Putuoshan island

One of the larger islands belonging to the Zhoushan Archipelago (which comprises over 1,400 islands located at the mouth of Hangzhou Bay), Putuoshan Island is one of China’s most celebrated isles, as it is home to one of China’s four sacred Buddhist mountains.

As such, the island is a fascinating mix of Nature and culture, with hidden grottoes and temples nestled amongst the island’s pine groves and sandy beaches.

One of the biggest attractions on the island is Mount Putuo, which is dedicated to bodhisattva Guanyin, and visitors can find a 33-metre tall statue of Guanyin, who is often known in English as the “Goddess of Mercy” here. As the lowest and among the most accessible of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism,