Leshan City, formerly known as Jiazhou and Jiading Prefecture, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Sichuan Province. It is located in central Sichuan, in the southwestern part of the Sichuan Basin. It borders Meishan City to the north, Zigong City and Yibin City to the east, Liangshan Prefecture to the south, and Ya'an City to the west. The terrain is high in the southwest and low in the northeast, and it has a mid-subtropical climate. It covers a total area of 12,720.03 square kilometers. As of June 2023, the city governs four districts, six counties, and administers one county-level city. By the end of 2023, the city's permanent population was 3.147 million.Leshan City has jurisdiction over 4 districts (Shizhong District, Wutongqiao District, Shawan District, and Jinkouhe District), 4 counties (Jianwei County, Jingyan County, Jiajiang County, and Muchuan County), and 2 autonomous counties (Ebian Yi Autonomous County and Mabian Yi Autonomous County), and administers 1 county-level city (Emeishan City); there are a total of 18 townships, 103 towns, 11 streets, 1,107 villages, and 263 communities.
Topography
The Minjiang River's snowy waves, the emerald mist of Qingyi, the thunder of Dadu—what kind of city is Leshan?
Leshan City is located in the transition zone from the Sichuan Basin to the southwestern mountains. The overall trend is high in the southwest and low in the northeast, with a significant difference in elevation. The highest point is the main peak of Ma'anshan in Ebian Yi Autonomous County, at 4,288 meters, while the lowest point is the Minjiang River outlet at Machangba in Xinmin Town, Qianwei County, at 307 meters. The relative elevation difference is 3,981 meters, with an average elevation of 500 meters. Leshan's urban area is 360 meters above sea level. The landforms include mountains, hills, and plains, with mountains being the predominant type. Mountains cover 8,530 square kilometers, accounting for 66.5% of the city's total area. They are primarily distributed in the southwest, along the line of Emeishan, Ebian, Jinkouhe, Mabian, and Muchuan, forming the transition zone between the Liangshan Plateau and the Sichuan Basin. Hills cover an area of 2,694 square kilometers, accounting for 21% of Leshan's total area. These hills are primarily distributed in the northeastern region between Mount Emei and Muchuan, forming a red hilly area formed by slow uplift and long-term erosion. River valley plains cover an area of 1,603 square kilometers, accounting for 12.5% of the city's total area, primarily along the banks of the Minjiang, Dadu, and Qingyi rivers.