Putuoshan

Central to Putuoshan is its sacred mountain, dedicated to and honoring the goddess of mercy, Guan Yin. Over eighty monasteries are tucked away in the woods here; of note is the brilliant Puji Monastery (960-1279 CE), painted in rich oranges, golden yellows and reds, off-set by the surrounding ancient forest's green. The structures cling to the mountainside, flanked by antiquated trees at the island's center. In the early morning hours, experience a public ceremony performed daily by the monks, though for a quieter interlude try to explore the temple after the ritual has passed. Ride the street car up to the top of the mountain and work your way down, seeing pagodas and other temples along your way. After a day of hiking and trekking these sacred sites and forests, rest at the Hundred Step Beach. From the Bukenqu Temple, you can see the island of Luojia Shan nearby, and it is said a journey to Putuo Shan is not complete without visiting the temples and scenery of Luojia Shan.