Baoguo Temple

报国寺

The first temple you reach on Mount Emei, founded in the Ming dynasty and bearing a plaque inscribed by the Kangxi Emperor. Together with the Ming-era porcelain Buddhas in its Seven Buddha Hall, the Mount Emei Museum and the hot spring hotels outside, it forms the center of sightseeing at the foot of the mountain.

Baoguo Temple sits at about 550 meters at the foot of Mount Emei. It is the first temple on the route up the mountain and the seat of the Mount Emei Buddhist Association. Originally founded as Huizong Hall during the Wanli reign of the Ming dynasty, it was given the name “Baoguo Temple” on a plaque inscribed by the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing. The temple follows the slope of the mountain in four courtyards: the Mountain Gate, the Maitreya Hall, the Great Hero Hall, and the Seven Buddha Hall and Samantabhadra Hall, which rise step by step. The Seven Buddha Hall houses seven Ming-era painted porcelain Buddha statues. The Sutra Library holds a copper Huayan Pagoda from the Yongle reign of the Ming dynasty, standing 7 meters tall and cast with more than 4,700 small Buddha figures. Ancient nanmu and cypress trees tower over the grounds, making this the most tranquil spot at the foot of the mountain. Outside the temple, Baoguo Temple Square serves as the visitor center for Mount Emei and the main terminal for sightseeing buses. Nearby attractions include the Mount Emei Museum (free admission, with exhibits on geology and biodiversity), Fuhu Temple (about 1 km on foot, housing a copper pagoda from the Ming dynasty), and the First Mountain Pavilion. In the evening, the large live-action show “Holy Image of Emei” (about 1.5 hours, tickets around 200–300 yuan) takes place. Nearby, hot spring hotels such as those on Hongzhu Mountain and the Mount Emei Hot Spring Hotel cluster together, and soaking in the hot springs in winter is a classic choice. Admission is 8 yuan (not included in the Mount Emei entrance ticket). Opening hours are about 7:00 to 19:00. Getting there: from Mount Emei High-Speed Railway Station, take a bus or taxi, about 10 minutes to Baoguo Temple Square. From the square, sightseeing buses run to Wannian Temple, Wuxiangang, and Leidongping. Please note: the Baoguo Temple area is the gathering point for all visitors, and queues at the station can be long on public holidays, so set out early. Burn incense only in designated areas. It is warmer at the foot of the mountain than at the top, so check the weather forecast for the Golden Summit before you climb.

Baoguo Temple

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby