Putuoshan Mountain

Putuoshan, some 100km/60mi east of Ningbo, is an island just 12sq.km/4.5sq.mi in area, which belongs to the Zhoushanquando group of islands. Together with Wuteishan, Emeishan and Jiuhuashan it makes up the four Holy Mountains of Buddhism. Many legends have grown up around the mountain and island: in 916 a Japanese monk tried to bring a statue of the Goddess of Mercy (Guanyin) to his country, but when he came to this region, an iron lotus flower rose up from the water and barred his way to his ship. Thereupon the monk took a vow to build a temple, at which the lotus flower vanished. A short time later the ''Temple of Guanyin, who does not wish to depart'' (Bukengqu Guanyinyuan) was built on the slope of the mountain. According to another legend, after a long period of meditation, the Goddess of Mercy is supposed to have received enlightenment on nearby Luojiashan. She then crossed the sea with a single leap and came to rest on Putuoshan where she left behind a footprint.