Putuoshan Travel Guide 2026 - Nanhai Guanyin, Puji Temple, Fayu Temple & Island Ferries

What's inside this guide Bucket List · Highlights · Q&A · Itineraries · Attractions · Activities · Where to Stay · Food · Getting Around · Shopping · Practical Info · Day Trips · Tips · Background · Plan Your Trip

Putuoshan Bucket Listthe statue, the temples and the island seas

Face the Nanhai Guanyin

The 33-metre bronze statue above the eastern shore - the island's great landmark, with the Zizhu Forest, the Bukequ Guanyin Temple and the Chaoyin Cave beside it.

Kneel at Puji Temple

The great temple of the island with its 8-metre Pilu Guanyin - the RMB 5 incense ticket and the vegetarian lunch at RMB 10 from 10:30.

Climb to Huiji Temple

The temple on the peak of the island - the cableway at RMB 35 single / RMB 50 return (07:00-16:30), or the 30-minute climb from Fayu Temple.

Hear the sound caves

The Chaoyin and Fanyin caves of the east coast - the surf roars through the rocks where the pilgrims of old heard the bodhisattva.

Walk the soft sands

Baibu Sand and Qianbu Sand on the east shore - the gentlest beaches of the island, free with the gate ticket.

Sail to Luojia Shan

The sister islet of Guanyin across the water - RMB 67 with the round boat; the morning sailings at 7:00, 8:00 and 13:00.

Top Highlightsthe shrines of the sea-girt island

No.1
Nanhai GuanyinThe bronze statue above the eastern shore.
No.2
The golden GuanyinThe Zizhu Forest statue against the blue.
No.3
The pilgrim terraceThe visitors and the incense of the terrace.

Questions & Answerswhat travellers always ask about Putuoshan

How many days do I need on Putuoshan?

One day covers the main temples and the Nanhai Guanyin; two allow the east-coast caves and a sunrise; three add Luojia Shan and the quiet sands.

How much is the gate ticket?

RMB 140 in the low season (January and December), RMB 160 in the high season (February-November), RMB 200 on the first to fifth days of the lunar month and the May Day / National Day holidays; students pay RMB 70 and entry is free after 17:30.

How do I reach the island?

The Shenjiamen Ban Sheng Dong ferry (RMB 22, four sailings 7:20-16:10) or the speedboat (RMB 28, every 20 minutes); the Zhujiajian Wu Gong Zhi ferry (RMB 22, speedboat RMB 24); the Shanghai Wusong night boat at 20:00 (RMB 109-499, +86 21 5657 5500).

Are there taxis on the island?

No - the island runs tourist buses from 6:00 to 17:00 at RMB 2-10 per ride; the cableway to Huiji Temple is RMB 35 single / RMB 50 return (07:00-16:30).

When are the great festivals?

The incense festivals of the 19th of the 2nd, 6th and 9th lunar months - the pilgrim tides triple the crowds and the gate ticket rises to RMB 200 on the peak days.

Where do I eat the vegetarian lunch?

The Puji Temple dining hall serves the vegetarian lunch at RMB 10 from 10:30; the Guan Yin cake is the island snack.

Can ToursChinaTravel arrange my Putuoshan trip?

Yes - email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp. Our team books the ferries, the gate tickets, the hotels and the temple visits, free of charge and without obligation.

Sample Itinerariesthe pilgrimage day and the three-day retreat

Pilgrimage - One Day

The gate, the great temples and the Nanhai Guanyin in a single day. View the plan →

Day 1

07:30 the morning ferry from Shenjiamen; 08:30 Puji Temple and the RMB 5 incense fee; 11:00 the cableway to Huiji Temple; 13:30 the Nanhai Guanyin and the Zizhu Forest; 15:30 the Chaoyin Cave; 17:00 the return ferry.

Meditation - Three Days

The temples, the caves and the quiet sands of the island retreat. View the plan →

Day 1

Morning the Puji Temple and the vegetarian lunch; afternoon the Nanhai Guanyin and the Zizhu Forest; evening the sunset at Qianbu Sand.

Day 2

Morning the cableway to Huiji Temple and the peak; afternoon the Fayu Temple and the east-coast caves; night the temple night prayers.

Day 3

Morning the boat to Luojia Shan and the sister shrine; afternoon the Baibu Sand and the island gardens before the return ferry.

All plans are bookable end-to-end by our team — see the full day-by-day Putuoshan itineraries hub, or the day-trip pages for single-day options.

Top Attractionstickets, hours, transport & insider tips

Nanhai Guanyin Statue

The 33-metre bronze statue above the eastern shore - the landmark of the island; the Zizhu Forest, the Bukequ Guanyin Temple and the Chaoyin Cave sit beside it, all covered by the gate ticket.

In gate ticket · All day · Buddha · Landmark

View details →

Puji Temple

The great temple of the island with the 8-metre Pilu Guanyin - the RMB 5 incense fee; the vegetarian lunch at RMB 10 from 10:30; the pilgrims circle the hall clockwise.

RMB 5 · 08:00-18:00 · Temple · Pilgrimage

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Fayu Temple

The second great temple of the island - the RMB 5 incense fee; the halls climb the slope below the peak, the oldest built in the Ming dynasty.

RMB 5 · 08:00-18:00 · Temple · Ming Dynasty

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Huiji Temple

The temple on the island peak - the cableway at RMB 35 single / RMB 50 return (07:00-16:30) or the 30-minute climb from Fayu Temple; the fog-free mornings give the island panorama.

RMB 5 · 08:00-16:30 · Temple · Peak

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Zizhu Forest & Bukequ Guanyin

The bamboo grove where the Japanese monk Huie is said to have left the Guanyin statue that would not sail - the Bukequ (Unwilling-to-Go) Guanyin Temple stands on the shore.

In gate ticket · All day · Buddha · Legend

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Chaoyin & Fanyin Caves

The sound caves of the east coast - the surf thunders through the rock arches; the pilgrims sit on the ledges to hear the 'voice of the sea'; in the gate ticket.

In gate ticket · All day · Caves · Coast

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Baibu & Qianbu Sand

The two soft sand beaches of the east shore - free with the gate ticket; the morning light on the surf is the island's gentlest scene.

In gate ticket · All day · Beach · Sunrise

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Luojia Shan Island

The sister islet of Guanyin across the water - RMB 67 with the round boat; the sailings leave at 7:00, 8:00 and 13:00 and stop about 1.5 hours on the islet.

RMB 67 · Morning sailings · Island · Pilgrimage

View details →

More in the region on the Zhejiang attractions page.

Activities & Festivalsthe festivals and the island rites

The Three Incense Festivals

The 19th of the 2nd, 6th and 9th lunar months - the great pilgrim tides circle the temples with incense and offerings.

The Nanhai Guanyin Culture Festival

The November festival of the island - the sutra readings, the ceremonies and the cultural performances of the Buddhist sea and sky.

Releasing Life

The pilgrims release fish and birds at the designated points of the shore - the act of compassion that gives the island its name.

The Vegetarian Lunch

The Puji Temple dining hall serves the monastic lunch at RMB 10 from 10:30 - sit with the monks and the pilgrims.

Where to Staythe guesthouses of the shrine quarter

Every hotel below is bookable by our team; browse the full Zhejiang hotels directory.

Zizhu Forest guesthouses

The guesthouses near the Zizhu Forest and Fayu Temple - the pilgrimage quarter; in the peak seasons (Spring Festival, May Day, National Day) the rooms run RMB 500-1,000.

Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Putuoshan Xingsheng Hotel

The central hotel of the island - the convenience of the temple quarter.

Phone: Not published · Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Island family inns

The family inns of the villages between the temples - the simple rooms and the home seafood of the island.

Book: Zhejiang hotels · or email [email protected]

Food & Restaurantsthe monastic meals and the island seafood

Puji Temple vegetarian lunch

The monastic lunch at RMB 10 from 10:30 - the seasonal vegetables and the tofu of the temple kitchen.

Guanyin Cake

The steamed cake of the island - the soft sweet snack sold at the temple gates.

Xiangsheng Hotel Chinese Restaurant

The seafood and the island dishes at the Hexing West Garden, Hexing village - from RMB 100-300 per head; +86 580 6696 666.

Phone: +86 580 6696 666

Shopping & Souvenirsincense, beads and the island crafts

Incense & offerings

The incense bundles (RMB 15 small / RMB 36 large) and the paper offerings at the temple gates - the pilgrims' standard kit.

Prayer beads

The sandalwood and seed beads of the shrine shops - the classic souvenir of the island.

Guan Yin cakes & dried fruits

The island sweets and the dried fruits of the coastal groves.

Full local-product guides live on the Zhejiang specialties page.

Getting There & Aroundby ferry, speedboat and the island bus

From Shenjiamen The Ban Sheng Dong ferry at RMB 22 (four sailings 7:20-16:10) or the speedboat at RMB 28 (every 20 minutes); the enquiry line +86 580 3013 775.