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Putuo Mountain Scenic Area - Zhejiang Tourist Attraction

Putuo Mountain Scenic Area - Zhejiang Tourist Attraction
Putuo Mountain Scenic Area - Zhejiang Tourist Attraction

Putuo Mountain Scenic Area is located in Putuo District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, known as the "Buddhist Kingdom on the Sea" and "Holy Land of the South China Sea". The scenic area is situated in the eastern waters of the Zhoushan Archipelago, being one of the 1,390 islands in the archipelago. Shaped like a green dragon lying on the sea, it covers an area of approximately 12.52 square kilometers. Putuo Mountain integrates Buddhist culture with mountain and sea scenery. It is not only the dojo of Guanyin Bodhisattva but also a coastal tourist resort, featuring unique landscapes where mountains and seas are interdependent and Buddhist temples are dotted around. There are numerous existing Buddhist buildings in the scenic area, including three major temples (Puji Temple, Fayu Temple, Huiji Temple), and dozens of nunneries such as Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery and the "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple, with a total construction area of over 50,000 square meters. The architectural style integrates Buddhist architectural arts of different periods such as the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It was rated as a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction in 2007, included in the list of national scenic spots in 2012, and selected as a "Chinese Buddhist Cultural Holy Land" in 2019.

History and Culture

The origin of Buddhist culture on Putuo Mountain can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. It is said that in the fourth year of Xiantong (863 AD), the Japanese monk Hui E obtained a statue of Guanyin from Wutai Mountain and was returning to his country. When he reached the waters near Putuo Mountain, he was blocked by wind and waves. He believed that Guanyin was unwilling to go east, so he built the "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple on the island. This marked the beginning of Buddhist culture on Putuo Mountain, with a history of more than 1,100 years to date.

During the Song and Yuan dynasties, Buddhism on Putuo Mountain gradually developed. The Song court allocated funds to repair temples many times, and Baotuo Guanyin Temple (the predecessor of today's Puji Temple) became an important Buddhist temple in the south. In the Yuan Dynasty, Putuo Mountain was designated as a "Buddhist Pure Land" by imperial decree, and the scale of the temples further expanded. In the Ming Dynasty, the status of Buddhism on Putuo Mountain was significantly elevated. During the Wanli period, a pattern of "three temples, seventy nunneries, and a hundred monk's houses" was formed, and it was known as one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China together with the other three major dojos.

The Qing Dynasty was the heyday of Buddhism on Putuo Mountain. In the 38th year of Kangxi (1699 AD), the imperial court granted the plaque "Universal Salvation of All Beings" to Puji Temple, and Fayu Temple was granted the plaque "Heavenly Flowers and Dharma Rain". During the Yongzheng and Qianlong periods, temples were expanded many times, and the number of monks reached thousands at most, forming a grand scene where "temples are hidden wherever the mountain bends, and monks are met when the road ends".

In addition to Buddhist culture, Putuo Mountain also contains rich marine culture and cultural heritage. Literati of past dynasties such as Su Shi, Lu You, and Dong Qichang left hundreds of poems and inscriptions. Folk customs such as "sea worship" and "Guanyin's Birthday" are integrated with Buddhist festivals, forming a unique cultural system. There are more than 200 cultural relics such as cliff carvings and ancient inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty in the scenic area. In 2013, "Putuo Mountain Guanyin Belief" was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list.

Main Attractions

Puji Temple

Puji Temple is the largest temple on Putuo Mountain and a national key temple, located at the southern foot of Lingjiu Peak, Baihua Top. It was first built in the Song Dynasty, originally named "Baotuo Guanyin Temple", and the existing buildings were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It covers an area of 11,400 square meters with a construction area of 7,854 square meters. The temple is laid out along the central axis, successively including a screen wall, an imperial stele pavilion, Haiyin Pool, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Yuantong Hall, and a Scripture Storage Building. Yuantong Hall is the core building, 18 meters high, 24 meters wide, and 20 meters deep, with an 8.8-meter-high Vairocana Guanyin statue enshrined inside, and statues of Guanyin's thirty-two manifestations on both sides, which is a landmark Buddha statue of Putuo Mountain. The Haiyin Pool in front of the temple covers an area of about 15 mu, with three ancient stone bridges (Yongshou Bridge, Lotus Bridge, and Ping Bridge) on the pool. The pool is filled with lotus flowers, which are extremely beautiful when in bloom in summer. Puji Temple has a constant stream of pilgrims every day and is the center of Buddhist activities on Putuo Mountain.

Fayu Temple

Fayu Temple is the second largest temple on Putuo Mountain and a national key temple, located at the foot of Guangxi Peak. It was first built in the 8th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1580 AD), originally named Haichao Nunnery, and was given the name "Fayu Chan Temple" by imperial decree in the 38th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (1699 AD). The temple covers an area of 33,000 square meters with a construction area of 13,000 square meters, built against the mountain in a seven-entry layout. The "Nine-Dragon Caisson" in the Mahavira Hall, a landmark building, is a relic from the Ming Dynasty, 4.5 meters high and 3.7 meters in diameter. Nine wooden carved dragons are coiled around it, with the dragon bodies gilded, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and being a treasure in Chinese Buddhist architecture. The Jade Buddha Hall in the temple enshrines a 2-meter-high white jade Sakyamuni statue, carved from a single piece of Burmese jade. Fayu Temple also preserves cultural relics such as the Qing Dynasty imperial stele and the Nine-Dragon Wall. The overall building is magnificent, reflecting the typical style of Qing Dynasty Buddhist architecture.

Huiji Temple

Huiji Temple is located on the main peak of Putuo Mountain, Foding Mountain, and is the third largest temple on Putuo Mountain and a national key temple. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty, originally named Huiji Nunnery, and expanded into a temple in the 58th year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1793 AD). The temple covers an area of 3,000 square meters with a construction area of 1,450 square meters. Located at the top of the mountain at an altitude of 291.3 meters, it is one of the highest-altitude Buddhist temples in the "Buddhist Kingdom on the Sea" in China. The architectural layout breaks the convention of the central axis and is built according to the mountain terrain. The main buildings include the Mahavira Hall, Yuhuang Hall, and Guanyin Hall. The Guanyin Hall enshrines a 3.3-meter-high Thousand-Hand Guanyin statue with exquisite craftsmanship. The temple is surrounded by lush forests and is rich in Foding Mountain cloud and mist tea. One can taste tea brewed with mountain spring water in the temple. From Huiji Temple, one can overlook the entire island of Putuo Mountain and the islands in the East China Sea, with a panoramic view of the mountain and sea scenery.

South Sea Guanyin Statue

The South Sea Guanyin Statue is a landmark structure of Putuo Mountain. Located at the top of Longwan Gang, it was completed in 1997. The total height of the statue is 33 meters (including 18 meters for the Buddha figure, 2 meters for the lotus pedestal, and 13 meters for the platform base), weighing over 70 tons. It is composed of 96 pieces of imitation gold copper castings joined together, with a gilded surface that glows brilliantly under sunlight. Facing the East China Sea, the statue holds a dharma wheel in its left hand and displays the fearless mudra with its right hand. Its solemn and benevolent demeanor embodies Guanyin's spirit of "compassionate salvation for the world". The platform base is a three-layer white marble structure, with carvings of Guanyin's thirty-two manifestations around it. Inside the base, there is a Guanyin Hall enshrining a thousand-hand Guanyin statue. Situated in a location with a wide and unobstructed view, the statue serves as an important site for both enjoying sea views and paying homage. It is also a popular "check-in spot" on Putuo Mountain.

Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery

Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery is located in the southeast corner of Putuo Mountain, backed by Chaoyang Peak and facing the Lotus Ocean, named after the surrounding purple bamboos. It was first built in the Qing Dynasty, covering an area of 1,300 square meters with a construction area of 700 square meters, being a typical Jiangnan nunnery building. The main buildings in the nunnery include Yuantong Hall, Great Compassion Building, and "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Hall. Yuantong Hall enshrines an 8.8-meter-high Guanyin statue, with paintings of Guanyin's eighty-four manifestations on both sides. Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery is closely related to the legend of the "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin and is a symbolic place for Guanyin's practice. There are attractions such as Chaoyin Cave and Guangming Pool around it, with a quiet environment and a strong Zen atmosphere, being a good place for tourists to pray for blessings and calm their minds.

"Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple

"Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple is the oldest temple on Putuo Mountain, located next to Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery and above Chaoyin Cave. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty, and the existing buildings were rebuilt in 1980, covering an area of 200 square meters with a construction area of 100 square meters. Although the temple is small, it is famous for the legend of "Hui E obtaining the statue": the "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin statue enshrined in the nunnery is of Tang Dynasty style, 1.2 meters high, with a serene expression. Chaoyin Cave next to the temple is a natural sea erosion cave, 30 meters deep and 10 meters wide. When the waves rush in, they make a thunderous sound, which complements the Guanyin legend. This is the source of Buddhist culture on Putuo Mountain and a must-visit place to understand the history of Putuo Mountain.

Qianbu Beach

Qianbu Beach is the longest beach on Putuo Mountain, located in the eastern part of the island, starting from Jibao Ridge in the south to Wanghai Pavilion in the north, with a total length of 1,750 meters, a width of about 100 meters, and an area of about 175,000 square meters. The beach has pure sand, composed of quartz sand, with a golden color, soft sand grains, a gentle slope, and clear seawater, being a natural coastal bathing beach. The best time to visit is in summer (June-September), when one can swim, play beach volleyball, watch the sunrise in the early morning, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of "golden sand and sunset glow" in the evening. The west side of the beach has "Tingchao Stone", where the waves beat against the rocks at high tide, making a thunderous sound. The beautiful scenery of the beach and Buddhist buildings complement each other, forming the unique landscape of the "Buddhist Kingdom on the Sea".

Foding Mountain

Foding Mountain is the main peak of Putuo Mountain, with an altitude of 291.3 meters, being the highest point of the whole island. The mountain is composed of granite, with a vegetation coverage rate of over 90%, mainly subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests, and is rich in cloud and mist tea and Guanyin bamboo. Climbing to the top, one can have a 360-degree view of the whole island of Putuo Mountain and the islands in the East China Sea. On clear days, one can overlook islands such as Zhujiajian and Taohua Island. There are two ways to reach the top of the mountain: Xiangyun Road (footpath) and cableway. Xiangyun Road is 3.5 kilometers long with 1,088 stone steps, and there are viewing platforms and pavilions along the way. The cableway is 1,600 meters long, with a one-way running time of 7 minutes and a height difference of 205 meters between the upper and lower stations. Foding Mountain is not only a scenic spot but also a Buddhist holy land, with Huiji Temple located on the top of the mountain, forming the artistic conception of "a temple in the mountain, and the temple hidden in the mountain".

Cuisine

Putuo Mountain Vegetarian Food

Putuo Mountain vegetarian food is a representative of Buddhist food culture, featuring "cleanness, purity, simplicity, and elegance". The raw materials are bean products, vegetables, fungi, rice, and noodles, with no meat, fish, or five pungent substances (onions, garlic, leeks, etc.). Vegetarian food emphasizes shape and taste, and imitates the shape of meat dishes through exquisite cooking skills, such as "vegetarian chicken", "vegetarian duck", and "vegetarian ham", with a realistic taste. The dining halls of Puji Temple and Fayu Temple provide buffet-style vegetarian food, with a price of 20-30 yuan per person, served from 11:00 to 13:00 every day. Among them, "Arhat Vegetarian" (stewed with various fungi and vegetables) and "Guanyin Tofu" (made of Fupi leaves) are characteristic dishes. Vegetarian food is not only a kind of food but also reflects the Buddhist concept of "compassionate protection of life".

Zhoushan Hairtail

Zhoushan hairtail is produced in Zhoushan Fishery, the largest fishery in China, with the waters around Putuo Mountain as the core production area. It is characterized by a slender body (up to more than 1 meter), a silvery white surface, tender meat, and rich in protein and unsaturated fatty acids. There are various ways to cook Zhoushan hairtail: steamed hairtail retains the original flavor with delicate meat; braised hairtail has a rich sauce flavor, salty and fresh; fried hairtail is crispy outside and tender inside, with a more distinctive flavor when paired with salt and pepper. At the seafood stalls on Putuo Mountain, a portion of braised hairtail is about 60-80 yuan, and it is recommended to eat it with local rice wine. The hairtail is the most plump in winter (November to February of the next year), which is the best time to taste it.

Swimming Crab

Swimming crab is a specialty of the waters around Putuo Mountain, named after its shape like a shuttle, with the scientific name "Portunus trituberculatus". Zhoushan swimming crabs are large in size (up to more than 500 grams), with plump meat, rich crab roe, and rich in protein and trace elements. The main way to eat is steaming, which can maximize the preservation of the fresh flavor; it can also be made into "crab fried rice cakes", where the freshness of the crab meat and the glutinousness of the rice cakes complement each other; salt and pepper swimming crab is crispy outside and tender inside, with a strong flavor. The fishing season of swimming crabs is from September to November every year, and the price is about 80-120 yuan per catty. Fresh swimming crabs can be bought at Shenjiamen Fishing Port or Putuo Mountain Seafood Market, and the restaurant processing fee is about 20 yuan per portion.

Dried Yellow Croaker

Dried yellow croaker is a traditional cured product in Zhoushan, made from fresh large yellow croaker through cleaning, salting, and drying, with a history of thousands of years. The yellow croaker in the waters around Putuo Mountain has firm meat, and the dried fish has a golden color, salty and fresh taste, and is easy to preserve. There are various ways to eat dried yellow croaker: steamed dried yellow croaker with pork belly, the fish meat absorbs the oil and becomes more delicious; boiled with winter melon, the soup is clear, being a good summer dish to relieve heat. In Putuo Mountain specialty stores, a 500-gram package of dried yellow croaker is about 40-60 yuan, which is a favorite souvenir of tourists.

Longnose Emperor (Xiachán)

Longnose emperor, also known as dragon head fish or water dragon, is a common fish in the coastal waters near Putuo Mountain. It has a ribbon-shaped body with tender, tofu-like flesh, almost no small bones, and is rich in moisture and protein. It is suitable for the elderly and children. Common cooking methods include braising, stewing with tofu, and stir-frying with salt and pepper. Braised longnose emperor seasoned with broad bean paste is soft, glutinous, and flavorful; when stewed with tofu, it produces a milky white soup that is fresh and sweet. In restaurants on Putuo Mountain, a dish of longnose emperor costs about 30-50 yuan. The fish is most plump in spring (March-May).

Tickets

Ticket price: 239 yuan per person (including round-trip ferry tickets).

You can search for the official WeChat public account "普陀山风景区" to get the latest updates or purchase tickets online.

Opening Hours

The scenic area is open 24 hours a day. The opening hours of attractions within the scenic area are as follows:

Buddhist temples: Puji Temple, Fayu Temple, Huiji Temple, etc. are open from 6:00 to 18:00 in summer (May 1st - September 30th) and from 6:30 to 17:30 in winter (October 1st - April 30th of the following year). The opening hours of the South Sea Guanyin Statue and Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery are the same as those of the temples.

Natural attractions: Qianbu Beach, Baibu Beach, Foding Mountain, etc. are open all day, but please note that nighttime visits require caution as some areas have no lighting.

Ferry operating hours: From Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf to Putuo Mountain, ferries operate from 5:40 to 21:00 in peak season (May - October) with departures every 10-15 minutes; in off-season (November - April), ferries operate from 6:00 to 20:00 with departures every 15-20 minutes. From Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf to Putuo Mountain, ferries operate from 6:00 to 19:30 in peak season and from 6:30 to 18:00 in off-season with departures every 30 minutes. The one-way ferry ride takes 10-20 minutes.

Tour Routes

A recommended two-day tour route to fully experience the Buddhist culture and natural scenery of Putuo Mountain:

Day 1: In the morning, take a ferry from Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf to Putuo Mountain (about 15 minutes). After disembarking, walk for 10 minutes to Puji Temple and visit for 1.5 hours, enjoying Haiyin Pool, Yuantong Hall, etc. At 10:30, go to Qianbu Beach and stroll on the beach for 1 hour. Have lunch at a restaurant near Puji Temple. In the afternoon, at 13:00, head to Fayu Temple to visit the Nine-Dragon Caisson, Jade Buddha Hall, etc. for 1 hour. At 15:00, go to the South Sea Guanyin Statue to worship and enjoy the sea view for 1 hour. At 17:00, go to Baibu Beach to watch the sunset and stay for 1 hour. After dinner, check in at a hotel on the island.

Day 2: In the morning, at 7:30, take the cable car (or walk) up Foding Mountain, visit Huiji Temple for 1 hour, and overlook the entire island. At 10:00, go downhill to Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery and visit for 40 minutes. At 11:00, visit the "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple and Chaoyin Cave to learn about the legendary stories for 1 hour. Have lunch near Purple Bamboo Grove. In the afternoon, at 13:30, choose to visit Dacheng Nunnery or relax by the seaside according to your interest. Take the ferry to leave the island before 15:30 to end the trip. The entire journey combines walking and taking transportation, with a total distance of about 25 kilometers, resulting in moderate physical exertion.

Transportation

  • External Transportation - Airplane: Zhoushan Putuo Mountain Airport is located on Zhujiajian Island, across the sea from Putuo Mountain, about 5 kilometers from Wugongzhi Wharf. Currently, it has flights to major domestic cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. To get from the airport to Wugongzhi Wharf, you can take a taxi, which takes about 5-10 minutes and costs about 20 yuan; or take Airport Bus Line 25, with a fare of 5 yuan and a journey of about 10-15 minutes.
  • External Transportation - Train: There is no direct railway station near Putuo Mountain. Tourists usually first arrive at Ningbo Station. From Ningbo South Station (at the south square of Ningbo Station), there are buses to Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf, with a journey of about 2 hours and a fare of 40 yuan; or to Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf, with a journey of about 1.5 hours and a fare of 30 yuan. Buses depart from 6:00 to 18:00 every day, every 30 minutes.
  • External Transportation - Long-distance Bus: Zhoushan Putuo Long-distance Bus Station (North City Station) has buses to surrounding cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Ningbo. From Shanghai South Railway Station Long-distance Bus Station to Zhoushan Putuo Long-distance Bus Station, buses depart from 7:00 to 19:30 every 30-45 minutes, with a journey of about 5 hours and a fare of 150-230 yuan. From Shanghai Tourism Huangpu Distribution Center (Nanpu Bridge Station), buses depart from 7:00 to 18:00 every hour, with a fare of 138 yuan for ordinary buses and 198 yuan for VIP cabins. Both Hangzhou Jiubao Bus Station (Passenger Transport Center Station) and Hangzhou South Bus Station have buses to Putuo Mountain, departing from 6:50 to 18:20 approximately every hour, with a fare of 80 yuan.
  • External Transportation - Ferry:
    • Shanghai Wusongkou Wharf has an overnight slow boat to Putuo Mountain every night at 19:30, stopping at Daishan on the way, arriving at 7:30 the next day, with fares ranging from 109 to 499 yuan.
    • Shanghai Nanpu Bridge (Luchaogang Wharf / Xiaoyangshan Wharf) offers combined bus and ferry tickets. The Feixiang and Baotuo speedboats depart from Shanghai at 7:40 and 8:00 respectively, with a journey of about 2.5 hours and a fare of 258 yuan.
    • Jinshanzui Passenger and Vehicle Ferry Terminal (Jinshanwei Maritime Passenger Station) has one trip daily, departing at 8:45 and arriving at Putuo Mountain at 11:30. The return trip departs at 13:45 and arrives at Jinshan at 16:30, with fares of 238 yuan/person for middle cabin, 268 yuan/person for upper cabin, and 298 yuan/person for business cabin.
  • Internal Transportation - Ferry: To reach Putuo Mountain, you need to take a ferry from Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf or Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf. From Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf to Putuo Mountain, ferries operate from 5:40 to 21:00 in peak season (May - October) with departures every 10-15 minutes; in off-season (November - April), ferries operate from 6:00 to 20:00 with departures every 15-20 minutes. The journey takes 10-15 minutes, and the fare is 30-50 yuan per person. From Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf to Putuo Mountain, ferries operate from 6:00 to 19:30 in peak season and from 6:30 to 18:00 in off-season with departures every 30 minutes. The journey takes 15-20 minutes, and the fare is slightly lower than that from Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf.
  • Internal Transportation - Scenic Area Buses: The main means of transportation on Putuo Mountain is scenic area buses, which cover all major attractions with fares of 5-10 yuan per trip and support scan-to-pay. Operating hours are roughly synchronized with the scenic area opening hours but may be slightly adjusted according to different seasons and routes. Please pay attention to station announcements before traveling.
  • Internal Transportation - Walking: Some attractions on Putuo Mountain are close to each other, such as Puji Temple and Baibu Beach, Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery and the "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple. Walking is a good way to experience the natural scenery and Buddhist atmosphere of Putuo Mountain and can also save transportation costs. However, Putuo Mountain has many mountain roads, so walking the entire journey requires good physical fitness.

Must-Visit Attractions

  • Puji Temple: The largest temple on Putuo Mountain and a national key temple, located at the southern foot of Lingjiu Peak, Baihua Top. It covers an area of 11,400 square meters with a construction area of 7,854 square meters. The Yuantong Hall in the temple enshrines an 8.8-meter-high Vairocana Guanyin statue, which is a landmark Buddha statue of Putuo Mountain. The Haiyin Pool in front of the temple covers an area of about 15 mu, with ancient and elegant stone bridges on the pool. Recommended visiting time: 1-2 hours.
  • South Sea Guanyin Statue: It is a landmark building of Putuo Mountain, located at the top of Longwan Gang. The total height of the statue is 33 meters (18 meters for the Buddha statue, 2 meters for the lotus pedestal, and 13 meters for the platform base), weighing more than 70 tons. It is made of 96 pieces of imitation gold copper castings spliced together with a gilded surface. The Guanyin statue faces the East China Sea, appearing solemn and benevolent. The surrounding area of the statue offers a broad view, allowing visitors to overlook the sea scenery. It is recommended to spend 1 hour visiting here.
  • Fayu Temple: The second largest temple on Putuo Mountain and a national key temple, located at the foot of Guangxi Peak. It covers an area of 33,000 square meters with a construction area of 13,000 square meters. The "Nine-Dragon Caisson" in the Mahavira Hall is a relic from the Ming Dynasty, 4.5 meters high and 3.7 meters in diameter, with nine exquisitely carved wooden dragons. The Jade Buddha Hall in the temple enshrines a 2-meter-high white jade Sakyamuni statue. Recommended visiting time: 1 hour.
  • Huiji Temple: Located on Foding Mountain, the main peak of Putuo Mountain, at an altitude of 291.3 meters. It covers an area of 3,000 square meters with a construction area of 1,450 square meters. The Guanyin Hall enshrines a 3.3-meter-high Thousand-Hand Guanyin statue. The temple is surrounded by trees, offering a panoramic view of Putuo Mountain and the islands in the East China Sea. Recommended visiting time: 1-2 hours. You can choose to take the cable car or walk up the mountain. The cable car is 1,600 meters long with a one-way running time of 7 minutes.
  • Qianbu Beach: The longest beach on Putuo Mountain, located in the eastern part of the island, 1,750 meters long, about 100 meters wide, and covering an area of about 175,000 square meters. With golden and soft sand and clear seawater, it is an ideal coastal bathing beach. In summer (June - September), you can swim and play beach volleyball. You can watch the sunrise in the early morning and enjoy the "Golden Sand Sunset" in the evening. Recommended visiting time: 1 hour.
  • Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery and "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple: Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery is located in the southeast corner of Putuo Mountain, covering an area of 1,300 square meters with a construction area of 700 square meters. The Yuantong Hall in the nunnery enshrines an 8.8-meter-high Guanyin statue. The "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin Temple, the oldest temple on Putuo Mountain, is located next to Purple Bamboo Grove Nunnery, covering an area of 200 square meters with a construction area of 100 square meters, enshrining a 1.2-meter-high "Refused-to-Go" Guanyin statue. Both are closely related to Guanyin legends, with a quiet environment surrounded by attractions such as Chaoyin Cave. Recommended visiting time: 1 hour.

Travel Tips

  • Itinerary Planning: If you have enough time, it is recommended to arrange 2-3 days to visit Putuo Mountain to deeply experience its Buddhist culture and natural scenery. If time is limited, a one-day trip can include core attractions such as Puji Temple, South Sea Guanyin Statue, and Fayu Temple.
  • Season Selection: Spring and autumn (March - May, September - November) have pleasant weather and beautiful scenery, making them the best seasons to visit Putuo Mountain. In summer (June - August), you can enjoy the coastal bathing beach, but the weather is hot and there are many typhoons. Winter (December - February) is relatively quiet, but you can experience a different kind of tranquility, and some attractions offer ticket discounts.
  • Accommodation Arrangement: If you want to get up early to attend the temple's morning class or experience the quiet night on the island, you can choose to stay near Puji Temple or Fayu Temple on the island, with homestays and hotels ranging from 200 to 500 yuan. For better value, you can stay in Zhujiajian outside the island, where there are many hotels and homestays, as well as lively food streets.
  • Pilgrimage Preparation: Learn about Buddhist etiquette in advance, such as lighting incense with the left hand, not stepping on the threshold, worshiping the Bodhisattva first and then other Buddhas clockwise when entering the hall, etc. The incense tickets for each temple are 5-6 yuan, which are only available in cash, so prepare in advance. You can bring your own environmental protection incense, and some temples also provide it for free.
  • Clothing and Equipment: Putuo Mountain has many mountain roads, so it is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes. The weather on the island is changeable, so carry a thin coat, an all-weather umbrella, a power bank, and sun protection products (sunscreen, sun hat, sunglasses), etc.

Notes

  • Buddhist Etiquette: Follow traditional Buddhist etiquette, such as not blowing out the flame with your mouth when lighting incense, but fanning it gently with your hand; inserting incense with the left hand, first in the middle, then on the right, and then on the left; do not randomly take photos of Buddha statues, especially those inside the halls; when making a wish, report your home address, and put your palms up when kowtowing; enter the hall from both sides, do not step on the threshold, men first step with the left foot, women with the right foot.
  • Clothing Requirements: When visiting religious places such as temples, avoid wearing too revealing clothes such as short skirts, shorts, and off-shoulder clothes. Try to choose plain, loose, and appropriate clothing. When entering the hall, take off your hat and sunglasses, and do not wear gloves.
  • Scenic Area Transportation: Pay attention to the operating hours of scenic area buses and ferries, especially the last departure time, to avoid delaying your trip. At transportation hubs such as wharves, there may be "unlicensed guides" and "fortune-tellers" promoting services; do not trust them to avoid being cheated.
  • Environmental Protection Requirements: Putuo Mountain is a national scenic area, so please take good care of the environment and do not litter. Advocate civilized incense burning, burn incense in the specified quantity to reduce environmental pollution.
  • Respect for Monks: Show respect when encountering monks; you can greet them by putting your palms together and saying "Amitabha". Do not take the initiative to shake hands with or touch monks. Keep quiet in the temple, avoid loud noise, and abide by the rules in the temple.
  • Price and Consumption: The prices on the island are relatively high, and the prices of catering and souvenirs may be higher than those outside the island. Consume reasonably according to your needs. When buying specialties, pay attention to distinguishing the quality and price to avoid buying low-quality products at high prices.
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