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Meizhou Island
No. 4 of Family-friendly Attractions in Fujian

Meizhou Island

7.6
4.5/5
2.2k reviews
Meizhou Island is a long, narrow island located in the southern part of Putian City, with its long side running north-south. The island is the birthplace of the culture of devotion to the sea goddess Mazu, and many magnificent temples on the island honor her. It has long been a place of pilgrimage for the coastal believers and is known as the “Mecca of the Far East.” Lovely scenery covers the island, including many intriguing large rock formations. And yet, the island's broad beaches are covered in soft, fine sand, rounding it out as a traveler's paradise. The island's most famous site is the Huangjin (Golden) Beach on its southwest corner. The three-kilometer stretch of beach is famous as a great place to find sea life at low tide, play in the sand, and swim.Putian · 45km from downtown
Jiuli Lake Scenic Spot
No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Putian

Jiuli Lake Scenic Spot

6.2
4.5/5
1.5k reviews
Jiuli Lake Scenic Spot is located in Xianyou County in Fujian Province. The area's most popular attractions include a picturesque lake and large waterfall. The lake has been famous throughout Chinese history and inspired many poets and writers. The waterfall is particularly spectacular. Visitors can walk past the waterfall and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings.Xianyou · 17.1km from downtown
Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple
No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Putian

Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple

5.7
4.6/5
230 reviews
Mazu Temple is located on Meizhou Island in Xiuyu District, Putian City. The sea god Mazu was born on Meizhou Island, formerly known as Lin Mo. After helping local fishermen and merchant ships, she was revered as a sea god after her death. Inhabitants built a temple to her, and the Mazu Temple became one of the most prosperous temples in the middle of Fujian. Every year, on the anniversaries of Mazu's birthday and death, there is a grand pilgrimage on the island.Putian · 42.7km from downtown
Nanri Island
No. 2 of Night Attractions in Putian

Nanri Island

5.2
4.6/5
92 reviews
Nanri Island was called Nanni Mountain in ancient times, named after the mountains and the sea. The throat of Xinghua Bay is the third largest island in Fujian Province, and it is also called the sister island with Meizhou Island. Nanri Island is an undeveloped island. Nanri's attractions are divided into East Peninsula and West Peninsula. East Peninsula: wind farm, beach, Jiuzhong Mountain, if the weather is good, you can see the whole Nanri Island; West Peninsula: Emperor Mountain. Emperor Mountain is very characteristic. One side of the mountain is sand and the other side is stone.Putian · 56.8km from downtown
Xinghua Prefecture Historical and Cultural District

Xinghua Prefecture Historical and Cultural District

5.2
4.4/5
7 reviews
Xinghua Prefecture Historical and Cultural Districtis located in the center of the old city of Putian. It is the area where the layout and street network of the ancient city of Putian are most concentrated, with origins dating back to the city's construction in the Song Dynasty. The six ancient streets—Dalu Street, Xian Lane, Hou Street, Yaho Road, Miaoqian Road, and Fang Lane—intersect and connect. Official residences, mansions, and ancestral temples from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties stand in rows. Cultural relic protection units such as the Putian Guqiao Building, Putian Dazongbodi, and Chonggong Temple, along with historical buildings like the Yuanshi Residence, Botang Hospital, and the former residence of Peng Peng, are scattered throughout. Through restoration that maintains the original appearance, the overall style of the ancient streets has been preserved. The Putian Guqiao Building stands quietly in the bustling market, serving as a landmark of the district. First built in the Song Dynasty, the existing structure was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. It is a three-story wooden pavilion straddling a gateway on a stone base, with the inscription "Guqiao Gate" embedded on the lintel; it once served as the city gate tower and a drum tower for timekeeping. Today, it has been converted into a study where you can sit, read, enjoy tea, and overlook the market. At the north end of the district, the Sanqing Palace, Yuanmiao Taoist Temple is a wooden hall rebuilt in the Northern Song Dynasty. The "dougong" (bracket sets) under the eaves are layered and extended, and the stone pillars inside the hall are equipped with lotus-shaped column bases. Along with the main hall of Hualin Temple in Fuzhou and the main hall of Baoguo Temple in Ningbo, it is a representative of the existing Song Dynasty wooden architecture in the south. The stele garden next to the hall also houses stone carvings from various dynasties, including stele inscriptions in the Slender Gold script by Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty. On the "Puyang Baigongfang" Intangible Cultural Heritage Street in Xian Lane, inheritors of intangible cultural heritage projects such as Putian wood carving and gold-inlaid silver often demonstrate their skills on-site. The Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition Hall and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Art Center showcase the various categories of Putian's intangible cultural heritage. Throughout the streets and alleys, snack shops and creative souvenir stores are interspersed, where you can easily find local flavors such as Xinghua rice noodles, qiangrou (poached meat), and oyster cakes. After nightfall, the old houses with red brick swallow-tail ridges light up one by one, and the singing of Puxian opera on the stage of Chonggong Temple intertwines with the music of the Shiyin Bayue (ten-tone and eight-instrument ensemble). By day, you can admire ancient architecture and explore intangible cultural heritage; by night, you can enjoy the lights, listen to operas, and taste snacks. The authentic local atmosphere of old Putian continues to thrive in the district.Putian · 2.5km from downtown
Putian Southern Shaolin Temple
No. 14 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Fujian

Putian Southern Shaolin Temple

5.1
4.2/5
116 reviews
Putian Southern Shaolin Temple is hidden in a mountain col of Jiulian Mountain in Putian, Fujian. Surrounded by nine peaks that resemble a nine-petaled lotus, the temple is situated right at the "heart of the flower," hence it is known as the Jiulian Mountain Shaolin Temple and is commonly referred to as the Southern Shaolin. In the 1980s, cultural relics departments rediscovered the temple ruins on Jiulian Mountain. A Northern Song Dynasty stone trough inscribed with the words "monk soldiers" and "tea decoction for the Arhats," along with Tang Dynasty pagoda inscriptions, were unearthed, providing physical evidence for this legend. The temple was rebuilt and completed in the late 1990s. It was handed over to the Buddhist community for management in the early 2000s, and religious activities were resumed. The atmosphere of a monastery, with its morning bells, evening drums, and the practice of both Zen and martial arts, has returned to the mountains. Most of the halls seen today are reconstructions, so feel free to explore at a leisurely pace while looking for a touch of legend. The entire temple is built against the mountain, and from the higher vantage points, you can overlook the nine peaks surrounding it. Martial arts enthusiasts even consider this a place to trace the roots of Nanquan.Putian · 10.1km from downtown
Goose Tail Divine Stone Park

Goose Tail Divine Stone Park

4.5
4.6/5
75 reviews
Goose Tail Divine Stone Parkis composed of five parts: "Jinshan'ao," "Feiji Cave," "Haimen," "Lion Mountain," and "Shenshigang," including"Sea Turtle Pilgrimage", Shengquan Well, Feiji Cave,"Eighteen Sections of Carp","Listening to the Tide at Dragon Cave","Goose Tail Sea Erosion Geological Park - Thumb Rock"and dozens of other attractions. Historically, many scholars and poets from Putian, such as Liu Kezhuang of the Song Dynasty and Huang Zhongzhao (1435–1508) of the Ming Dynasty, visited this place to compose poems and left behind many inscriptions.Goose Tail Divine Stone Park's premier attraction is:"Sea Turtle Pilgrimage". Legend has it that a thousand years ago, this divine turtle had been cultivating itself in the sea for many years. It often saw the fisherwoman Lin Mo Niang braving the wind and rain to help those in danger. Moved by Lin Mo Niang's compassion and courage, it decided to become her disciple. The turtle chose the Double Ninth Festival to come ashore. When it climbed to the mountainside of Goose Tail Mountain, it looked into the distance and saw five-colored auspicious clouds over the main peak of Meiyu, and Lin Mo Niang slowly ascending to heaven amidst celestial music. With no hope of becoming her disciple, the turtle was heartbroken, shed tears, and turned into red stone, frozen on the path of its pilgrimage.Putian · 48.7km from downtown
Guanghua Temple
No. 4 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Putian

Guanghua Temple

4.4
4.5/5
104 reviews
Guanghua Temple was first built in the second year of Chen Yongding in the Southern Dynasty (AD 558), and was originally named "Jinxian Temple". It was later expanded into a temple. In the second year of Tang Jingyun (AD 711), Emperor Ruizong gave it the name "Lingyan Temple", and it was renamed "Guanghua Temple" by the famous calligrapher Liu Gongquan. The Song Dynasty was the heyday of Guanghua Temple. At that time, there were 10 courtyards, 120 nunneries under the jurisdiction, and more than 1,000 monks. The current building complex was rebuilt in the early years of Guangxu Qing Dynasty. In recent years, Guanghua Temple has undergone a comprehensive renovation and expansion. The total area is more than 32,000 square meters. The entire layout is based on the Zhaobi, the archway, the mountain gate, the release pool, the Tianwang Hall, the Mahavira Hall, the Fatang (the upper part is the Tibetan Sutra Pavilion), and the ancestral hall (the upper part is the Reclining Buddha Pavilion) as the central axis. North to south, with a total length of 385 meters, it is magnificent. The Mahavira Hall is built on a 2.7-meter-high abutment, which is a beam-lifting hall structure. The hall is 22 meters high and covers an area of 837 square meters. In front of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, there are two stone pillars built in the second year of Zhiping in the Northern Song Dynasty (1065), about 3 meters high. Precious material data on dialect relations. In front of Pumen Nunnery on the left side of the temple, there is a wooden pavilion-style Sakyamuni stupa built before the first year of Songgandao (1165), with a five-level octagonal shape and a height of 30 meters. The tower room is hollow, and the inner wall is embedded with stone steps for people to board and assist, and can go to the outside of the tower gates on each floor. The outer wall and the embossed Buddha statues, double-headed feathers, flying music, flowers, birds and beasts are exquisite and beautiful. The eaves of the tower are carved imitating bricks and tiles, and it has the trend of flying in the wind. Its architectural art is rare in Bamin and is listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit.Putian · 3.7km from downtown
Kowloon Valley Scenic Area
No. 3 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Putian

Kowloon Valley Scenic Area

4.2
4.0/5
664 reviews
The Jiulong Valley Scenic Area has always been known as Putian's beautiful “backyard,” and it includes the lower half of the nine waterfalls of Jiuli (“Nine Carp”) Lake. The scenic area also has quite a rich assortment of entertainment facilities. You can get your fill of lake scenery floating on a bamboo raft along the lake. Thrill seekers can get personally acquainted with the rapids on kayaks. Alternatively, visitors can challenge themselves by taking a walk on the cable bridge that spans the two sides of the stream.Putian · 17.2km from downtown
Meizhou Island Mazu Cultural Tourism Area
Selected for Night Attractions in Fujian

Meizhou Island Mazu Cultural Tourism Area

4.2
4.8/5
62 reviews
Meizhou Island Mazu Cultural Tourism Area is a concrete representation of Mazu culture, consisting of the Mazu Stele Forest, the Mazu Story Sculpture Group, and the Mazu Culture Exhibition Hall. Mazu Stele Forest covers an area of 15 mu and consists of 4 parts: stele towers, stele corridors, stele pavilions, and stele stones, with the stele stones being the main part. There is 1 main stele and 99 auxiliary steles. The stele stones come in various shapes and styles. Renowned calligraphers from home and abroad, including Zhao Puchu, Lin Sanzhi, Liu Bingsen, and Qi Gong, have used different calligraphic styles to inscribe famous historical steles related to Mazu, as well as poems and lyrics by scholars and poets throughout history praising Mazu's great virtues. Visitors can learn about the origins and development of Mazu culture from them. Upon entering the cultural park, you can visit the Lingci Hall, Tianhou Palace, Shunji Hall, and other halls.Putian · 42.8km from downtown

Experiences you can't miss in Putian

Featured Cultural experiences in Putian

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The Glory Belongs to Foochow Arsenal: Large-scale live-action light and shadow performance
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FromS$ 54.72S$ 55.28
Xiamen to Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple Qingjing Mosque, Maritime Museum 1-Day Tour
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FromS$ 63.77S$ 64.41
Quanzhou Glove  Puppet Show Performance : Experience UNESCO intangible cultural heritage !
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Duration: 40 mins
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FromS$ 24.30S$ 24.55

Featured Food & drink in Putian

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Fuzhou imperial banquet·Immersive traditional cultural feast performance
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Duration: 4 hrs
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Fuzhou Imperial Banquet Immersive Chinese Cultural Feast [Royal Cuisine + Court Music and Dance + Immersive Experience of Imperial Banquet]
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Fuzhou · Wenru No. 9 Fujian cuisine restaurant | Taste authentic Fujian dishes in a century-old architectural courtyard and garden
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FromS$ 55.32
Fuzhou peninsula filay seafood buffet (carefully selected ingredients + elegant environment + land and sea feast)
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Duration: 2.6 hrs
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Fuzhou peninsula fili seafood buffet (comprehensive variety + seafood feast + premium service)
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Duration: 2.5 hrs
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Featured Day tours in Putian

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Putian Meizhou Island Private Car+Ticket Day Tour[Explore the Birthplace of Mazu Culture]
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Duration: 5.1 hrs
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1-day tour to Meizhou Island from Xiamen [Includes admission ticket, ferry ticket, guide service, and private tour]
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5.0/5
· 3 reviews· 33 booked
Duration: 14.1 hrs
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Putian Meizhou Island 1-day tour | Mazu Ancestral Temple + Mazu Cultural Park + historic site visit | Cultural guide
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Duration: 12.8 hrs
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Putian to Meizhou Island Private Car + Ticket Day Tour [Explore the Birthplace of Mazu Culture]
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Duration: 3.5 hrs
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Xiamen Private Day Tour To Meizhou Island Southern Shaolin Temple
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Guanghua Temple + Kowloon Valley Scenic Area Private Chartered Tour (Departing from Xiamen)
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Duration: 4.5 hrs
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What travellers say about Putian

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M51***337 October 2026
5.0
Because of the typhoon, our trip to Meizhou Island was a last-minute decision. We hadn't planned on going, and in the morning we went to Xianyou, but then we realized we needed to, so we rushed back from Xianyou around noon, making our time there quite rushed. Many places on the island close around 5 pm, such as the Mazu Temple. The public buses also stop running around 6 pm. Unless you take a private car, you can't walk that far. The beach at the very top of the island is very nice, and many people were playing in the water there. We went close to dusk and saw the sunset. Walking around the island and taking buses, two hours passed quickly. To avoid the crowds and difficulty getting a taxi back to the city at night, we didn't see the Impression Mazu performance. Overall, the island is worth visiting because all the attractions and transportation are free; it just depends on what you want to do. If you just like the sea, a day trip is definitely worthwhile.

Meizhou Island

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Anonymous user2 September 2026
4.0
Jiuli Lake is truly forgiving of visitors, but the weather is crucial. Choose a morning after a rain shower, walk down the stone path, and the thunderous roar of the water will greet you first. Then turn at Zhulianji (Pearl Curtain Waterfall), where the sunlight slants across the entire waterfall, creating a half-rainbow – every photo you take will be wallpaper-worthy. The cliff carvings and the Jiuxian Temple add a touch of ethereal beauty to this landscape, making it less monotonous than simply viewing the waterfall.

Jiuli Lake Scenic Spot

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不一样的风采7781 May 2026
5.0
It is the world's first Mazu temple, built in the fourth year of the Yongxi reign of the Northern Song Dynasty (987). It has the world's largest Mazu palace complex. The ancestral temple's main hall enshrines a golden statue of Mazu in the center. It is the birthplace of Chinese Mazu culture.

Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple

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行走毛毛4 August 2025
5.0
When you come to the beach, you must watch the sunrise. The sunrise on Nanri Island is also within my plan. The whole waiting time for the sunrise is very long, but when you see the sun rising from the sea level month by month and getting brighter and brighter, all the time waiting is so worth it. There are very few people watching the sunrise on Nanri Island, and I am the only one waiting alone on the beach.

Nanri Island

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山在穷游4 December 2024
5.0
How can you not visit Xinghuafu when you come to Putian? Although this is a pedestrian street, there are still many old houses, but these old houses are indeed not easy to find. If you just want to eat and walk around, it is still easy to find here, but you need to look at the map to find the old houses.

Xinghua Prefecture Historical and Cultural District

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PEHBE2 October 2023
5.0
Putian City NanShaolin Temple located top of mountain. It is a free ticket entrance, well maintain and clean. Worth a trip to sightseeing the beautiful scenery and understand the history of Shaolin.

Putian Southern Shaolin Temple

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不可触碰撞的鱼15 February 2022
5.0
At Ewei Shenshi Park, return to the tourist service center from Tianji Cave, turn left along the main road and go uphill. On the hillside to the right of the parking lot is Jinshan Temple. Although Jinshan Temple is not big, it has a history of 200 years. It was built in the middle of the Qing Dynasty and enshrines the Buddha Sakyamuni. After paying homage to Jinshan Temple, we walked along the main road (Eshan Road), passed the pilgrimage of the sacred turtle, and went downhill all the way back to the gate of Ewei Sea Erosion Geopark. According to our itinerary, I would like to give some suggestions to friends who come to Ewei Shenshi Park. If you don't want to go to the beach of Ewei Sea Erosion Geopark, you can go uphill along Eshan Road from the entrance of the Geopark, arrive at the "Pilgrimage of the Sacred Turtle", and then walk along the mountain road to the direction of Wuting, visit the "Lovers Frog" and "Heavenly Dog Looking at the Moon" all the way to "Longdong Listening to the Waves", and then walk along the mountain road on the seaside rocks to the direction of "Looking for Lights in the Fog Sea" to "Axe Rock" and "Tianji Cave". After visiting, go to the tourist service center, turn left along the main road and go uphill to pay homage to Jinshan Temple, and then walk downhill along the main road back to the gate of Ewei Sea Erosion Geopark. In this way, all important attractions can be visited, and it saves time and effort, but one thing to note is not to miss the "Camel Hump".

Goose Tail Divine Stone Park

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sonnyka1 May 2021
5.0
Guanghua Temple, where Fujian Buddhist College is located, is located in the city of Putian. It is a quiet place in the bustling city. The atmosphere in the mountains is very good, clear and profound, auspicious and peaceful. Don't miss it. Even during the May Day holiday, there are not many people. I sincerely recommend it.

Guanghua Temple

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山魂海韵0512 September 2023
5.0
I have been to Jiulong Valley several times. The supporting facilities are getting better and better, but the parking lot is not good. It is not possible to park when there are too many people. The scenic area inside is now much more complete. It can be traveled by individuals or with the whole family. There are many activities in it. If you are willing to spend money, you can try them. Some are not bad. As the lower Jiuli, although the scenery is not as beautiful as the upper Jiuli, it is not bad. It is not expensive to see the scenery, plus the entertainment, the cost performance is poor. It may be better to join a group! But overall it is still good!

Kowloon Valley Scenic Area

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牛奶海2 August 2020
4.0
The Mazu Cultural Park is located in the Mazu Ancestral Temple Scenic Area on Meizhou Island in Putian, Fujian. It consists of the Mazu Stele Forest, Mazu Cultural Sculpture Group, Mazu Cultural Exhibition Hall, etc. It has a relatively large area and occupies the commanding heights in the northern part of the island.

Meizhou Island Mazu Cultural Tourism Area

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You can give Fuzhou "Imperial Banquet Immersive Chinese Cultural Feast" (Intangible Cultural Heritage Cuisine + Dance Performance + Tang Dynasty Historical Experience) | Lunch/Dinner Options Available | Makeup/Photographer Services Optional and Fuzhou imperial banquet·Immersive traditional cultural feast performance a try. Before you go, please check their opening hours and menus online. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak hours.

When choosing a tour, start with how much time you have and the kind of experience you're looking for. Trending options right now include Putian Meizhou Island Private Car+Ticket Day Tour[Explore the Birthplace of Mazu Culture], 1-day tour to Meizhou Island from Xiamen [Includes admission ticket, ferry ticket, guide service, and private tour], and Putian Meizhou Island 1-day tour | Mazu Ancestral Temple + Mazu Cultural Park + historic site visit | Cultural guide. Check the real-time availability and itinerary before you book.

As of 15 October 2026, the reference price for day tours and activities in Putian is around SGD 63.14 – SGD 208.99. Rates vary by duration, group size, transport, tickets, meals, and any special admission requirements. Before you book, please confirm the billing currency and whether the price is quoted per person or per group.

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