Dongqian Lake Little Putuo

Dongqian Lake Little Putuo

Ningbo’s Little Putuo, also known as Xiayu Islet, is located in the center of the vast and misty Dongqian Lake. It is one of the main scenic areas of the Dongqian Lake Tourism Resort and boasts profound cultural heritage. During the Southern Song Dynasty, the island already featured cultural landmarks such as Xiayu Chan Temple and Guanyin Cave (also called Butuo Cave Heaven). With a history of over 800 years, historical records from the "Zhejiang General Annals" and "Yinxian General Annals" state: Lady Ye, the mother of Shi Hao, was a devout Buddhist who worshipped Guanyin and had long wished to make a pilgrimage to Mount Putuo on the South China Sea to offer incense. However, due to her advanced age and blindness, crossing the sea was very inconvenient. Shi Hao then gathered local master craftsmen to carve a cave here and establish a Guanyin sacred site. Once the cave was completed, he had his mother board a boat. As the sailboat drifted across Dongqian Lake, amid the sounds of waves and wind, it felt as if they were sailing at sea. Three days later, they docked at Xiayu Islet, but he told his mother they had arrived at the “Buddhist Kingdom of the South Sea,” Mount Putuo, thus fulfilling her greatest wish. Since then, the name “Little Putuo” came into being.

Little Putuo was the first newly built scenic area after the establishment of the Dongqian Lake Tourism Resort. It consists of the Lake Center Dike and Little Putuo, with a total investment of 65 million yuan, and opened to the public on October 1, 2002. The Lake Center Dike, also called Qian Dike, was initially built in 1976 and divides Dongqian Lake into the South Lake and the North Lake.

The Butuo Cave Heaven in the scenic area is a Buddhist stone grotto carved during the mid-Southern Song Dynasty. The four characters “Butuo Cave Heaven” on the grotto were engraved during the Southern Song period. The renovated lake center area features a dike 30–65 meters wide, with landscaping, roads, and bridges all newly upgraded. Underground pipelines and lighting have been added, along with new landscape structures, forming the Eight Scenic Spots of the Lake Center: Qian Dike Mist, Tao Gong’s Fishing Spot, Breeze-Sweet Osmanthus, Clear Lake Moonlight, Reflections of Erling, Sunset Haze over Xiayu, Butuo Cave Heaven, and Monks Calling the Boats. The Little Putuo Scenic Area covers nearly 200,000 square meters and is one of the major attractions of the Dongqian Lake Tourism Resort.

Major attractions include: 1. Butuo Cave Heaven: Also called Guanyin Cave, this is a Southern Song Dynasty stone grotto with a history of over 800 years. The cave is over 40 meters long and about 3 meters in both height and width. Inside, there are exquisitely carved stone statues of Guanyin sitting and Buddhist shrines. The smooth and rounded carvings showcase the exceptional craftsmanship of ancient artisans. 2. Qian Dike Mist: Capturing the image of the long dike on the lake surface surrounded by swirling water vapor that looks like mist or smoke, this spot is located at the entrance of the scenic area. To the west it faces Tao Gong Island across the water, while to the east it blends into the Lake Center Dike. A large central rock is inscribed with the words of Guo Moruo: “The charm of West Lake, the grandeur of Taihu Lake.” 3. Tao Gong’s Fishing Spot: Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn Period, Fan Li, a minister of the Yue Kingdom who later took the name Tao Zhugong, retired with Xi Shi to live in seclusion by the shores of Dongqian Lake at the foot of Funiu Mountain. Later generations renamed Funiu Mountain to Tao Gong Mountain and called the place where Fan Li often fished by the lake “Tao Gong’s Fishing Spot.” 4. Breeze-Sweet Osmanthus: Near the scenic area entrance stands a century-old osmanthus tree with a canopy spanning dozens of square meters. Its three connected trunks each have a diameter of 20–25 cm. In autumn, the refreshing breeze carries the fragrance of the blossoms, hence the name “Breeze-Sweet Osmanthus.” 5. Clear Lake Moonlight: Inspired by the saying “clear lake, bright moon,” this spot is located in the middle section of the Lake Center Dike and is an ideal place for moon viewing on the lake. 6. Sunset Haze over Xiayu: Named for the frequent clouds and mist that envelop the islet. With rising moisture and fog, Xiayu Islet appears and disappears amid the waters, seemingly floating or sinking, as if the mist is locking the small island in place—hence the name “Sunset Haze over Xiayu.” 7. Monks Calling the Boats: Located on the eastern side of Xiayu Islet and facing Baiji Ridge across the lake. This area has calm waters, making it a perfect spot for boats to dock. In the old days, it was the site of the Xiayu Ancient Ferry. Whenever monks needed to travel, they would call for boats here, hence the name “Monks Calling the Boats.” 8. Reflections of Erling: Erling Mountain rises abruptly from Dongqian Lake and is home to the ancient Erling Temple and the Erling Pagoda, built during the Northern Song Dynasty. When the sun sets, the golden light shines through the ten holes of the Erling Pagoda, casting its reflection on the lake—a scene that is one of the “Ten Scenes of Qian Lake,” known as the “Evening Glow at Erling.”

Address: No. 41, Taolu Road, Little Putuo Scenic Area, Dongqian Lake Town, Yinzhou District, Ningbo

Type: Lake & Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: 2–4 hours

Phone: 0574-88490896; 0574-88490861

Opening Hours:

8:00-17:00

Ticket Price: 25 RMB

Dongqian Lake Town: Nestled in the undulating, lush mountains southeast of Ningbo, Dongqian Lake Town enjoys a superior location and convenient transportation. Situated in the economically dynamic, densely populated, and well-connected Yangtze River Delta region, it serves as a central hub in the tourism network of eastern Zhejiang. The town is just a 10-minute drive from downtown Ningbo and Yinzhou Airport, and only 10 minutes from the Shanghai-Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway and Tongsan Expressway. With the completion of the Hangzhou Bay Cross-Sea Bridge in 2008, Ningbo entered a two-hour traffic circle centered around Shanghai. The town is home to what Mr. Guo Moruo praised as having “the charm of West Lake, the grandeur of Taihu…” More details about Dongqian Lake Town++