Plan at a glance
Give the Nanhai Guanyin Statue your main time
The Nanhai Guanyin Statue is at Longwan Gangdun on the southeastern end of Putuo Mountain. It works best as a clear stop on a southern route. The main focus is the 33-metre statue, the nearby walking paths, and the coastal views; use this page for the statue area rather than for the entire Putuo Mountain itinerary.
After reaching Putuo Mountain, visitors usually take a yellow scenic shuttle to the Nanhai Guanyin Statue and then decide whether to continue toward Zizhulin or return to the wharf. Private cars and ride-hailing vehicles cannot enter the island, so the return depends on the scenic shuttle and passenger ferry.
Island entry, incense-and-flower ticket, and opening window
The island combination ticket is divided between peak season from February–November and low season from December–January, and includes the main admission and a regular return passenger ferry. The incense-and-flower ticket for the Nanhai Guanyin Statue accepts cash only. Regular ferries and business fast boats have different operating windows, so confirm the boat and ticket product for the day.
The statue usually opens from 06:00–17:30 on regular days, with a possible extension to 18:00 on weekends. Public holidays and Guanyin festival periods bring heavier crowds; include reservation, queues, and shuttle waiting time in the plan.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
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The statue, Zizhulin, and a southern walk
Facing the sea and standing 33 metres high, the Nanhai Guanyin Statue is one of the easiest southern landmarks on Putuo Mountain to identify. Spend the main part of the visit around the statue, then continue toward nearby Zizhulin or Nantian Gate according to the day's crowds and your energy.
Zizhulin works well as a slower walk after the statue. Nantian Gate gives a distant view of the statue and coastline. Stay on the open path when taking photos, and pay attention to your footing and the guardrail in strong sea wind.
Who this suits
This stop suits visitors interested in Buddhist culture, architecture, and coastal landmarks, as well as families traveling with older relatives. The short route is easier physically. Adding Puji Zen Temple, Zizhulin, or more distant eastern attractions increases the walking, shuttle, and queue time.
Visitors who also want the northern temples should treat the Nanhai Guanyin Statue as one stop in a larger main-island plan. Do not stay too long here and then add the full Huiji Zen Temple and Fayu Zen Temple route at the last minute.
Build your day
A 2–3 hour return route
From the Putuo Mountain wharf, take a scenic shuttle to the Nanhai Guanyin Statue, complete the main visit, and take the shuttle back to the wharf. This suits visitors with limited time or energy, or anyone who wants to treat the statue as a separate landmark stop.
Before setting out, confirm the statue's opening time, the shuttle queue, and your return ferry. After reaching the wharf, you still need time to get off the bus, walk to the terminal, and board the ferry; the statue's opening hours do not tell you how much time the return crossing will take.
A 4–6 hour southern route
Take a scenic shuttle from the wharf to Puji Zen Temple first, then continue by shuttle to the Nanhai Guanyin Statue. After the statue, walk toward Zizhulin and finish by walking or taking a scenic shuttle back to the wharf. This route combines the central temple with a southern landmark and suits first-time visitors who can manage queues.
If the shuttle wait is long or crowds are concentrated, remove Zizhulin or shorten the Puji Temple visit rather than cutting into the return time. The entrance arrangements for the Nanhai Guanyin Statue and Puji Zen Temple are separate, so follow the ticket and incense instructions at each site.
Northern and eastern extensions
With more time, plan Foding Mountain and Huiji Zen Temple, Fayu Zen Temple, or the Fanyin Cave area as separate additions. The northern 1,088-step route and the eastern walking routes require extra energy. Confirm whether the scenic shuttle serves the area, when it stops running, and how you will return.
Putting the northern and eastern areas on another day usually keeps the schedule easier to control. If you reach the Nanhai Guanyin Statue in the afternoon, confirm the eastern transport and return window before deciding whether to continue.
Get there
Entering Putuo Mountain
From Zhoushan Island, go to Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf and take the passenger ferry to Putuo Mountain. From Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport, take the airport bus or a taxi to the wharf. Drivers should leave their cars at the wharf parking area and continue by ferry.
The Nanhai Guanyin Statue has no separate mainland entrance. After arriving on the island, take the yellow scenic shuttle. The shuttle is charged by distance; follow the day's stop, service, and closing-time arrangements on site.
Moving inside the scenic area
The practical way from the wharf to the statue is the scenic shuttle, followed by walking on the open paths. Private cars and ride-hailing vehicles cannot replace the island shuttle system. Even a short walk needs planning for sea wind, sun, and steps.
If you plan to visit Fanyin Cave or Shancai Cave in the east, ask about the shuttle's service area and afternoon schedule first. Vehicles to the eastern attractions may stop after 15:00, so confirm the service and leave time for a walking return.
Know before you go
Cash, water, and crowds
The incense-and-flower ticket for the Nanhai Guanyin Statue accepts cash only, so carry small notes with your island ticket. Supplies on the island can be expensive; drinking water and simple snacks are useful, and donation boxes or other on-site purchases may also require cash.
Crowds are heavier during public holidays and around the 19th day of the second, sixth, and ninth lunar months. If your group includes older visitors or children, choose the short wharf-to-statue route first and leave time for shuttle queues and rest.
Weather, sea wind, and safety
The statue and the nearby coastal paths are affected by rain, visibility, and slippery ground. Wear non-slip shoes and do not cross guardrails near the coast. Before taking photos at Nantian Gate, Zizhulin, or along the coast, check the surface and the open boundary.
The statue, scenic shuttle, passenger ferry, and fast boats each have their own operating arrangements. If you need to leave the island or connect to another attraction, secure the return ferry first and only then decide whether to add the northern, eastern, or Luojia Mountain route.
Visiting etiquette and nearby planning
The incense arrangements at the Nanhai Guanyin Statue, Puji Zen Temple, and other temples are not identical. Follow the instructions at each entrance. Do not buy expensive incense or improvised tours from people soliciting visitors; ask scenic-area staff if you need help.
Luojia Mountain requires a separate boat from Putuo Mountain's Short Aunt Pier and has limited supplies. Guanyin Dharma Realm is on the mainland side of Zhujiajian. Both should be planned separately from the Nanhai Guanyin main-island route.