Putuoshan has been a Buddhist place of pilgrimage for over 1,000 years.

The Three Sacred Temples

As a Buddhist shrine, Mount Putuo boasts a lot of buddhist temples. Among them the three temples below are most important for their religious significance, historic value and the great buddhist art they boast. Each of these temples has imposing architecture and a large collection of art pieces on religious themes.

Puji Temple:This is the  main Temple for worshipping the Guanyin Buddha, the Goddess of Mercy. The temple boasts a mighty bronze Pilu Guanyin Statue with harmonious expression.

Fayu Temple:This temple is famous for its ancient architecture, delicate wood carvings and inscribed calligraphy by ancient emperors.

Huiji Temple:This Temple is ideally located on the peak of Foding Hill, commanding a excellent view of the rising sun in the morning. The temple is famous for its large collection of ancient brick carvings portraying the Guanyin Buddha.

The Grand Guanyin Statue

The four Chinese Buddhist Mountains are each believed to be dominated by a major buddha; Mount Putuo is regarded as the sacred mountain of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and so statues of Guanyin are a dominant theme here. In Chinese Buddhism, Guanyin has been popular among ordinary worshipers for the belief that the buddha is able to save people from poverty, disease and sorrow.

On the Peak of Longwui hill stands a 33m statue of the grand Buddha, erected in 1997 in bronze and gold. Since the completion of this imposing statue, the Buddha has been visited and worshipped by millions of pilgrims annually. The statue itself is a great piece of art, visable by boat far from the island. Today, the statue has become one of Mount Putuo's most symbolic sights.