What to See on Putuoshan

Fayu Monastery is located at the foot of Fodingshan (Foding mountain), at the north end of 1000 step Beach. Entry fee 5RMB.

Huiji Monastery is located near the top of Fodingshan. Entry fee 5RMB. The lazy can reach the temple by cable car (40RMB return). Take Bus 2 from the port (8RMB). More active visitors and pilgrims take the concrete steps from near Fayu Temple. It takes about 1 hour to climb the mountain. If your interest is old military installations, turn right soon after the start of this stair ascent up a smaller set of stone steps. After 10-15 minutes, this continues through a series of anti-ship and anti-aircraft gun emplacements with gunner accommodation and ammunition stowage built into the cliffs.

Everything is in very good condition, there is no impediment to access, and looks like the PLA continues to take an interest. Also being off the beaten path, there is a complete absence of other visitors. You can then continue to the summit of Fodingshan on earthen paths, using common sense navigation because nothing is signposted in this area. But is less interesting.

Puji Monastery, located at the center of the island, is the most accessible and famous monastery on Putuoshan. It costs 5RMB to enter. Nearby are are hotels, restaurants and interesting shops. A public ritual performed by the monks runs from 4:30AM to 7AM. It is crowded at this time, so unless you are interested in the ceremony, it best to visit the temple outside these hours.

Northern Village, is accessed by walking north up the hill from the lower cable car station, past the large new development on the coast (on the right). After 1-2 km, at the end of the road, is the start of a footpath that leads through an historic village in various stages of disrepair. While some residents remain, the majority of villagers were re-settled in new dwellings with services back south of the ferry terminal. Continue on via a PLA training area to the northern tip of the island, but staying on the earthen path may be good advice. You have to walk back to the cable car station to exit the area.
Fanyin Cave, from Fayu Monastery a 15 Min. busride. It is a nice trip to the east coast. From there you can walk 20 Min. through the forest to the quite Shancai Cave.

Other Monasteries, if you don`t want to meet much people and want to explore the quiet monasteries, try to walk around. There are nearly 80 other quiet and nice monasteries to explore in the forests.

From http://wikitravel.org