Archive for the ‘Putuoshan’ Category

Top 10 Attractions in Putuoshan

Saturday, August 7th, 2021
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If  you are planning either Shanghai tour or Hangzhou tour,  a side trip to Putuoshan 普陀山 ( Mount Putuo Island or Putuo Mountain ) is a bonus if you are interested in beaches, caves,  isles and Buddhist culture.  Putuoshan is the most well known lush island attached to Zhoushan archipelago.

The Location of Mount Putuo

Mount Putuo is the abode of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy,  one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains. The other three sacred mountains of Buddhism in China are Mount Jiuhua, Mount Emei and Mount Wutai.

Every year on February 19, June 19, and September 19 of the Chinese lunar calendar, Putuoshan Island sees a great number of worshipers to come here for the celebration of the birth of Guanyin.

How to get from Ningbo to Putuoshan by Public Transport?

You either take high speed train from Shanghai or Hangzhou to Ningbo. When you arrive at Ningbo High-speed Railway Station, on the arrival floor you can purchase the bus ticket going from Ningbo South Bus Station to Shenjiamen (where you ferry to Putuoshan ).

Exit from the train station and take the bus No.988 ( free with your bus ticket from Ningbo South to Shenjiamen), you get off at Ningbo South Bus Station and interchange for the bus going to Shenjiamen ( the bus ticket you have already bought at the train station.

Arriving at Shenjiamen, you take the local bus No.6, 9 or 20 and get off at Banshengdong Port ( 半升洞码头) where you buy the boat ticket for Putuoshan ( last ticket selling at 5:10 pm)

Boating from Banshengdong to Mount Putuo

You can stay one night at Shenjiamen if you are late for your ferry.

You can also make a day trip or stay overnight at Putuoshan ( Putuo Mountain). There are numerous sites waiting for you to explore – temples,  beaches, caves, markets and island scenery.

When you arrive at Putuoshan, you are required to purchase your entrance ticket. Your entry to the sites in the island is not included in the entrance fee for Putuoshan itself and needed to  be paid separately.

My Top 10 list of the major attractions at Putuoshan is aimed at helping you plan your own trip to this mesmerizing island.

Putuoshan Entrance Fee: RMB160 (Feb-Nov) and RMB140 (Dec -Jan)
Extra Separate Entrance Fees in Putuoshan:
Puji Templ 普济寺:RMB5.00; Fayu Temple 法雨寺:RMB 5.00;  Huiji Temple 慧济寺:RMB 5.00;  Zizulin: 紫竹林:RMB5.00
Dacheng Temple 大乘庵:RMB 2.00;  Nanhai Guanyin 南海观音:RMB 6.00; Xifang Jinyuan西方净苑:RMB2.00
Luojiashan洛伽山:RMB 18.00
Fodingshan Cable car: RMB25 (single)’: RMB40 (return)
Luojiashan Ferry: RMB46

1. Puji Temple 普济寺

Puji Temple is on the central part of Putuoshan,  one of the three largest temples on the island. Located about 1km north of the ferry terminal,  it can be easily reached on foot or taking the local mini-bus.

Confronted by a lake and towered by a large camphor tree, Puji Temple shrines the Goddess of Mercy. It was originally built in Tang Dynasty ( 618 – 907 ).  The present building was rebuilt in Qing Dynasty (1638 – 1644).

The main buildings of the temple comprise Dayuantong Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Buddhist Sutra Hall, palaces with a total of 357 rooms. The main building is Dayuantong Hall that houses the 8.8-meter high statue of Goddess of Mercy.

Puji Temple
Puji Temple

2.  Zizhulin  紫竹林

This Buddhist scenic area is located in the southeast of Putuoshan.  It can be reached by taking bus no.01 from the ferry terminal. It is a quiet and scenic area with stunning views.

Your entry ticket to Zizhulin allows you visit an earliest temple known as Bukenqu Temple dedicated to the Goddess of Mercy and Chaoyin Cave.

Standing on Zzhulin, you are able to have a clear view of the 8.8-meter statue of the Nanhai Goddess of Mercy.  So Zizhulin has the earliest temple- Bukenqu Temple that now houses the earliest statue of Goddess of Mercy.

Zizhulin
Zizhulin

3. South Sea Guanyin 南海观音

Nanhai Guanyin (South Sea Guanyin) is a 33m high statue standing on the  isle to the south tip of Putuoshan (Putuo Mountain). It is definitely the landmark of the island, the first thing you will see on Putuoshan Island when you approach to the ferry terminal.

It is newly built statue of Goddess of Mercy with golden color. The access to the statue is on the same route when you go from the Ferry Terminal to Zizhulin where you get off and walk to the nearest spot to view this magnificent statue.

South Sea Guanyin

4. Luojiashan Island 珞珈山

Luojiashan Island is about 5,3km to the southeast of Putuoshan (Putuo Mountain).  There are two sailings daily from the Ferry Terminal to Luojiashan. The ferry journey takes about 30 minutes and the boat will wait for you for two hours. So you need to be prepared for the trip to the island.

Viewed from a distance, Luojia Shan looks like a huge Buddha lying on the sea.  There is a saying that it is not complete to  pay the pilgrimage to Putuo Shan without going to Luojia Shan.

Luojiashan Island
Luojiashan Island

5.  Huiji Temple 慧济寺

Huijin Temple is one of the three most important temples on Mount Putuo. It is located on the top of Foding Mountain ( Buddha’s Summit Peak), the farthest  from the ferry terminal.  It is a half hour’s climb from Fayu Temple,  with 2088 stone steps.  Alternatively you can reach the summit by cable car.

The buildings of Huiji Temple are  elaborate with traditional style of Chinese architectures. Originally built in Ming Dynasty (1368-1574), it was renovated in Qing Dynasty (1904).   Take Bus no.02 from the Ferry Terminal and get off at the final stop, then take cable or walk up to the top.

Huiji Temple
Huiji Temple

6. Fayu Temple 法雨寺

Fayu Temple is one of the three most important temples on Mount Putuo. It is located 2.8km north of Puji Temple, easily reached by taking Bus 2 from the Ferry Terminal.  It was  originally built in Ming Dynasty ( 1368 -1644 ).

A colossal statue of Goddess of Mercy is seated in the middle of the hall flanked of rows of Luohan. A t the back of the main hall stands the Goddess of Mercy with one-thousand arm.

Fayu Temple
Fayu Temple

7. One Thousand Step Beach千步沙

One Thousand Step Beach is on the east side of Putuoshan Island with a distance of 1750m, hence the name of one thousand step beach. It is soft,clean, unspoilt and the largest beach in the island. On its south is the One Hundred Step Beach.

It is lovely to walk around the beach in the early evening in summer.  You can swim and play sand joyfully. But after 6:00pm, people are not allowed to swim.  Take bus No.02 and get off at the stop of Fayu Temple and walk 200m to the beach.

One Thousand Step Beach
One Thousand Step Beach

8. Duobao Pagoda 多宝塔

Duobao Pagoda is in the  southeast of Mount Putuo, just a short walk from Puji Temple.  You easily take bus 1,2 3 to come here.

This 5-storey pagoda is the oldest remaining relics in the island, originally built in 1334.  It has a two-storey base and 3-storey above, all built of Taihu Rocks.

Duobao Pagoda
Duobao Pagoda

9. Buddhism Museum 佛教博物馆

This newly built museum is just next door to Duobao Pagoda. The Buddhism Museum offers a chance to experience the Buddhist culture by seeing the Buddhist artifacts, objects, and ceramics.

It is the first Buddhist museum in China, developed from the exhibition room attached Puji Temple. Built in the Song Dynasty style, it occupies an area of 3400 square meters. It has seven exhibition rooms with 17,00 exhibits on display.

Buddhism Museum
Buddhism Museum

10. Chaoyang Cave 朝阳洞

In Mount Putuo there are several intriguing caves like Chaoyang Cave, Fanyin Cave and Chaoyin Cave.  Chaoyang Cave is in particular worth a glimpse. The cave faces east to the sea, a wonderful spot to watch the sunrise, hence the name of Chaoyang ( Facing the Sun).

It is located between the One Thousand Step Beach and the One Hundred Step Beach, the best place to see the sunrise. Take bus 2 from the Ferry Terminal and get off at Chaoyang Cave ( admission fee: RMB12).

 Chaoyang Cave
Chaoyang Cave
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Just a kinder reminder:
When you are going to purchase joss sticks ( incense sticks ) for pray, please be vigilant on possible scams – vendors persuade you to spend lots of money to buy various kinds of joss stick for your benefit of so-called good fortune.

Also Be aware of possible fake monks. If a stranger approaches to you and starts up a small talk with you, then you should be vigilant. Remember: Often too good to be true, and no free lunch.

Tip : Hassle-free Zhejiang Guided Tours

Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for guided tours to Zhejiang:

Hangzhou Tour
Zhejiang Tour
Hangzhou Xinye Village & Zhuge Village Day Tour
Zhejiang Water Towns Tour
Ningbo Putuoshan 4 Days Tour
Zhejiang Tailor-Made Tour

Further Readings


Top 10 Attractions in Hangzhou
Top 10 Attractions in Zhejiang
Top 10 Attractions in Putuoshan
How to Get to Zhuge Bagua Village from Hangzhou
How to Visit Wuzhen Water Town
How to Visit Nanxun Water Town

Any questions, just drop a line.

Top 10 Attractions in Zhejiang

Saturday, August 7th, 2021
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Plan your Zhejiang tour? Hangzhou as its capital, Zhejiang is a coastal province south of Shanghai and Jiangsu Province. It is one of the smallest, but one of the most developed provinces in China. Hangzhou itself is a most-sought-after tourist destination as well as the transport hub jumping off for exploring further in the province.

Zhejiang has much more to offer beside the garden city of Hangzhou, which is only a half-hour high speed train ride from Shanghai. There are the old world charm in the north of the province – the old arched stone bridges, a network of rivers and canals that crisscross a slew of water towns; the most well known lush island  off  the east coastline, the famous Buddhist island – Putuoshan, the abode of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy,  one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains.

Zhejiang’s Location

The list can be much longer. Now I have compiled a top 10 list of the best things to do in Zhejiang. Hope my  Top 10 List helps to guide you into the smart decisions about what to see on your trip to Zhejiang.

1. West Lake in Hangzhou  西湖

West Lake is Hangzhou’s front running highlight. West Lake Landscape was crowned as UNESCO World Heritage in 2011, a classical beauty of China – willow-lined banks, half-moon bridges and pagoda-topped hills.

Sunset Glow Over West Lake
Sunset Glow Over West Lake

The best part about the lake is that it well fuses with the downtown of Hangzhou, and you don’t have to pay or go very far to visit the lake. You take a 3-4 hour walk around West Lake, or you hire a bike from the lakeside bike rental booths and cycle around lake. The third choice is to take the Tourist Bus No.Y1 and Y2 that run around the lake.

For more information on the West Lake, check out:
The Pure and Fresh Winter Beauty of West Lake in Hangzhou
West Lake Sunrise and Sunset
Snow Turns West Lake Hangzhou into a White Fairyland
Night View of West Lake in Hangzhou
The Best Place to View Sunrise over West Lake Hangzhou
The Best hiking trail around the West Lake in Hangzhou
Hangzhou Bicycle Hire
Walk around West Lake in early morning Hangzhou
Night View of West Lake in Hangzhou
West Lake Musical Fountain
Beishan Road on the northshore of West Lake
Stroll along Su Causeway in Hangzhou
Leifeng Pagoda on the southshore of West Lake

2. Wuzhen Water Town  & Nanxun Old  Town  乌镇和南浔古镇

Wuzhen Water Town is one of the best preserved ancient water towns in the Yangtze River Delta. Wuzhen Water Village have two zones which are open to tourists: Wuzhen Dongzha (East Scenic Zone) and Wuzhen Xizha (West Scenic Zone).  Both the two zones are charged separately. Most people choose to visit East Area which is getting very crowded and commercialized. Some local residents still live in Wuzhen Dongzha (East Area).

Nanxun Water Town
Nanxun Water Town

Nanxun Ancient Town was once the most affluent among the water towns in Yangtze River Delta Area. Nanxun was once the silk production and trade center in the ancient China and home to many wealthy Chinese businessmen. These elite Chinese constructed many typical Chinese traditional buildings along rivers and canals with typical water town features. What sets it apart from other water towns is the interesting blend of European style and Chinese style architectures.

For more information, check out:
How to Visit Wuzhen Water Town
How to Visit Nanxun Water Town

3. Putuoshan  普陀山

Mount Putuo is the abode of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy,  one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains.   Putuoshan is the most well known lush island attached to Zhoushan Archipelago off the east coastline of Zhejiang.

South Sea Guanyin Statue on Putuoshan
South Sea Guanyin Statue on Putuoshan

Now Putuoshan ( Mount Putuo Island ) can be easily reached from Shanghai and Hangzhou by air, road  and boats. If you take air or drive overland, you first get to Zhoushan Island and then connect a 20-minute ferry to Putuoshan; if going by boat, you may reach Putuoshan directly or via Shengjiamen Wharf at Zhoushan Island where change for regular boats for Putuoshan.

For more information Putuoshan, check out:
Top 10 Attractions in Putuoshan

4. Mount Mogan  莫干山

Situated 60 km from Hangzhou and 200 km from Shanghai, Mount Mogan is in the same name national park – the Moganshan National Park.

Mt. Mogan
Mt. Mogan

Moganshan Town is the base for Mount Mogan. The mountain is well known for its cool temperatures during the hot summer and a perfect summer resort.

5. Qiandao Lake ( One Thousand-Island Lake ) 千岛湖

Hangzhou Thousand Islands Lake is located in Chun’an County, about 186km to the southwest of Hangzhou. It lies in the midway between Hangzhou and Huangshan.

Qiandao Lake
Qiandao Lake

The islands in the lake include Bird Island, Snake Island, Monkey Island, Lock Island and more, a hot tourist destination.

6. Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai 天台山国清寺

Guoqing Temple is a Buddhist temple on Mount Tiantai in the east Zhejiang Province, about 220 km from the city of Hangzhou.

Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai
Guoqing Temple on Mount Tiantai

Originally built in 598 AD during the Sui Dynasty, it was the initial site for the creation of the Tiantai school of Mahayana Buddhism.

7. Yandang Mountains 雁荡山

Yandang Mountains (or Yandangshan) is a coastal mountain range in southeastern Zhejiang province. In the mountain areas there are also plentiful temples and shrines with a long history.

Yandang Mountains
Yandang Mountains

Yandang is well known for its natural beauty – vertical rock faces and pinnacles, mountain slopes with green forests and bamboo groves, placid streams, gushing waterfalls and mysterious caves.

8. Xinye Village & Zhuge Village 新叶和诸葛村

Xinye is a historic Chinese village in Jiande, about 175 km southwest of Hangzhou. Formed in the Southern Song Dynasty(1127–1279), Xinye is well known for its well-preserved Ming and Qing era architecture and ancient residential buildings.

Xinye Village
Xinye Village

Zhuge Village is also a historic Chinese village located in Lanxi, about 12 km south of Xinye Village. The village residents are the descendants of the famed Shu Han chancellor Zhuge Liang of the 3rd century AD, hence the name of the village – Zhuge Village. The village is noted for its architectural composition arranged in an orderly fashion, according to the bagua principles of feng shui, earning it the moniker of Zhuge Bagua Village.

Check out How to Get to Zhuge Bagua Village from Hangzhou for more information.

9. Former Residence of Lu Xun 鲁迅故居

Lu Xun was the pen name of Zhou Shuren (25 September 1881 – 19 October 1936), a leading figure of modern Chinese literature.

Former Residence of Lu Xun
Former Residence of Lu Xun

The residence, a two-storied wooden structure in traditional style, is located at the present
208 Lu Xun Road in Shaoxing. Lu Xun lived here until he went to study abroad.

10. Tian Yi Pavilion 天一阁

Located in Ningbo, Tian Yi Pavilion ( or Tianyi library ) is the oldest existing library in China. Set up in 1561 by Fan Qin during the Ming dynasty (1368 – 1644), it once had a collection of over 70,000 volume of antique books during its prime time.

Tian Yi Pavilion
Tian Yi Pavilion

After visiting Tian Yi Pvilion, the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty ( 1644 – 1911) ordered officials to build several imperial libraries after Tian Yi Pavilion including Wenyuan Pavilion in the Forbidden City, and Wenjin Pavilion in the Chengde Mountain Resort to house the Siku Quanshu encyclopedia.

Tip : Hassle-free Zhejiang Guided Tours

Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for guided tours to Zhejiang:

Hangzhou Tour
Zhejiang Tour
Hangzhou Xinye Village & Zhuge Village Day Tour
Zhejiang Water Towns Tour
Ningbo Putuoshan 4 Days Tour
Zhejiang Tailor-Made Tour

Further Readings


Top 10 Attractions in Hangzhou
Top 10 Attractions in Zhejiang
Top 10 Attractions in Putuoshan
How to Get to Zhuge Bagua Village from Hangzhou
How to Visit Wuzhen Water Town
How to Visit Nanxun Water Town

Any questions, just drop a line.