Huiji Temple & Foding Mountain

慧济寺

The 'Foding Temple' atop Foding Mountain, the highest point on Mount Putuo at 291 meters. It's the quietest of the three major temples, and you can climb 1,088 steps of the Xiangyun Road or take the cable car up for views across the island and the East China Sea islands.

Huiji Temple sits atop Foding Mountain (also called Baihua Peak), Mount Putuo's highest summit at about 291 meters above sea level. It began in the early Ming Dynasty as a stone pavilion for Buddhist offerings. It was expanded into a temple in 1793, during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor, and because of its mountaintop location it's commonly called the "Foding Temple." Together with Puji Temple and Fayu Temple, it forms the three major temples of Mount Putuo. Unlike other temples, which follow a symmetrical central axis, the complex is laid out horizontally along the mountain's contours. The main Great Hero Hall enshrines Shakyamuni Buddha, making it the only major temple on Mount Putuo to honor Shakyamuni as its main deity. The Guanyin Hall contains a statue of Guanyin and stone carvings of Guanyin images from different dynasties. Within the temple's western grounds grows a rare tree known as the Putuo Hornbeam. It is the only surviving wild mother tree in the world and is listed as a Class I nationally protected plant. To reach the summit, walk up the 1,088-step "Xiangyun Road" from behind Fayu Temple, which takes about 40 minutes. Along the way you'll pass sights such as the "Haitian Fofo" cliff inscription and the Yunfu Rock, and devout pilgrims bow once every three steps. Alternatively, take the Foding Mountain cable car (¥40 up, ¥30 down), which takes about 6 minutes. The mountaintop observation platform overlooks the whole island of Mount Putuo, Luojia Mountain, and the East China Sea islands, and the views are excellent on clear days. A visit takes about 1.5 hours including the climb up and down. Admission is ¥5 (incense voucher). Getting there: take the scenic shuttle to the cable car station, or walk from Fayu Temple. Note that the steps of Xiangyun Road are steep and slippery in the rain, it's windy at the top so bring warm clothing, the cable car line in peak season can take about 30 minutes, and the Putuo Hornbeam must not be touched.

Huiji Temple & Foding Mountain

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