World Heritage Identification Number: 779
World Heritage since: 1996
Category: Mixed Cultural Heritage and Natural Heritage
WHE Type: Religious Sites & Sacred Architecture
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇨🇳 China
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
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Mount Emei Scenic Area and Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area: A Unique Blend of Natural Beauty and Cultural Significance
The Mount Emei Scenic Area, located in the Sichuan province of southwestern China, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural significance. This site, which includes the Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, was inscribed by UNESCO in 1996.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The first Buddhist temple in China was built here in Sichuan Province in the 1st century A.D. in the beautiful surroundings of the summit Mount Emei. The addition of other temples turned the site into one of Buddhism's holiest sites. Over the centuries, the cultural treasures grew in number. The most remarkable is the Giant Buddha of Leshan, carved out of a hillside in the 8th century and looking down on the confluence of three rivers. At 71 m high, it is the largest Buddha in the world. Mount Emei is also notable for its exceptionally diverse vegetation, ranging from subtropical to subalpine pine forests. Some of the trees there are more than 1,000 years old.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (iv): On Mount Emei, there are over 30 temples, ten of them large and very old; they are in local traditional style and most are built on hillsides, taking advantage of the terrain. In the selection of the site, design, and construction they are masterpieces of great originality and ingenuity. The advanced architectural and building techniques are the quintessence of Chinese temple architecture. Associated with these temples are found some of the most important cultural treasures of China, including the remarkable Leshan Giant Buddha carved in the 8th century CE out of the hillside of Xijuo Peak. Facing the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers, it is the tallest Buddha sculpture in the world with a height of 71 meters.
Criterion (vi): On Mount Emei, the importance of the link between the tangible and intangible, the natural and the cultural, is uppermost. Mount Emei is a place of historical significance as one of the four holy lands of Chinese Buddhism. Buddhism was introduced into China in the 1st century CE via the Silk Road from India to Mount Emei, and it was on Mount Emei that the first Buddhist temple in China was built. The rich Buddhist cultural heritage of Mount Emei has a documented history of over 2,000 years, consisting of archaeological sites, important architecture, tombs, ritual spaces, and collections of cultural artefacts, including sculpture, stone inscriptions, calligraphy, painting, and music, among other traditional arts.
Criterion (x): Mount Emei is a site of special significance to conservation and to science for its high floral diversity. The biodiversity of the site is exceptionally rich: some 3,200 plant species in 242 families have been recorded, of which 31 are under national protection and more than 100 species are endemic. This is due to its transitional location at the edge of the Sichuan basin and the eastern Himalayan highlands. Within its elevation range of 2,600 m are found a great variety of vegetation zones including subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest, mixed broad-leaved and conifer forests, and subalpine conifer forest. This exceptional flora is also rich in animal species with some 2,300 species recorded, including several threatened at a global scale.
Encyclopedia Record: World Heritage site No. 779
The World Heritage Site (WHS) No. 779, Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, includes:WHS No. 779-001: Mount Emei Scenic Area WHS No. 779-002: Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area,Additional Site Details
Area: 15,400 hectares
Number of Components: 2
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 29.5449 , 103.76925
IUCN World Heritage Outlook
The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area reports the following assessment:
Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment
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© Ariel Steiner, CC BY-SA 2.5 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
World Heritage Research
Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.
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Study on the statistical measure of tourism decision-making in the context of big data and artificial intelligence
A groundbreaking study demonstrates the feasibility of leveraging big data and artificial intelligence to optimize tourism decision-making, particularly for UNESCO World Heritage Sites. By employing ARIMA time series algorithms and CRITIC weight methods, researchers analyzed historical tourism data from Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha, to predict future trends with high accuracy. The study validated these predictions against actual values, showcasing how AI-driven analytics can efficiently allocate limited resources in the tourism sector. This approach offers actionable insights for stakeholders, enhancing resource management and strategic planning in heritage conservation and tourism development.
Chen, G., Wang, J., Huang, P., & Wang, H. (2025). Study on the statistical measure of tourism decision-making in the context of big data and artificial intelligence. Proceedings of the 2025 International Conference on Economic Management and Big Data Application, 8–12. https://doi.org/10.1145/3770177.3770179
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From an Ecological Perspective: Conservation and Study of the World Heritage - Mixed Property of Mount Emei
Mount Emei, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site 'Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area,' stands out for its rich biodiversity, unique geological features, and deep cultural heritage. A new study highlights the ecological foundation supporting this dual heritage, emphasizing the interplay between natural and cultural elements. Through literature analysis and comparative research, the paper systematically reviews Mount Emei's conservation status and explores global strategies for managing mixed heritage sites. The findings provide actionable insights for preserving its ecological integrity while safeguarding its cultural significance.
Fengrui, Y. (2025). From an Ecological Perspective: Conservation and Study of the World Heritage - Mixed Property of Mount Emei. Chinese Industry and Technology of Eco-Environment, 6(6), 22–28. https://doi.org/10.47297/wspciatewsp2633-772x05.20250606
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Resurvey After 20 Years: Updating the Distribution, Population, and Potential Threats of the Chinting Alpine Toad
A resurvey of the Chinting alpine toad (Scutiger chintingensis), conducted over four years (2020–2023), reveals critical insights into its distribution, population status, and threats within UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Mount Emei. The study updates the species' known range, identifying a new lower-elevation limit, and documents significantly higher relative population density on Mount Emei (0.024 ± 0.012 ind./m²) compared to Mount Wawu (0.008 ± 0.017 ind./m²). Key threats include sewage discharge and tourism-related disturbances from scenic area development, underscoring the urgent need for conservation action. This research highlights gaps in historical data and suggests potential unrecorded populations or broader elevation ranges, emphasizing the importance of timely updates to guide amphibian protection efforts.
FAN, Y., CHEN, Q., CHENG, Y., TANG, K., SUN, L., HUANG, Y., ZHAO, L., LIANG, D., WANG, X., & HU, J. (2024). Resurvey After 20 Years: Updating the Distribution, Population, and Potential Threats of the Chinting Alpine Toad. Asian Herpetological Research, 15(2), 73–81. https://doi.org/10.3724/ahr.2095-0357.2023.0043
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Chlorophyll f production in two new subaerial cyanobacteria of the family Oculatellaceae
Researchers have discovered that two newly identified cyanobacteria, Elainella chongqingensis and Pegethrix sichuanica, produce chlorophyll f (Chl f) under far-red light (FRL), marking the first report of this phenomenon in the family Oculatellaceae. These strains were isolated from Chongqing city and Mount Emei Scenic Area, respectively, and classified using morphological analysis and phylogenetic studies. Under white light, both produce Chl a, but FRL induces additional synthesis of Chl f, with P. sichuanica exhibiting nearly half the typical Chl f content in cyanobacteria. The study also observed red-shifted phycobiliproteins under FRL conditions, suggesting potential adaptations for low-light environments. This finding expands the diversity of Chl f-producing cyanobacteria and offers insights into its role in photosynthetic systems.
Shen, L.-Q., Zhang, Z.-C., Huang, L., Zhang, L.-D., Yu, G., Chen, M., Li, R., & Qiu, B.-S. (2023). Chlorophyll f production in two new subaerial cyanobacteria of the family Oculatellaceae. Journal of Phycology, 59(2), 370–382. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpy.13314
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Seasonal Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mount Emei Scenic Area in China
A study on macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mount Emei Scenic Area, China, revealed that 51.19% of the 168 fecal samples tested positive for gastrointestinal parasites, with Gongylonema spp. and Entamoeba spp. being the most prevalent helminth and protozoan parasites, respectively. The prevalence peaked in summer (86.21%) and dropped significantly in winter (7.14%), indicating a strong seasonal variation. While human contact frequency correlated with overall parasite prevalence, no such link was found for specific seasons. These findings highlight the need for enhanced management strategies to control parasite transmission, given their potential to affect both humans and other animals.
Yang, J., Okyere, S. K., Zheng, J., Cao, B., & Hu, Y. (2022). Seasonal Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Macaques (Macaca thibetana) at Mount Emei Scenic Area in China. Animals, 12(14), 1816. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12141816
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An Analysis on Tourist Bus Operation Plan of Mount Emei Scenic
A linear optimization model for tourist bus operations at Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha, was developed to minimize total travel time for visitors. Using the simplex search method and practical survey data, the study identified an optimal bus operation plan that efficiently addresses traffic congestion—a critical bottleneck hindering tourism growth in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The approach combines transportation planning theory with operations research to propose solutions for rapid passenger movement amid increasing tourist numbers.
Deng, N., & Mei, L. (2011). An Analysis on Tourist Bus Operation Plan of Mount Emei Scenic. Icte 2011, 91–96. https://doi.org/10.1061/41184(419)16
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