Mount Putuo, the Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky

Mount Putuo, the Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky

• “Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky” is the perfect depiction of Mount Putuo’s scenic splendor, making it an ideal backdrop for visitors to take photos.

Attraction Introduction

The “Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky” stone carving is located on a massive boulder beside Xiangyun Road, and is one of the iconic cliff inscriptions on Mount Putuo. It sits right alongside the mountain path from Fayu Temple to Huiji Temple, so if you’re hiking up, you definitely won’t miss it. The four characters “Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky” aptly capture the essence of Mount Putuo’s landscape, which is why many visitors choose to take photos here.

This carving was written by Hou Jigao, a famous Ming Dynasty general known for resisting Japanese pirates, with each character being one square meter in size. Above this huge rock also stands a smaller stone inscribed with “Cloud-Supporting Rock,” accompanied by other cliff carvings such as “Sea of Clouds” and “A World Apart,” which you can take time to appreciate if interested. By the time you reach this point, you’re close to the summit of Foding Mountain—perfect for stopping to snap a photo, rest a bit, then continue on your way up to Huiji Temple at the top.

Address: Foding Mountain, Putuo District, Zhoushan City

Type: Geological Landform

Suggested Visiting Time: 3–10 minutes

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the general admission ticket for Mount Putuo Scenic Area.

Transportation

Transportation on Mount Putuo

There are two dedicated bus lines connecting the major attractions on Mount Putuo.

Line 1: East of Puji Temple (Baibu Sha) – Baibu Pavilion – Purple Bamboo Forest (Guanyin of the South Sea Outdoor Statue) – Enter Samadhi (Nantianmen) – Ferry Terminal – Haifang Xincun (Xishan Xincun Zone 1) – Seafood Park (Xishan Xincun Zone 2) – Baotuo Restaurant – West of Puji Temple (West Mountain Scenic Area Entrance)

Line 2: Ferry Terminal – Enter Samadhi (Nantianmen) – Purple Bamboo Forest (Guanyin of the South Sea Outdoor Statue) – Baibu Pavilion – East of Puji Temple (Baibu Sha) – Immortal’s Well (Chaoyang Cave) – Dacheng Nunnery – Fayu Temple (Qianbu Sha) – Feisha’ao – Xianghui Nunnery – Fanjing Cave – Baoyue Nunnery – Ancient Buddha Cave – Cable Car Station

In addition to the two dedicated tourist bus lines, there are also point-to-point shuttle buses between the main scenic spots on Mount Putuo, with staff dispatching vehicles via radio based on passenger flow.

How to Get to Purple Bamboo Forest

Take Line 1 from the parking lot at the Mount Putuo ferry terminal and get off at “Purple Bamboo Forest.”