirements and local driving conditions.
Boats
Leshan Port, east of the city and reachable by city bus, runs regular ferries to the Giant Buddha and Wuyou Temple, with many departures daily. Sightseeing boats offer the classic view of the Giant Buddha from the water, and longer services run to Chongqing and other Sichuan cities such as Yibin and Luzhou. Boat tours of the Buddha also depart from the Leshan Port Tourist Pier and Sandaoping Pier. There are no hop-on-hop-off buses or cable cars within Leshan city itself — the cable cars belong to Mount Emei.
Getting In from the Airport
Leshan has no airport of its own. The nearest is Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, and the standard approach is by rail or by bus. The intercity high-speed railway serves Shuangliu Airport Station directly alongside Chengdu East and Chengdu South, so you can ride straight through to Leshan Railway Station without changing to a bus. If you prefer the bus, take a long-distance bus from Leshan Central Bus Station to Chengdu's New South Gate Bus Station, then a coach onward to the airport — the reverse works equally well when you are arriving.
Practical Notes
- Keep small change for bus fares and pedicabs; mobile payment is widely accepted but not universal.
- Use Baidu Maps for bus routing and real-time arrivals; download it before you arrive.
- Confirm whether your train uses Leshan Railway Station or Leshan North Station — they serve different purposes and are not close together.
- Leshan is generally safe, but petty theft is possible; avoid poorly lit areas alone at night and take care in heavy traffic, on narrow sidewalks, and at crowded tourist spots.
- The region carries risks of earthquakes, landslides, and flooding; heed official warnings, especially during the monsoon season.
- For serious problems, the nearest embassy or consulate is in Chengdu.