Buddhist pilgrimage — Putuoshan, Wutaishan, Emei and Jiuhua, 10 days

Day by day

1. Day 1 · putuoshan

   Arrive Putuoshan — Guanyin island

   Ferry from Ningbo or Zhoushan to Putuoshan island (the sacred island of Guanyin, goddess of mercy). Check in near the Puji Temple, the main monastery. Afternoon walk the temple circuit. The island is car-free; getting around is on foot or golf buggy.

   Stay in: Putuoshan island — guesthouses near Puji Temple.

2. Day 2 · putuoshan

   Puji Temple, Fayu Temple, Huiji Temple

   Three main temples on the island, each at different elevations. Puji is the grandest (1,000-year-old monastery). Huiji is on the summit with cable car access. Fanyin Cave on the eastern cliff at dawn for the sea mist. The island circuit can be walked in a day.

3. Day 3 · wutaishan

   Travel to Wutaishan, Taihuai village

   Return ferry and train journey to Wutaishan (Shanxi province) — typically via Ningbo → Taiyuan → Wutai. A full day's travel. Wutaishan is the sacred mountain of Manjushri bodhisattva — a plateau at 1,700m in Shanxi, home to over 50 monasteries.

   Stay in: Taihuai village — the main settlement within the Wutaishan valley.

   Ferry Putuoshan → Ningbo then train to Taiyuan then bus to Wutaishan, full day.

4. Day 4 · wutaishan

   Wutai monastery circuit

   Morning: Xiantong Monastery (the oldest on the mountain, Han dynasty origins). Pusading Monastery (Tibetan style, active Mongolian Buddhist community). Afternoon: Shuxiang Monastery. Evening: the chanting sessions that begin before dusk — audible throughout the valley.

5. Day 5 · wutaishan

   North Peak, Dailuo Summit

   Climb by cable car or foot to the Dailuo Summit (3,061m) — the highest of Wutai's five terraces. Views over the plateau and distant Shanxi plains. Descent by the north face path. Afternoon: Nanchan Monastery (Tang dynasty original timber framing — the oldest surviving wooden building in China).

6. Day 6 · emei

   Travel to Mount Emei

   Train journey Wutaishan → Chengdu (via Xi'an or direct, approximately 8–10h). Arrive Chengdu, overnight or continue to Emei by train (3h).

   Attractions: mount-emei

   Stay in: Emei Shan town.

   Train Wutaishan → Chengdu → Emei Shan, full day.

7. Day 7 · emei

   Mount Emei ascent

   Bus to the mid-mountain area (Wannian Temple base) and cable car to Golden Summit (3,077m). The Summit temple is often in cloud — a deliberately atmospheric quality for a sacred site. Macaque monkeys inhabit the forest section; keep food out of sight.

   Attractions: mount-emei

8. Day 8 · leshan

   Leshan Giant Buddha, travel to Jiuhuashan

   Morning at the Leshan Giant Buddha (70m cliff statue, same Sichuan area). Begin the long journey east to Jiuhuashan: train Leshan → Chengdu, then flight or overnight train to Jiuhuashan (Anhui), arriving the following morning.

   Attractions: leshan-giant-buddha

   Train Leshan → Chengdu then overnight train or flight to Qingyang (Anhui).

9. Day 9 · jiuhuashan

   Jiuhuashan — Ksitigarbha's mountain

   Jiuhuashan is the sacred mountain of Ksitigarbha (Dizang Pusa), the bodhisattva of the underworld. More granite peaks and forested slopes than Emei — quieter, more intimate. Huacheng Monastery is the main site; Baisui Gong (One-Hundred-Year Palace) has a preserved monk's body regarded as sacred. Cable car available to upper levels.

   Stay in: Jiuhua village.

10. Day 10 · shanghai

    Return to Shanghai or Beijing, depart

    Train from Qingyang to Nanjing or Shanghai (3–4h). If time allows: Nanjing's Confucius Temple area for a brief visit before the onward train to Shanghai. Fly home from SHA or PVG.

    Train Jiuhuashan → Nanjing/Shanghai, then flight home.

Budget guide (CNY per day)

Per person total 10 days. Travel between mountains is the major cost — allow ¥1,500–2,000 for all transport. Monastery accommodation (simple) is available at Wutai and Emei for ¥80–200. International flights excluded.