Baoguo
Baoguo is a city in East Sichuan.
Understand
Baoguo is the base town serving Emeishan National Park. It's crammed full of buses carting domestic Chinese tourists about. Prices are somewhat hiked because it is a tourist hub.
Get around
Walk.
See
At the end of Baoguo town is the welcoming square to Emeishan National Park. It includes a hand-hewn waterfall, some carvings in a cliff and a giant copper bell (First Mountain Pavilion).
The surrounding area is known as the 'Baoguo Temple Scenic Area', covering an area of 2 sqkm that includes:
- Bauguo Temple
- Shanjue Temple
- Fuhu Temple
- Leiyin Temple
- Chunyang Palace
- Mt. Emei Museum
Do
- Emeishan National Park
- Hot Spring: in one the fancy resort, if you want to check it out.
- Ski: Leidongping ski resort is operating during Winter.
Buy
Plenty of shops to stock up on cheap(er) snack food before your climb.
Eat
A bowl of noodle costs ¥10-12 (as of Mar 2019). There are enough eating options in the area (but not too many). Most restaurants along the main road would have one English speaking staff to talk to you. Some places don't have the patience (and manners) to deal with non-Mandarin speaking customers, just don't visit them anymore, there are enough good places around.
Up a couple of side streets towards the mountain from Teddy Bear Hotel there is the 'Food Street', seems to be the main place to eat for visitors. The menu looks similar between places, but the prices vary.
Steamed buns are good sustenance for your hike (and cheap)! (The ones wrapped in corn skin are the most flavoursome.)
Drink
There is a bar across the river from the rest of town.
Sleep
- Teddy Bear Hotel, No. 43 Baoguo Road, Mt. Emei, ☏ +86 833-5590135. Check-out: 12. The original budget accommodation in Emei Shan. Located next to the Baoguo bus station. Dorms (¥30), single (¥80-100), double/twin (¥80-200 depending on amenities) and triples (¥150-200). All rooms come with a bathroom. They also offer free hiking information and free pickup from Emei Bus/Train station. Includes a restaurant with quite good food.
Go next
Bus 5 ("gongchur ooo") and then bus 1 ("gongchur yao") to get to Emei bus station ("urrr may chur jan"). Alternatively, a taxi should be ¥15.