Chaoyang Cave on Mount Putuo

Chaoyang Cave on Mount Putuo

For watching the sunrise on Mount Putuo, Chaoyang Cave is the best spot, hence the saying “the sun surging from Chaoyang.” Visiting at dawn, you can see the rising sun “as huge as a cartwheel, as red as cinnabar, suddenly emerging from the sea, casting myriad rays of bronze light across the water — a sight so dazzling it must have illuminated the hearts and minds of ancient sages.” The magnificence of the scenery is truly breathtaking. A corridor has now been built along the cliff, specially designed for visitors to enjoy the sunrise.

Chaoyang Cave is also a great place to listen to the sound of the tides. There used to be a Chaoyang Nunnery here. The writer Wang Luyan and his wife once stayed at the nunnery with Yu Dafu and wrote an essay titled “The Story of Listening to the Tides.” Later, the nunnery was destroyed in war, and in 1992, the Guanri Pavilion was built on its original site.

The current Chaoyang Cave scenic area includes Chaoyang Cave, Guanri Pavilion, Lanxia Pavilion, Liuguan Pavilion, and more, along with attached facilities such as a teahouse and shopping mall. The classic Chinese-style Guanri Pavilion, also known as Chaoyang Pavilion, is situated right above Chaoyang Cave. The pavilion is 18 meters high, 12 meters long and wide, built along the mountain slope and overlooking the East China Sea — a spectacular sight.

The pavilion is divided into upper, middle, and lower levels. The upper level houses three halls for shopping, resting, and sea viewing, with walls adorned with paintings of the “Thirty-Two Guanyin,” featuring smooth lines and vivid imagery. The middle and lower levels contain a root carving art gallery, displaying over a hundred root-carved Buddha statues.

The Tanxia Pavilion on the left platform of Chaoyang Cave, also called Chaoyang Pavilion, is close to the cliff and the sea. When the sun rises in the east and the rosy clouds reflect, the scenery is extraordinarily beautiful. It is also a great spot to watch the sunrise over the East Sea and the sunset glowing with rosy hues.

Address: Xiānrénjǐng Scenic Area, Mount Putuo, Putuo District, Zhoushan City (near Qianbusa Beach)

Type: Cave

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Opening hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the scenic area admission.