Went to Leshan and Emeishan in December 2008.

Like most sites in China, it is always rewarding to start early in the day to avoid the crowd. In winter, the boats going in front of Leshan Buddha are few; unless you rent your own.

Emeishan is a wonderful experience. It started snowing while hiking; but it was worth it. I recommend spending the night in one of the monasteries. Do not miss the Emei monkeys; but do take care of your belongings. Friends I met there advised showing one's hands when you run into one. If you place your hands in your pockets, they'd think you'd have food to give and they can attack you. In winter, monkeys can get pretty agressive - hungry, actually; and they grab hikers' bags for food! While taking out my video camera, two or three monkeys grabbed and dug into my bag and took my biscuits!