Festivals on Mount Putuo – Unique Traditional Celebrations

Time: Every November Introduction: It is one of the three major tourism festivals in Zhoushan. Rooted in Mount Putuo’s profound Guanyin cultural heritage, this grand Buddhist tourism event aims to promote Guanyin culture and build the mountain into a renowned cultural sacred site. A rich array of activities are held throughout the festival, including grand Dharma assemblies, Buddhist music concerts, pilgrimages by devotees, lotus lantern fairs, cultural seminars, and exhibitions of Buddhist cultural souvenirs. The event draws countless Guanyin followers, Buddhist believers, pilgrims and tourists from home and abroad to seek karmic connections in this Buddhist paradise.

Time: Every March Introduction: Launched in 1990 and held annually ever since, "Spring of Mount Putuo" is a large-scale interactive cultural and recreational tourism event that integrates public entertainment and tourist participation. It boasts diverse programs: vocal music, dance, opera, calligraphy and painting exhibitions, photography shows, lantern riddles, lucky draws, Buddhist tea ceremonies, tourism volunteer services and more. It ranks as another signature grand tourism festival on Mount Putuo, following the Guanyin Culture Festival and Incense Festival.

Time: The 19th day of the 2nd, 6th and 9th lunar months Introduction: Also known as the Three Major Incense Seasons of Mount Putuo. The three dates respectively mark Guanyin’s birthday, her attainment of enlightenment, and her ordination as a nun, drawing the largest crowds all year round. At this time, Mount Putuo is packed with pilgrims surging from the main gate of Puji Temple all the way to Buddha Summit. Along the thousand-step incense trail from the Nine-Dragon Hall of Fayu Temple, devout believers kowtow every step as they climb the stone stairs, displaying touching piety. On the 29th day of the 9th lunar month in 1997, the outdoor bronze statue of South China Sea Guanyin was completed. The sky had been overcast that day, yet the clouds parted and sunlight streamed down the moment Master Miaoshan announced the statue’s consecration, leaving Buddhist devotees at home and overseas utterly awestruck.