Leshan

As a riverside city known as the 'Southern Gate of Tianfu', Leshan was historically called Jiazhou, where the Dadu River, Qingyi River, and Min River converge at the Three Rivers Mouth. A 71-meter-tall Tang Dynasty Buddha sits facing the river on Lingyun Mountain, with the golden summit of Emei Mountain visible in the distance, its sea of clouds shimmering. Here, you'll find both the solemn grandeur of a UNESCO World Heritage site encompassing both cultural and natural treasures, and the fiery warmth of local delicacies like Suji Qiāojiǎo Beef Noodles, Zhanggong Bridge Bo Bo Chicken, and Sweet Skin Duck. To truly understand Leshan, start your day by viewing the giant Buddha, enjoy beef soup for lunch, take a steam train ride in the afternoon, and end your evening listening to the flowing waters of the Three Rivers along the riverside promenade—this 'City of Buddha and Cuisine' fills the air with the fragrant aroma of chili, Sichuan peppercorns, and simmered ox bones.