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.

Understand
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.

This is by far the lowest and among the most accessible of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism (the others being Emeishan, Wutaishan, and Jiuhuashan), and because it's a small, forested island, the space available for visitors is somewhat constrained. This can make it quite crowded and far from tranquil, especially around the most famous temples. However, the island still retains a special atmosphere and natural surroundings, and seems more laid-back than many similar tourist destinations. With roughly 80 temples on the island, of which only about three are famous, it's easy to find more-obscure, less-crowded options.

There is an accommodation bureau at the port. The staff are extremely helpful, and provide reliable information on hotels and guest houses on the island. During national holidays and the nights before Guanyin's three birthdays it is advisable to make prior room reservations, but this is not generally necessary at other periods.

Another tourist office is on the main square near Puji temple, and this is a good place to pick up free English-language guides and maps.

By boat
You can only reach this island by ferry, but you have several options for where to embark. Ferries arrive at the (普陀山客运站) at the south end of the island.









By Bus
Most buses arrive at the Zhujiamen ferry terminal. Shenjiamen is also an option, but the 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.

Fees and permits
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. If the accommodation options on the island are too extortionate for your tastes, you can get free re-entry if you register your face at the "visa office" on the right after leaving the ticket hall. You will then need to find the facial recognition gates when you return the next day.

Unlike at many other Chinese national parks, transportation around the island and to Luojiashan is not included in the ticket. The efficient shuttle bus network links all the island's main attractions, and charges either ¥5 or 10 per ride, depending on the distance. The destinations and costs are posted at each bus stop. The return trip to Luojiashan costs ¥70.

Get 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!

Luojia Shan
A small island to the southeast of Putuo Shan which resembles someone sleeping on their back, (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, near the main ferry terminal. There are at least two sailings per day, at least one in the morning and one in the afternoon, and the journey takes about 20 minutes. At busy times, the ferries may run every 20-30 minutes or there may be one or two extra sailings, so check the schedule or ask. The ferry stays at Luojia Shan for two hours before returning to Putuo Shan, so it is important to keep your eye on the time. Accessing nearly anything interesting on Luojia Shan requires passing over the main ridge, so be prepared for some stair climbing. The island has no food or accommodation, nor any commercial activity at all, aside from four drink vending machines which do not accept cash or cards.



Do

 * Relax There are two beautiful beaches near to the main hotels on Putuoshan, namely and . The former has facilities such as lockers and showers, lounge chairs and parasols for hire, with quadbikes and banana boats also available. At night, Hundred Step Beach is sometimes used to host karaoke parties. Thousand Step Beach is longer and more peaceful but no facilities are available and signs forbid swimming. Another beach immediately south of Hundred Step Beach is closed to the public. The, despite having a village next to it, is not as developed or patrolled as Hundred Step Beach.
 * Relax There are two beautiful beaches near to the main hotels on Putuoshan, namely and . The former has facilities such as lockers and showers, lounge chairs and parasols for hire, with quadbikes and banana boats also available. At night, Hundred Step Beach is sometimes used to host karaoke parties. Thousand Step Beach is longer and more peaceful but no facilities are available and signs forbid swimming. Another beach immediately south of Hundred Step Beach is closed to the public. The, despite having a village next to it, is not as developed or patrolled as Hundred Step Beach.
 * Relax There are two beautiful beaches near to the main hotels on Putuoshan, namely and . The former has facilities such as lockers and showers, lounge chairs and parasols for hire, with quadbikes and banana boats also available. At night, Hundred Step Beach is sometimes used to host karaoke parties. Thousand Step Beach is longer and more peaceful but no facilities are available and signs forbid swimming. Another beach immediately south of Hundred Step Beach is closed to the public. The, despite having a village next to it, is not as developed or patrolled as Hundred Step Beach.

Buy
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.

Eat

 * Temple food. Inexpensive (¥5-12) vegetarian fare is available at many of the temples. Options are available for all three meals, but lunch is the easiest to find. Lunch can start as early as 10:30 and ends at 11.30-12.00, and dinner will be 16.00-17.00 or 16:30-17:30. Breakfast is the hardest to find, and will be finished by 07:30.
 * Vegetarian. As a Buddhist island, most of the island's restaurants offer a good selection of vegetarian dishes.
 * Chinese dishes. The hotels near Puji Temple have restaurants that are open to non-residents.
 * Seafood. The, south of the ferry terminal, boasts many seafood restaurants with an excellent fresh selection. Prices are 20-25% dearer than the mainland, but the quality of shellfish and fish is first rate. The non-Chinese speaker will have to point to the display and hope for the best.

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 /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.

Drink

 * Putuoshan Beer is served in a number of the hotel restaurants and is worth a drink if only for novelty value.

Lodging
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.

Camping
Not allowed in the park.

Backcountry
This park doesn't have a backcountry.

Stay safe
Some of the trails can be slippery when wet. Several parts of the island are military facilities which are best not entered or photographed.

Go next

 * Ningbo, Shanghai, and the rest of Zhoushan are within easy reach of Mount Putuo.