National park · China
Mount Putuo普陀山
Give Mount Putuo one full day and one night: ferry in from Zhujiajian before 08:00, walk Puji to Fayu to the Foding Shan steps, and skip the cable car queue by climbing; day-trippers leave by 16:00 and the island empties.Give Mount Putuo one full day and one night: ferry in from Zhujiajian before 8:00 AM, walk Puji to Fayu to the Foding Shan steps, and skip the cable car queue by climbing; day-trippers leave by 4:00 PM and the island empties.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
13 km² (5 sq mi)5 sq mi (13 km²)
approximate
Established
1982
Best months
Apr, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 13 km² (5 sq mi)5 sq mi (13 km²)
- Island area is often quoted at about 12–13 km² (check); the protected area boundary differs from the island outline.
- Established
- 1982
- Best months
- Apr, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Mount Putuo is a forested island 5 km off Zhoushan, dedicated to Guanyin and one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism — and by far the lowest and easiest of them, at 297 m. Roughly 80 temples sit among the trees, but only three draw crowds: Puji, Fayu and Huiji. Because the island is small, the famous circuit is congested by mid-morning; the fix is to walk it early, sleep on the island, and spend the afternoon on the quiet northern and eastern paths.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Special national siteState-level scenic area; the island is also a Buddhist pilgrimage site (check).
Size and age
13 km² (5 sq mi)5 sq mi (13 km²) · national park since 1982
Island area is often quoted at about 12–13 km² (check); the protected area boundary differs from the island outline.
Why go
- The most accessible of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains: a 15-minute ferry, not a multi-day approach.
- Three working monasteries — Puji, Fayu and Huiji — with monks, chanting and vegetarian halls, not museum rooms.
- A walkable island: no private cars, forest paths between temples, and two beaches.
- The 33 m South Sea Guanyin statue and the cliff carvings at Chao Yindong, both on the south coast.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayGo
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, damp, windy; ferries can be rough
- FebLunar New Year crush; book beds
- MarMild; mist and drizzle
- AprWarm, green, manageable crowds
- MayWarm; busy around 1 May holidays
- JunPlum-rain humidity; wet steps
- JulHot and humid; typhoon season starts
- AugTyphoon peak; ferries may be suspended
- SepStorm tails; still hot
- OctDry, clear, best walking
- NovCool and dry; quiet weekdays
- DecCold but clear; few visitors
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest birds and butterflies on the quiet pathsApr–Jun | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Pilgrim crowds at Guanyin's three birthdays (lunar 2/19, 6/19, 9/19)Mar–Apr, Jul–Aug, Oct–Nov · Dates shift each year with the lunar calendar; book beds and ferry tickets ahead. | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | no | yes | yes | no |
| Typhoon season swells and ferry suspensionsJul–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Zhujiajian ferry terminal
Fast ferry to Putuoshan ferry terminal, roughly every 15 minutes, 07:00–22:00.Fast ferry to Putuoshan ferry terminal, roughly every 15 minutes, 7:00 AM–10:00 PM.
12 min
From Shenjiamen ferry terminal
Fast ferry every 20 minutes, 06:00–17:30; slower ferry a few times a day.Fast ferry every 20 minutes, 6:00 AM–5:30 PM; slower ferry a few times a day.
15 min
From Ningbo
Bus to Zhujiajian or Shenjiamen, then ferry; combined bus-and-ferry tickets are sold.
2 h bus + ferry
Open the page →
From Shanghai
Daily buses to Zhoushan, then ferry; or the overnight ferry from Wusong on set days (check schedule).
4–5 h
Open the page →
From Hangzhou
Bus to Shenjiamen roughly hourly, then ferry.
3–4 h
From Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport (HSN)
On Zhujiajian; local bus north to the ferry terminal.
20 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| South coast (Puji and the port) | Ferry terminal, Puji Monastery, Sea Seal Pool, South Sea Guanyin, Hundred Step Beach. | Open with the island ticket; the busiest zone. |
| Central ridge (Fayu and Foding Shan) | Fayu Monastery, Thousand Step Beach, the stair climb to Huiji Monastery and the summit ridge. | Open; climb on foot or take the cable car. |
| East coast (Fanyin and Shancai caves) | Quiet forest paths, Fanyin Cave and Shancai Cave above the shore. | Open; short bus ride plus a walk. |
| North (Northern Village and the tip) | Abandoned village, earthen paths, military land beyond. | Walk in from the lower cable car station; do not enter military areas. |
| Luojia Shan | Small island southeast with Miaozhan Pagoda and two monasteries. | Separate return ferry; no food or lodging. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions across the island, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Island entry ticket (scenic area) | CNY 160–200 (≈ US$25–30) | person | 2026 estimate; peak-season and low-season rates differ (check). |
| Fast ferry, Zhujiajian to Putuoshan | CNY 30 (≈ US$5) | person | About 12 minutes; ID required for the ticket. |
| Fast ferry, Shenjiamen to Putuoshan | CNY 30 (≈ US$5) | person | About 15 minutes; a slower ferry on the same route costs less (check). |
| Temple admission, Puji / Fayu / Huiji | CNY 5 (≈ under US$1) | person | Separate small charge at each monastery. |
| South Sea Guanyin statue | CNY 6 (≈ under US$1) | person | — |
| Cable car to Foding Shan | CNY 40 (≈ US$6) | person | Return fare (check); the stair climb is free. |
| Ferry to Luojia Shan | CNY 70 (≈ US$10) | person | Return; the boat waits about 2 hours on the island. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Island entry ticket permit or guide
Photo ID for ferry tickets permit or guide
Military areas no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- CN¥160–200≈ US$25–30
- CN¥30≈ US$5
- CN¥30≈ US$5
- CN¥5≈ under US$1
- CN¥6≈ under US$1
- CN¥40≈ US$6
- CN¥70≈ US$10
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport before you go.
Park rules
- Military land
- Parts of the island, especially the north and the summit ridge, are military; do not enter or photograph them.
- Camping
- Not allowed on the island; sleep in hotels or guesthouses.
- Swimming
- Only at Hundred Step Beach, where facilities and patrols exist; signs forbid swimming at Thousand Step Beach.
- Temple etiquette
- Keep quiet in halls, do not point your feet at statues, and ask before photographing monks or worshippers.
- Litter and fires
- Carry out rubbish; no open fires on the island.
Where to stay
In the park
Puji Temple area
Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and the night market, all walkable from the port.
In the park
Northern and east coast guesthouses
Quieter beds away from the temple circuit; longer walks to food.
Near the park
Shenjiamen
Mainland base with cheaper rooms and a 15-minute ferry; check re-entry rules if you plan to return the same day.
Near the park
Zhujiajian
Closest to the airport and the big ferry terminal, but far from the island's sights.
Safety
Slippery stone steps when wet medium
Crowds at Puji and on ferries medium
Typhoons and ferry suspensions high
Heat and humidity in summer medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The port, Puji Monastery area and the coast road are reachable by shuttle bus with short, mostly level walks.
- The Foding Shan stair climb and the Luojia Shan ridge are steep and not suitable for limited mobility; the cable car covers part of the climb.
Visiting lightly
- Stay overnight rather than day-tripping: one ferry crossing instead of two, and money stays on the island.
- Eat in the temple vegetarian halls or local guesthouses instead of imported hotel food.
- Carry out everything you bring in; island waste has to be shipped to the mainland.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Mount Putuo?
The island entry ticket is roughly ¥160–200 per person in 2026 (check the current peak and low-season rates). On top of that you pay the ferry — about ¥30 fast from either Zhujiajian or Shenjiamen — plus ¥5 at each of the three main monasteries, ¥6 at the South Sea Guanyin statue, and ¥40 return for the cable car if you use it.
What are the best hikes in Mount Putuo?
The Foding Shan stair climb from near Fayu Monastery to Huiji Monastery takes about an hour up and is the only real climb. The Puji-to-Fayu coast walk is a flat 2–3 hours between the two main temples, and the east coast forest path to Fanyin and Shancai caves is the quietest half-day walk. On Luojia Shan, reaching the pagoda and monasteries means crossing the ridge on stairs.
When is the best time to visit Mount Putuo?
April and October–November: warm or cool, mostly dry, and outside the worst crowds. Avoid January for cold and wind, and July–September for typhoon risk and ferry suspensions. Lunar New Year and Guanyin's three birthdays fill every bed on the island, so book ahead if you travel then.
Do I need to stay overnight on Mount Putuo?
It is not required, but it changes the trip. Day-trippers arrive from about 08:00 and leave by late afternoon; staying one night lets you walk the temple circuit before the crowds and see the quiet paths in the evening. Rooms run from about ¥300 to several thousand per night, with weekends costing more.
How do I get to Mount Putuo?
Only by ferry. Fast boats run from Zhujiajian (12 minutes) and Shenjiamen (15 minutes), both on Zhoushan island, roughly every 15–20 minutes. Buses reach Zhoushan from Ningbo in about 2 hours, Hangzhou in 3–4 hours and Shanghai in 4–5 hours; Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport is on Zhujiajian next to the ferry terminal. Bring your passport — ID is required for ferry tickets.
Is Mount Putuo worth it compared with the other sacred mountains?
Yes, if you want the Buddhist mountain experience without a multi-day trek. It is the lowest and most accessible of the four, with working monasteries, vegetarian temple food and forest paths, but the small island means the famous temples get crowded. If you want a bigger mountain walk instead, see the Tiantaishan tips.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go