Mount Putuo
Discover Mount Putuo
Mount Putuo (普陀山 Pǔtuóshān) is an island and National Park in Zhoushan, near Ningbo in Zhejiang province, and derives its name from a sacred Buddhist mountain at the center of the island. Putuoshan reaches only 297 meters above sea level and is 5 km east of Zhoushan island in Zhejiang province. The mountain is dedicated to Guanyin, often known in English as the Goddess of Mercy or the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
What to Experience in Mount Putuo
Taste of Mount Putuo...
There are few English menus available and most staff do not speak any English, even in the larger hotels and restaurants. Don`t forget your English-Chinese dictionary or translation app, especially for food with Chinese characters. Western food is extremely limited on the island -- there is a small 29.9842122.37712 bakery/coffee shop on the main road to Puji Temple, near the tunnel. If you are lucky you may get some toast for breakfast in the larger hotels. If you have a hotel booking you may be met at the wharf by a hotel minibus. Look out for placards in the bus park. There is an information/hotel booking desk at the Wharf, otherwise it is a short walk to the Puji Temple central area, where there is another information centre. Depending on your level of desired hospitality, hotel rooms are available on the island for a variety of prices, ranging from ¥300 to many thousands of ¥ per night. On weekends you pay more, up to double the price. Many of the houses and apartments on the island operate as guesthouses toward the lower end of the price range, but these are not allowed to take foreigners. If the prices seem too high, consider staying in Shenjiamen and taking the ferry (see information about validating your ticket for free re-entry under Fees and Permits). Even cheaper accommodation is available in Zhujiamen, but it's in the centre of the island, far from the ferry. If splashing out at the upper end of the price range is your thing, see the five-star Landison Hotel .
A Rich Past
Explore the historical roots that shaped Mount Putuo into what it is today.
You can only reach this island by ferry, but you have several options for where to embark. Ferries arrive at the 29.9767122.37631 Putuoshan Ferry Terminal (普陀山客运站) at the south end of the island. Most buses arrive at the Zhujiamen ferry terminal. Shenjiamen is also an option, but the 29.9669122.28214 Shenjiamen bus terminal is several km from the ferry terminal. Combined bus+ferry tickets are available to (and presumably also from) Ningbo South bus station, for ¥100, with similar options available for Hangzhou and Shanghai. This includes the ¥30 fast ferry to Zhujiajian. These tickets are sold just to the right of the main ticket office at the Putuoshan ferry terminal, and can save some hassle. Ningbo has regular buses from the Ningbo South bus station to Shenjiamen (¥56, 2 hours) or Zhujiamen (¥72, 2 hours). Shanghai has several departures daily from Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center, Shanghai Nanpu Bridge Bus Center and Shanghai South Long Distance Bus Station (¥138/4-5 hours). From Hangzhou, there are buses from the south bus station (407 qiutaolu 秋涛路407) to the bus station on Zhoushan (shenjiamen 沈家门). Buses depart approximately once per hour, take 3-4 hours, and cost ¥70. No matter how you arrive, it costs ¥160 to land on Putuoshan as the whole island is a National Park. This is collected in a large hall as you leave the ferry dock....
Climate
You can only reach this island by ferry, but you have several options for where to embark. Ferries arrive at the 29.9767122.37631 Putuoshan Ferry Terminal (普陀山客运站) at the south end of the island. Most buses arrive at the Zhujiamen ferry terminal. Shenjiamen is also an option, but the 29.9669122.28214 Shenjiamen bus terminal is several km from the ferry terminal. Combined bus+ferry tickets are available to (and presumably also from) Ningbo South bus station, for ¥100, with similar options available for Hangzhou and Shanghai. This includes the ¥30 fast ferry to Zhujiajian. These tickets are sold just to the right of the main ticket office at the Putuoshan ferry terminal, and can save some hassle. Ningbo has regular buses from the Ningbo South bus station to Shenjiamen (¥56, 2 hours) or Zhujiamen (¥72, 2 hours). Shanghai has several departures daily from Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center, Shanghai Nanpu Bridge Bus Center and Shanghai South Long Distance Bus Station (¥138/4-5 hours).
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsYou can only reach this island by ferry, but you have several options for where to embark. Ferries arrive at the 29.9767122.37631 Putuoshan Ferry Terminal (普陀山客运站) at the south end of the island. Most buses arrive at the Zhujiamen ferry terminal. Shenjiamen is also an option, but the 29.9669122.28214 Shenjiamen bus terminal is several km from the ferry terminal. Combined bus+ferry tickets are available to (and presumably also from) Ningbo South bus station, for ¥100, with similar options available for Hangzhou and Shanghai. This includes the ¥30 fast ferry to Zhujiajian. These tickets are sold just to the right of the main ticket office at the Putuoshan ferry terminal, and can save some hassle. Ningbo has regular buses from the Ningbo South bus station to Shenjiamen (¥56, 2 hours) or Zhujiamen (¥72, 2 hours). Shanghai has several departures daily from Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center, Shanghai Nanpu Bridge Bus Center and Shanghai South Long Distance Bus Station (¥138/4-5 hours)....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
As many bus stops are some distance from the temples, be prepared for some long walks. Furthermore, as bus signs are usually in Chinese characters and pinyin only, it's advisable to write down the name of your destination before you set out. If weather permits, the island is best explored on foot. This allows you to avoid the crowds and also to visit pavilions and temples that are off the beaten track. The return journey can be made by bus. Of course, riding a mountain-bike would also be a great option, no cars, great scenery... But you can not hire bikes on the island. Too bad! A small island to the southeast of Putuo Shan which resembles someone sleeping on their back, 29.9717122.44456 Luojia Shan (洛迦山) can be seen from Bukenqu Temple. An old saying states: 'if you don't visit Luojia Shan, the pilgrimage to Putuo Shan is incomplete'. The ferry to Luojia Shan costs ¥70 return, and departs from the 29.9763122.3797 Luojia Shan ferry port, near the main ferry terminal.
Where to Stay
If you have a hotel booking you may be met at the wharf by a hotel minibus. Look out for placards in the bus park. There is an information/hotel booking desk at the Wharf, otherwise it is a short walk to the Puji Temple central area, where there is another information centre. Depending on your level of desired hospitality, hotel rooms are available on the island for a variety of prices, ranging from ¥300 to many thousands of ¥ per night. On weekends you pay more, up to double the price. Many of the houses and apartments on the island operate as guesthouses toward the lower end of the price range, but these are not allowed to take foreigners. If the prices seem too high, consider staying in Shenjiamen and taking the ferry (see information about validating your ticket for free re-entry under Fees and Permits). Even cheaper accommodation is available in Zhujiamen, but it's in the centre of the island, far from the ferry.
Money & Budget
Near Puji Temple there is a night market that sells a variety of souvenirs, statues and raw seafood, a number of convenience stores, and a few restaurants offering inexpensive meals. There are few English menus available and most staff do not speak any English, even in the larger hotels and restaurants. Don`t forget your English-Chinese dictionary or translation app, especially for food with Chinese characters. Western food is extremely limited on the island -- there is a small 29.9842122.37712 bakery/coffee shop on the main road to Puji Temple, near the tunnel. If you are lucky you may get some toast for breakfast in the larger hotels. If you have a hotel booking you may be met at the wharf by a hotel minibus. Look out for placards in the bus park.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
Some of the trails can be slippery when wet. Several parts of the island are military facilities which are best not entered or photographed.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Mount Putuo
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings
Putuo Mountain Temple,Putuo Mountain,temple,history,Buildings