Mount Putuo Nantianmen Scenic Area

Mount Putuo Nantianmen Scenic Area

Nantianmen is located on Nanshan in the southern part of Mount Putuo, near the Su’gu Passenger Ferry Terminal, and is the area closest to both the terminal and the tourist center. If you’re looking for a quiet place to enjoy the sea and listen to the tides, Nantianmen is a great choice.

Entering through the main gate of Mount Putuo and walking along the coast toward the Sacred Site of Su’gu will bring you into the territory of Nantianmen. Walk past the coastal memorial archway, turn right along the path by the seawall, cross a section of the embankment, and then climb the steps to reach Nantianmen. In fact, the temple itself isn’t very large—the unique feature is the three massive rocks in front of the temple that form the shape of a gate, which is how Nantianmen got its name. There are many cliff inscriptions on the rocks, the most eye-catching being the “Great View of Mountain and Sea” inscription from the Kangxi era.

Since most tour groups don’t include Nantianmen in their itineraries, it’s relatively quiet here. The ocean view is excellent, and sitting on the rocks listening to the waves and tides gives a feeling of sudden openness. From Nantianmen, heading east along Jinsha Road leads to Purple Bamboo Forest, where the famous Unwilling-to-Go Guanyin Temple and the 33-meter-tall South Sea Guanyin are located. Ferries to Mount Luojia, known as the “Reclining Buddha on the Sea,” depart from the Su’gu Passenger Ferry Terminal, with a journey of about half an hour. Usually, there are three round trips per day, but more may be added during peak seasons when visitor numbers are high. Check the terminal notices for specific schedules.

Address: On Nanshan, south of Mount Putuo, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province (facing Su’gu Dock)

Type: Historical Site

Recommended Visiting Time: About 2 hours

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. It's included in the Mount Putuo Scenic Area admission.

Transportation

Transportation on Mount Putuo

There are two special shuttle bus lines connecting most of the major scenic spots on Mount Putuo.

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

Line 2: Ferry Terminal – Enter Samadhi (Nantianmen) – Purple Bamboo Forest (South Sea Guanyin Open-Air Statue) – Baibu Pavilion – Putuo Temple East (Baibu Sha) – Immortal Well (Chaoyang Cave) – Dacheng Nunnery – Fayu Temple (Qianbu Sha) – Feisha’ao – Xianghui Nunnery – Fan Yin Cave – Baoyue Nunnery – Ancient Buddha Cave – Cable Car Station

In addition to the two dedicated shuttle bus lines, there are also point-to-point shuttle buses between the major scenic areas on Mount Putuo, with staff dispatching vehicles via walkie-talkies based on passenger flow.

How to Get to Nantianmen

Take Shuttle Bus Lines 1 or 2 of the Mount Putuo Scenic Area and get off at “Enter Samadhi.”