Dabeishan Mountain

Dabeishan Mountain

At the highest point of Lingjian Temple stands an observation deck, which is the best vantage spot for taking in the panoramic views. From here, you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the two major beaches—Jihu and Nanchangtu. It was formerly known as the “Summit of Dabeishan.” Gazing into the distance, you’ll see nearby and distant islets and reefs rising amid the vast blue sea and sky, with drifting clouds creating an illusion of being in the fairyland of Penglai. Introduction

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Dabeishan, named after the great compassion and mercy in the Buddhist Guanyin culture. Located in the eastern part of Sijiao Island, it is the third highest peak in the Shengsi Archipelago. To its west are clustered peaks, and to its east lies the open sea, forming an equilateral triangle with Jihu Beach and Nanchangtu Beach.

The Dabeishan Lingyin Temple, built against the mountain, has three side rooms on both the north and south sides, covering a total area of over 400 square meters. The main hall, called the Mahavira Hall, houses a seated Buddha statue over ten feet tall, backed by a Thousand-Armed Guanyin. There are also the Heavenly King Hall and the Arhat Hall.

During Buddhist festivals, villagers from various islands across the county gather here to burn incense, worship Buddha, and count the arhats, making it a lively event.

Background: During the Tang Dynasty, Sijiao Island was once referred to as Dabeishan. In the eighth year of the Tianfu era of the Later Jin Dynasty (943), monks built Zifu Temple on the mountain, making it a significant Buddhist site in Shengsi. In the 11th year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1873), Lingyin Temple was constructed as a branch of the Yuantong Nunnery on Mount Putuo. It enjoyed great popularity, and after its reconstruction in 1987, it became even more magnificent.

According to research, the eminent Tang Dynasty monk Jianzhen attempted to sail east to Japan six times. On two of those occasions, due to rough seas, he anchored at islands including Dabeishan, until his sixth attempt when he finally passed through the Shengsi Archipelago and reached Japan, fulfilling his mission. In recent years, Shengsi County has built a memorial site at the foot of Dabeishan to commemorate the landing of Jianzhen’s vessel—honoring this Tang Dynasty monk’s great contribution to spreading Chinese civilization.

Address: Tian’ao Village, Wulong Township, Shengsi County, Zhoushan City

Type: Mountain & Temple

Recommended visiting time: 2–4 hours

Phone: 0580-5101093

Opening hours:

8:00-18:00

Ticket information:

Dabeishan Observation Deck (generally referring to the Dabeishan scenic area): 20 RMB; Lingyin Temple: 10 RMB. Tickets for the two sites are sold separately.

Transportation

The Shengsi Tourist Bus Line (Taoyuan - Dabeishan Scenic Area) can take you there; the fare is 4 RMB. Alternatively, a taxi ride costs about 20 RMB.