Mt Putuo (Putuoshan)

Sacred Buddhist island in the Zhoushan Archipelago, dedicated to Avalokitesvara (Guanyin). One of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains.

Putuoshan is a 12-square-kilometre island in the Zhoushan Archipelago, about 150 kilometres south of Shanghai, and one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China. It is dedicated to Avalokitesvara (Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion), and tradition holds that the Japanese monk Egaku brought a sandalwood Guanyin statue here in 916 CE after being prevented by storms from carrying it to Japan — an event that established the island's sacred association.

The island has over 30 active temples and monasteries spread across its forested hills and coastal cliffs. The three main temple complexes are Puji Temple (the largest, at the island's centre), Fayu Temple (in the southern hills), and Huiji Temple (near the summit of Foding Mountain). The 33-metre bronze Guanyin statue at the island's southern tip, completed in 1997, is the focal point for modern pilgrimage photography; the older temples and their forested approach paths are the more rewarding walking destinations. Three sandy beaches on the eastern coast are swimmable in summer. The island's interior hills are well-forested and the ridge walks between temples are genuinely pleasant.

Most visitors come by ferry from Shenjiamen on Zhoushan or from Ningbo after taking a train from Shanghai — the total journey is around three to four hours. An island entry fee covers the main sites; individual temples sometimes have additional charges. A one-night stay allows you to experience the island at dusk and dawn, when the pilgrimage crowds are lighter and the temple atmosphere is more contemplative. The three Guanyin Festival dates on the lunar calendar (2nd month 19th, 6th month 19th, 9th month 19th) are peak pilgrimage days and significantly busier.