Mount Putuo National Park
Mount Putuo is a national park in China, located on an island in the Zhoushan Archipelago. The coastline of the island is about 12 km. There is no hustle and bustle on the island, as foreigners rarely come here due to its remoteness from the Chinese mainland. The island is sometimes called a small copy of China.
Mount Putuo has long been legendary among Chinese Buddhists, as it is the place of enlightenment of Avalokiteshwar, better known as Kuan Yin. The island is a mountain of rather large size, which is also famous in China. The sacred mountains also include: Wutaishan is the place of Manjushri enlightenment, Ksitigarbhi enlightened in Jiuhuashan, and Samantabhadra enlightened in Emeishan. The name of the mountain originated from the name of the refuge of Guan Yin in the mountains - "Potalaka".
At the moment, Mount Putuo National Park has become an entirely tourist area, which can be divided into 3 parts: Mount Putuo, Mount Luojia and Zhujiajian. The total area of the tour zone is 42 km2. From the northern part of the island, Mount Putuo is the Dragon's Head, little visited by tourists. Therefore, this place is suitable for lovers of solitude.
Although the island is surrounded on all sides by beaches, most of them cannot swim, while the rest are difficult to swim at low tide. Because of this, guests of the island have no choice but to admire the local architecture, which is the cultural heritage of China. The park's attractions include the 33-meter-high figure of the goddess of mercy, Guan Yin, holding a Dharma wheel in her hand, a sign of the Buddha's teachings.
The architectural ensemble of the Puji Temple, constructed back in 1080, is of considerable interest. There is a statue of Guan Yin in the main hall of the temple, and nearby there are other sculptures representing various reincarnations of the deity. There are 33 sculptures in the temple. The "Pagoda of All Treasures" was built near Luji Temple in 1334. There is also a Fai Temple on the island, which began to be built in 1580. Caves and temples for meditation are hidden in the mountains in the center of the island.
This mini version of China is best bypassed on foot to fully enjoy its beauty. Mount Putuo should be visited in the summer, when there are not so many tourists and pilgrims. There are many seafood delicacies on the island that, according to local chefs, you will never taste again.
