South Putuo Temple

South Putuo Temple is a famous Buddhist temple founded in the Tang dynasty on the southeast of Xiamen Island. It is surrounded by the sea and the Wulao Peaks, with deep caves and verdant woods. The temple is adjacent to Xiamen University and Lu River.

Don't miss

• The shrine hall for Guanyin Bodhisattva, installed during the Qing dynasty expansion.
• The Wulao Peaks mountain range rising behind the temple.
• Deep caves and verdant woods surrounding the temple grounds.
• The picturesque view of Xiamen, Haicang, Gulangyu, and Zhangzhou City.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit South Putuo Temple

Cheapest way inPrivate One Day Xiamen And Gulangyu Highlight Tour Including Lunch4.8★ · 18 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$199 per personSee dates →Best full dayPrivate Day Tour To Tianluokeng Tulou from Xiamen Including Lunch5★ · 24 travelers~9 hoursFree cancellationFrom$229 per personSee dates →

Getting there

Know before you go

• The temple is on the southeast of Xiamen Island, adjacent to Xiamen University and Lu River.
• The temple was founded in the Tang dynasty and has a history of rebuilding and renovation.

A bit of history

The temple was established by Buddhist monks during the final years of the Tang dynasty. It was dismantled in the Yuan dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming dynasty. In 1684, general Shi Lang rebuilt and expanded it, naming it after the Buddhist sacred site Mount Putuo in Zhejiang. In 1924, Master Hui Quan became the first abbot and founded Minnan Buddhist College in 1925. The temple was damaged by Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution and converted into a factory, then renovated in the 1980s.