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 Putuoshan
(Putuo Mountain) is located on one of the Zhoushan Islands in
eastern Zhejiang Province, and has an area of 12.5 square kilometers,
with mountain ranges in the northwest, and beaches in the southeast.
Putuoshan is noted for its rough terrain and
exquisite landscape. Its main peak, the Peak of Buddhist Top,
297 meters above sea level. And endowed with the merits of both
a mountain and a sea, commands a bird's eye view of all  the Zhoushan
Islands in the distance. The clouds like sails, scattered about,
and the sea and the sky bore but a same blurred color. The island
cape is encircled by numerous protruding reps and deep hidden
grottoes. The sea beaches are a nice place for strolling and listening
to the sound of tides that ebb and flow. Putuoshan is not only
a sacred place of Buddhism-"Buddhist Land of South Sea,"
but also an ideal summer resort. It has a mild climate, intriguing
surroundings and unique scenery. It's been likened to be a brilliant
and beautiful pearl.
The Temple of Puji:
The existing Grand Hall was rebuilt in the
9th year of Yongzheng Reign (AD 1731) in the Qing Dynasty. It
consists of over 200 structures of various types, and is the chief
temple where Guanyin (a Bodhisattra) is enshrined. The construction
with 9 halls, 12 pavilions and 16 houses, is magnificent and large
in scale, and covers an area of 14,000 square meters. In front
of the Temple lies a Haiyin (Lotus Flowers Pool). Directly facing
the entrance leading to the Temple, are an 8-angled pavilion and
an imperial tablet pavilion built above the center of the pool.
To the southeast of the Temple, stand several pagodas, and to
the southwest, stone tablets.
The Beaches:
The island is surrounded by quite a few beaches.
Baibusha Beach, along the East Coast and 1.5 km. in length, is
the best bathing beach. It is flat and covered with soft golden
sand.
Fanyin Cave (Cave of Buddhist Sound):
It is sandwiched in between two steep cliffs
of some 100-m. in height. The cave, as deep as 100 meters, winds
it's way towards the sea. When the sea swells, the waters pour
into the cave with thunderous roars. A stone stair leads from
the mountain top to a rock platform built into the cave wall,
half way above the bottom with a marvelous view of the sea.
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