# Mount Putuo travel guide (普陀山) Zhejiang Province · East China, China · 12 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/zhejiang/mount-putuo ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Pier → Nantianmen (South Heavenly Gate) → Puji Temple (vegetarian meal) → Fayu Temple → Foshan Summit (Huiji Temple) → South Sea Guanyin Statue → Pier ## The feel of the place - **Famous Buddhist Mountain:** Long and narrow in shape, Mount Putuo is one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains. It is the dojo of Guanyin Bodhisattva and, geographically, a small island in the Zhoushan Archipelago. The mountain has both temples rising across its slopes and, to the east, sea and beaches, as well as rare flowers, unusual rocks and towering ancient trees. Yet its greatest appeal is the Buddhist legend of “the sacred site where Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested to preach to Shancai.” This is why Mount Putuo is known as the “Sacred Realm of the South Sea.” - **Monks:** With so many meditation halls, visitors on Mount Putuo will often come across a monk practising here. Some may carry a mobile phone, and some will take off their robes and sandals and head straight into the sea. ## The feel of the place ### Book Ahead in the Peak Season During holidays such as the Spring Festival, May Day, National Day and temple fair periods, Mount Putuo is packed with visitors. The days of the 19th of the second lunar month (Guanyin’s birthday), the 19th of the sixth lunar month (the day Guanyin attained enlightenment) and the 19th of the ninth lunar month (the day Guanyin left home) are pilgrimage days, so it is best to book train tickets and accommodation in advance for these dates. ### One-Day Itinerary This one-day route is designed specifically for visitors who hire a car. If you take the island buses or walk, it will take much longer, but these sights are the highlights of Mount Putuo and are must-sees. ### Preparation and Advice ### Climate and Travel Seasons Mount Putuo enjoys mild winters and cool summers, and its air is always humid. Its scenery changes with the seasons. In spring, frequent fog makes the climb feel like walking through a fairyland, with the island’s landscape shifting among the clouds. In midsummer the average temperature stays below 29°C, and cool breezes blow in the evening. Autumn is the ideal season to watch the sunrise over the East China Sea. In deep winter, snow and ice are rare on Mount Putuo. ### The Twelve Scenic Views of Mount Putuo Lianyang Noon Ferry, Duanggu Sacred Traces, Meiwan Spring Dawn, Panto Sunset, Lianchi Moonlit Night, Fahua Sacred Cave, Gudong Tidal Sounds, Sunrise over the Sea, Qianbu Golden Sands, Guangxi Snow Clearing, Early Mist at Tea Mountain, Tianmen Pure Chanting. ### Crowded Vehicles in Peak Season In peak season, the Baifeng Ferry Terminal on the Ningbo side is packed with vehicles before the crossing to Zhoushan. Bring water and food and be prepared for long queues. ### Transport Tips If it is already past 17:30 when you reach Shengjiamen, take a taxi to Wugongzhi Pier (蜈蚣峙码头) on Zhujiajian. Ferries from there to Mount Putuo run until after 21:00, and there are more sailings. ### Get Your Exit Stamped to Avoid Buying Tickets Twice If you are staying on Mount Putuo and plan to visit Zhujiajian, make sure to get your exit stamped at the pier after buying your ferry ticket to Zhujiajian. This way you won’t have to buy another mountain entry ticket when you return to Mount Putuo the same day. ### Driving: Parking Is Difficult Private cars cannot go onto Mount Putuo, and parking at the Banshengdong Pier (半升洞码头) is very difficult. Parking is somewhat easier at Daxie Pier, Wugongzhi Pier on Zhujiajian, and Baifeng Pier. ## Getting there & around ### Getting There and Away Mount Putuo lies on the Zhoushan Archipelago, and boat is the only way to get there. From the pier on the other side you then continue by other means. ### By Air Putuoshan Airport (普陀山机场) is on Zhujiajian Island, just 1.2 km from the famous fishing port of Shengjiamen, with Mount Putuo, the “Sea and Sky Buddhist Kingdom,” 2.5 km to the north. From the airport it takes only 10 minutes to reach Mount Putuo. The airport currently has flights to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Fuzhou, Xiamen and other cities. Shuttle buses run from the airport to Wugongzhi Pier (蜈蚣峙码头) on Zhujiajian, where you can take a ferry to Mount Putuo. ### By Ship Passenger ferries run directly to Mount Putuo from Shanghai (Luchaogang and Wusong), Ningbo and other places. ### Shanghai → Mount Putuo 1. From Shanghai, take a boat from Shanghai People’s Square to Mount Putuo, departing at 7:00, 8:30 or 9:10. The trip takes about 4.5 hours and the fare is ¥135. 2. Boats depart daily at 7:30 from Shanghai Zhonggeng Travel City for Mount Putuo. The trip takes about 4.5 hours and the fare is ¥135. 3. Ferries run from the Shanghai Long-Distance Bus Station to Mount Putuo daily at 8:00 and 8:35. The trip takes about 5.5 hours, and the fare is ¥176. ### Ningbo → Mount Putuo Ferries run directly from Ningbo to Mount Putuo roughly every hour from early morning until evening. From Ningbo Railway Station, the trip takes 2.5 hours and the fare is ¥105. ### By Rail Take a train to Ningbo or Shanghai, then transfer to a ferry or speedboat. ### By Road There is no direct long-distance bus to Mount Putuo. Visitors can first take a bus to the Putuo Bus Station in Shengjiamen on Zhoushan’s main island, then transfer to the Banshengdong Pier (半升洞码头) for a ferry to Mount Putuo. From the Shengjiamen Putuo Bus Station to Banshengdong Pier, the bus costs ¥2 and a taxi about ¥10. ### Shanghai → Mount Putuo Shanghai South Railway Station has multiple direct buses to Putuo daily from 7:15 to 18:00. The trip takes about 4.5 hours and the fare is ¥150. After getting off, transfer to a ferry or speedboat to Mount Putuo. ### Hangzhou → Mount Putuo From Hangzhou East Bus Station, or the Hangzhou Huanglong Tourist Transport Hub, buses run directly to Putuo Bus Station every 20 minutes from 7:20 to 18:40. The fare is about ¥110. After getting off, transfer to a ferry or speedboat to Mount Putuo. ### Ningbo → Mount Putuo From Ningbo South (or North) Bus Station, buses run directly to Shengjiamen and Putuo Central Station every 15 minutes from 6:00 to 21:00. The trip takes about 3 hours and the fare is about ¥59. After getting off, transfer to a ferry or speedboat to Mount Putuo. ### Driving ### From Shanghai Route: Shanghai → Shanghai–Hangzhou–Ningbo Expressway → Hangzhou Ring Expressway (East Line) → Ningbo → Hangzhou–Ningbo Expressway → Beilun → Daxie Pier or Baifeng Ferry Terminal → Mount Putuo ### From Hangzhou Route: Hangzhou → Hangzhou–Ningbo Expressway → Ningbo → Beilun → Daxie Pier or Baifeng Ferry Terminal → Mount Putuo ### Getting Around the Island Dedicated sightseeing shuttles link most of the island’s sights. They run every 10 to 15 minutes, but after 17:00 vehicles gradually stop running, so return to your accommodation before then. Fares are ¥2–10. The largest transfer stops, with the most buses, are the Ferry Terminal, Zizhulin, East of Puji Temple (Baibusha) and Fayu Temple (Qianbusha). Route 1 Sightseeing Shuttle: Xitian Ferry Terminal → Cinema (Baotuo Hotel) → Financial Street → Haifang New Village → Pier → Zizhulin → Puji Temple → Dacheng Nunnery Route 2 Sightseeing Shuttle: Pier → Zizhulin → Puji Temple → Dacheng Nunnery → Fayu Temple → Feishaao → Baoyue Nunnery → Gufo Cave → Cableway Route 3 Sightseeing Shuttle: Puji Temple → Dacheng Nunnery → Fayu Temple → Feishaao → Xianghui Nunnery → Fanyin Cave Return: Fanyin Cave → Xianghui Nunnery → Feishaao → Fayu Temple → Dacheng Nunnery → Puji Temple → Zizhulin → Pier ### Cableway The only way to reach Huiji Temple. One-way up is ¥40, one-way down is ¥35, and the round-trip combined ticket is ¥70. ### Chartered Vehicles Mount Putuo’s sights are spread out, so a group charter is more economical. A standard minibus costs ¥480 per day, a Toyota air-conditioned minibus ¥850 per day, and a Santana sedan ¥600 per day. Demand on Mount Putuo varies greatly between peak and off-season, and prices can be negotiated in the off-season. ### Ferries Travel from Mount Putuo to the other Zhoushan islands relies mainly on ferries and speedboats. ### Mount Putuo → Shengjiamen Ferries hourly from 7:00 to 16:10. The crossing takes half an hour and the fare is ¥16. Speedboats every 20 minutes from 6:00 to 16:20. The crossing takes 12 minutes and the fare is ¥22. ### Mount Putuo → Zhujiajian Speedboats about every 30 minutes from 6:30 to 22:10. The crossing takes 5 minutes and the fare is ¥30. ### Duangu Wharf on Mount Putuo → Luojia Mountain Three sailings at 7:00, 8:00 and 13:00, with the boat returning with passengers. ### Mount Putuo → Taohua Island About 1 hour by speedboat. ### Mount Putuo → Daishan Departs at 16:00, arrives at 17:30. ### Daishan → Mount Putuo Departs at 6:00, arrives at 8:30. - **Airport Information Desk** — - **Airport Ticket Office** — - **Mount Putuo Passenger Pier** — - **Shengjiamen Banshengdong Passenger Pier** — - **Shengjiamen Putuo Bus Station** — (Donghai Middle Road & Punan Road, 0580-3012011) ## Eat & drink ### Recommended Food and Drink ### Prices on Mount Putuo Are Relatively High As Mount Putuo is an island, many goods are shipped in from the mainland, so prices are naturally somewhat higher. For example, bottled water costs ¥5–¥10 per bottle. ### Local Specialties Yunwu Buddhist Tea, Guanyin Cakes, Putuo Buddha Cakes, South Sea Laver, Huanhun Grass, Cuisheng Zi, Shicaihua, Guanyin Narcissus and Purple Bamboo are all unique to Mount Putuo. Among them, the Guanyin Narcissus, Buddhist tea and laver are especially distinctive. ### Staying in Temples Puji Temple, Fayu Temple and Huiji Temple, the three major temples, all offer accommodation. As the temples do not run lodging for profit, rooms cannot be booked in advance. Temple accommodation ranges from standard rooms to dormitory beds. Facilities are simple, but prices are very affordable, and guests can watch monks perform their morning and evening devotions, making it well suited to pilgrims. ### Staying in Family Guesthouses You can also choose family guesthouses along the roads of Mount Putuo. They are clean, all have private bathrooms, and showers are available 24 hours a day. Room rates fluctuate with holidays. Some family guesthouses also serve lunch and dinner every day. - tip: Staying in Nongjiale (Farmhouse Inns) Longwan Village and Xishan New Village are the main clusters of resident-run nongjiale farmhouse inns, priced at ¥80–¥200, with a large gap between peak and off-peak seasons. Longwan Village is by the sea, so it suits those who want beaches and sunrise views over the water. Xishan New Village is closer to the main scenic spots, tourist service centres and banks, so you can choose according to your preferences. - **Seafood** — Mount Putuo has an abundance of seafood, including yellow croaker, cuttlefish, sea crab, clams, mussels, shellfish and striped shrimp. - **Vegetarian Meals** — Vegetarian food is an experience not to be missed on Mount Putuo. The dining halls of Puji Temple, Fayu Temple and Huiji Temple are open at times convenient for pilgrims. Breakfast is generally served 5:20–6:20, lunch 10:30–11:40, and dinner 16:20–17:20. For a little over ¥10, you can enjoy a vegetarian meal while admiring the temple architecture, killing two birds with one stone. ## Shopping ### Recommended Shopping - **Sea Fish** — Mount Putuo produces the famous 'Four Great Sea Fish' of China, with yellow croaker and cuttlefish the most renowned. Midsummer is the peak fishing season and the best time to buy fresh seafood. - **Foshou (Buddha's Hand Shellfish)** — Shaped like a Buddha's hand with its five fingers spread, this shellfish is unique to Mount Putuo and is only available from August. When cooked, it gives off a rich aroma. It is fresh but not greasy, a distinctive seafood delicacy. - **Fogua (Buddha Melon)** — A type of watermelon grown on Mount Putuo, known for its thin rind, red flesh and sweet taste. - **Putuo Buddhist Tea** — Also known as Fodingshan Cloud and Mist Tea, this is a wild tea that grows on Fodingshan Mountain at an altitude of 291 metres. Buddhist tea picked before Grain Rain and brewed with Mount Putuo's spring water is said to have medicinal properties. ## Where to stay When staying on Mount Putuo, each guest must pay a ¥20 sea embankment construction fee. During peak season, it is best to book rooms a week in advance. In addition, due to the island's environmental policies, hotels do not provide disposable towels or toiletries as standard, so you will need to bring your own. - **Zhuxiangju Hotel** — A guesthouse run by the China Construction Bank, with decent service quality and reliability, and sea-view rooms available. (20 Jinsha Road, 0580-6698095) - **Jinshage Farmhouse Inn** — A well-regarded nongjiale farmhouse inn a 10-minute walk from the pier. The surroundings are pleasant, the landlady's cooking is excellent, and it is very close to Guanyin of the South Sea. (No. 57, Building 25, Longwan Village, 13868215290) - **Putuoshan Youyi Hostel** — Located near Jinsha at the southern tip of the island, with a free beach right outside the door. The owner couple are warm and honest hosts, earning praise from many visitors and a good reputation online. (No. 6, Building 4, Longwan Village, 13575623423/13735012079) - **Tata Sea View Guesthouse** — The only youth hostel on Dongfu Island, very suitable for young travellers. The owner is very friendly. - **Haishang Yunju (Sea Cloud Retreat)** — Spacious, clean and comfortable rooms. Listening to the sound of the waves and watching the sunset from your room is simply delightful. ## Things to see - **Mount Putuo** (★★★★★): Admission Main entrance ticket: ¥220 (includes round-trip ferry); Opening hours 7：00—21：00; Time needed 2–3 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mount-putuo-zhejiang - **Fodingshan (Buddha's Summit)** (★★★★): Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fodingshan-buddha-s-summit - **Puji Temple** (★★★★): Admission ¥5; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/puji-temple - **Fayu Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥5; Opening hours 6：00—18：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/fayu-temple - **Huiji Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥5; cable car ¥40 one way, ¥70 return; Opening hours 6：00—18：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/huiji-temple - **Guanyin of the South Sea Statue** (★★★★): Admission ¥6; Opening hours 6：00—18：00; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/guanyin-of-the-south-sea-statue - **Qianbu Beach (Thousand-Step Beach)** (★★★★): Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/qianbu-beach-thousand-step-beach - **Baibu Beach (Hundred-Step Beach)** (★★★★): Admission Summer swimming ticket: ¥20 (includes shower); Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/baibu-beach-hundred-step-beach - **Luojia Mountain** (★★★★): Admission ¥70 (includes round-trip ferry to Luojia Mountain); Time needed 2–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/luojia-mountain - **Zhoushan Cross-Sea Bridge** (★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhoushan-cross-sea-bridge - **Zhujiajian Island** (★★★★): Admission Nansha Beach: ¥20 in low season, ¥25 in peak season; International Sand Sculpture Art Square: ¥30; Daqingshan Scenic Area: ¥60 in low season, ¥100 in peak season; Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhujiajian-island ## Day trips & beyond - **Dongji Island** (★★★★): — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/dongji-island --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 1187–1204. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.