Putuo Mountain's Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple

Putuo Mountain's Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple

• The earliest temple site on Putuo Mountain—worship the Buddha and listen to the sea while learning about the legend of the "Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin."

Attraction Introduction

The Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple is located within the Bamboo Grove and is the earliest temple site on Putuo Mountain. Coupled with the legend of the "Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin," it has become the most famous temple outside of the "Three Great Temples of Putuo." Devotees flock here daily for worship, and since the temple is situated by the sea, it also makes an ideal photography spot.

A short walk from the Bamboo Grove Monastery towards the seaside will bring you to the Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple. Though small in size, this temple is widely recognized as the origin of Putuo Mountain’s “Buddhist Kingdom of Sea and Sky.” Nearly every visitor here can recount the tale of the “Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin.” It is said that a Japanese monk named Eshi once brought a statue of Guanyin from Mount Wutai back to Japan. When his ship reached the Lotus Sea area of the Zhoushan Archipelago, a sudden storm arose. Believing the bodhisattva did not wish to go east, the monk docked and left the statue ashore. Later, a local farmer offered his home to enshrine the Guanyin who refused to leave. This gave rise to the island’s first “Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple,” which eventually led to the establishment of the various temples across Putuo Mountain.

The original structure of the temple no longer exists. The current version was rebuilt in the 1980s. Perhaps due to the legend, and unlike traditional Chinese temples with yellow walls, the Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple resembles more of a Japanese architectural style. Though there aren't many ancient relics inside, the legendary tales associated with this place are widely known, resulting in a steady stream of worshippers every day. In addition to the main hall, which houses a Tang-style eleven-faced Guanyin statue, there is also a corridor called the “Thirty-Three Guanyin Sacred Sites” on the west side of the temple, where 33 Guanyin statues are enshrined for devout visitors to worship individually.

The Guanhai Pavilion, directly opposite the Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple, is a great spot to enjoy the sea view, especially when there are fewer visitors. Nearby, the Chaoyin Cave, tucked away in a quiet corner, is also perfect for admiring sea scenery and listening to the sound of the waves. Many tourists also take photos in front of the stone tablet marked “No Self-Mortification or Finger-Burning Allowed.”

Address: Southeast of Putuo Mountain Scenic Area, Zhoushan District, Zhoushan City (near Chaoyin Cave)

Type: Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: 0.5 hour

Phone: 0580-6698221

Opening Hours:

6:00–17:00 (slight adjustments may be made according to the season)

Ticket Information:

Free entry. Ticket is included in the Bamboo Grove entrance fee

Transportation

Transportation on Putuo Mountain

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

Line 1: Putuo Temple East (Baibu Sha) – Baibu Pavilion – Bamboo Grove (Outdoor Grand Statue of Guanyin) – Sanmodi (Nantianmen) – Ferry Terminal – Haifang Xincun (Xishan Xincun Zone 1) – Seafood Park (Xishan Xincun Zone 2) – Baotuo Hotel – Putuo Temple West (Xishan Scenic Area Entrance)

Line 2: Ferry Terminal – Sanmodi (Nantianmen) – Bamboo Grove (Outdoor Grand Statue of Guanyin) – Baibu Pavilion – Putuo Temple East (Baibu Sha) – Immortal Well (Chaoyang Cave) – Dacheng Nunnery – Fayu Temple (Qianbusha) – Feisha’ao – Xianghui Nunnery – Fan Yin Cave – Baoyue Nunnery – Ancient Buddha Cave – Cable Car Station

In addition to these two dedicated bus lines, point-to-point shuttle buses are available between major scenic spots on Putuo Mountain, with staff coordinating vehicle dispatch via radios based on passenger flow.

How to Get to the Guanyin of the South Sea Statue: Take Bus Line 1 from the Putuo Mountain Ferry Terminal parking lot and get off at “Bamboo Grove.”