Putuoshan Ferry: Shanghai, Ningbo, Zhoushan to Putuoshan Ferry

When planning a tour to Putuoshan (Mount Putuo), one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, you will find it is very hard to navigate the transportation to get there. This sacred tourist site is located on the Putuoshan Island dotting the sea east of China, without any road or bridge connecting it and its nearby cities in China. Besides, there is no airport built on this relatively small island. Therefore, cars, buses, high speed trains and flights are all inaccessible to get there, and the only way to get to Putuoshan is by ferry.

Where to take a ferry to Putuoshan? How long will it take for the ferry journey? How many ferries are available every day? Even if you've figured out the transportation features of Putuoshan, there are still a lot to concern about. Don’t worry! In this Putuoshan Ferry Guide, we will solve all your problems. Useful information like Putuoshan ferry wharfs, timetable, duration, price and so on are all listed here. We also give you detailed introductions about getting from Shanghai to Putuoshan by ferry, Ningbo to Putuoshan by Ferry and Zhoushan to Putuoshan by ferry. Let’s check them out now!

Where to Take a Ferry to Putuoshan?

Putuoshan (Mount Putuo) lies at the mouth of Hangzhou Bay on the East China Sea. It belongs to Zhoushan City of Zhejiang Province and is not far from Ningbo City and Shanghai City. These three cities all have ferries to Putuoshan directly, while Zhoushan is the closest choice to Putuoshan and it has more frequent ferries for you to choose. Zhoushan is also the top choice for those who want to visit Putuoshan by flight. However, both Zhoushan and Putuoshan cannot be reached by train. If you want to visit Putuoshan by high speed train, you are suggested to get to Ningbo first, and then ride a ferry from Ningbo to Putuoshan. And if you are already in Shanghai or want to visit Shanghai first before your Putuoshan tour, you can take the ferry from Shanghai to Putuoshan ferry into account.

Please note that the Ningbo to Putuoshan ferry and Shanghai to Putuoshan ferry are limited. Once you failed to find a ferry in these two cities, you are suggested to get to Zhoushan first, and then ride a ferry from Zhoushan to Putuoshan.

Putuoshan Ferry Map

Putuoshan Ferry Map

Zhoushan to Putuoshan Ferry

Zhoushan has two wharfs that operate ferries to Putuoshan, including Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf and Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf. The timetable, duration and price of Zhoushan to Putuoshan Ferry and Putuoshan to Zhoushan Ferry are as follows (for your reference):

From To Timetable Duration Price
(CNY/Person)
Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf
(朱家尖蜈蚣峙码头)
Putuoshan Wharf
(普陀山客运码头)
06:50-21:50 10~20 minutes 30~100
Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf
(沈家门半升洞码头)
06:20-17:25 20 minutes 30
Putuoshan Wharf
(普陀山客运码头)
Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf
(朱家尖蜈蚣峙码头)
06:40-22:10 10~20 minutes 30~100
Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf
(沈家门半升洞码头)
07:10-17:30 20 minutes around 30

Notes:

  1. 1) The above timetable, duration and price are only for your reference. There may be adjustments according to real-time situations.
  2. 2) The ferry may be canceled if the severe weather like typhoon comes.
  3. 3) There are two kinds of ferry offered at Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf, including the normal ferry and speedboat. The normal ferries charge CNY 30 per person, while the speedboats charge CNY 100 per person. The speedboats will stop service after 16:40.

Which Wharf to Choose, Zhujiajian or Shenjiamen?

Compared with Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf, Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf is more popular, because it enjoys a closer distance to both Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport and Putuoshan Island. Besides, only Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf offers night ferries to/from Putuoshan after 17:30. However, some visitors may also choose Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf, because it is closer to the downtown area of Zhoushan City.

Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf (More Popular)

Location: No.4, Pudu Road, Zhujiajian Town, Putuo District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province (朱家尖蜈蚣峙码头,浙江省舟山市普陀区朱家尖镇普渡路4号), about 18 kilometers & 20 minutes from Zhoushan City downtown and about 6 kilometers & 10 minutes by car

Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf

Location: No.891, Xingjian Road, Putuo District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province (沈家门半升洞码头,舟山市普陀区兴建路891号), about 9 kilometers & 15 minutes from Zhoushan City downtown and 12 kilometers & 20 minutes from Zhoushan Putuoshan Airport by car

Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf Zhujiajian Wugongzhi Wharf
Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf Shenjiamen Banshengdong Wharf

Shanghai to Putuoshan Ferry

Ferry from Shanghai to Putuoshan is limited. Every day, there is only 2~3 ferries available. The timetable, duration and price of Shanghai to Putuoshan Ferry and Putuoshan to Shanghai Ferry are as follows (for your reference):

From To Timetable Duration Price
(CNY/Person)
Luchaogang Wharf
(芦潮港码头)
Putuoshan Wharf
(普陀山客运码头)
8:00 4 hours 160
Wusong Wharf
(吴淞码头)
20:00 12 hours 60~300
Xiaoyangshan Wharf
(小洋山轮渡站)
10:20 4 hours 260
Putuoshan Wharf
(普陀山客运码头)
Luchaogang Wharf
(芦潮港码头)
12:30 4 hours 160
Wusong Wharf
(吴淞码头)
17:00 12 hours 60~300
Xiaoyangshan Wharf
(小洋山轮渡站)
13:30 4 hours 260

Notes:

  1. 1) The above timetable, duration and price are only for your reference. There may be adjustments according to real-time situations.
  2. 2) The ferry may be canceled if the severe weather like typhoon comes.
  3. 3) The ticket price varies according to cabin classes.
  4. 4) Visitors who are going to catch the ferry at Xiaoyangshan Wharf can get to Nanpu Bridge Passenger Station (南浦大桥客运站) to ride a free bus to get there. The bus departs at about 08:30am.

Which Wharf to Choose, Luchaogang, Wusong or Xiaoyangshan?

Visitors usually select the Shanghai wharf to Putuoshan according to their schedules. Luchaogang Wharf and Xiaoyangshan Wharf offer day ferry to Putuoshan, while Wusong Wharf only has one night ferry to Putuoshan. Apart from the ferry, Luchaogang Wharf and Wusong Wharf share almost the same distance to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, which takes about 1 hour in separate by car, but Wusong Wharf is closer to the downtown area of Shanghai. Xiaoyangshan Wharf belongs to Zhoushan, and it is the farthest wharf from Shanghai city center. However, there are free buses arranged in Shanghai to get there. The free buses depart from Nanpu Bridge Passenger Station in the downtown area.

Tourist Tip: Travelling from Shanghai to Putuoshan by flight or getting to Ningbo or Zhoushan first is more popular when it compared with the ferry. Check more about Shanghai to Putuoshan Transportation >>

Luchaogang Wharf

Location: No.1969, Luchaogang Road, Nanhui New City, Putong New District, Shanghai (芦潮港码头,上海市浦东新区南汇新城镇芦潮港路1969号), about 2 hours to the city center of Shanghai by car

Wusong Wharf

Location: No.5, TaiheRoad, Baoshan District, Shanghai (吴淞码头,上海市宝山区泰和路5号) , about 1 hour to the city center of Shanghai by car

Xiaoyangshan Wharf

Location: Shengsi County, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China (小洋山轮渡站,浙江省舟山市嵊泗县洋山东海支路西), about 1.5 hours from Shanghai by car

Luchaogang Wharf Luchaogang Wharf

Ningbo to Putuoshan Ferry

Currently, both Zhoushan City and Putuoshan Island have no high speed railway stations. The high speed railway stations in Ningbo are the closets ones to Putuoshan. Therefore, some visitors may get to Ningbo first, and then ride a ferry to visit Mount Putuo. Baifeng Wharf in Ningbo operates several ferries to Putuoshan Wharf. The timetable, duration and price of Ningbo to Putuoshan Ferry and Putuoshan to Ningbo Ferry are as follows (for your reference):

From To Timetable Duration Price
(CNY/Person)
Baifeng Wharf
(白峰码头)
Putuoshan Wharf
(普陀山客运码头)
08:00, 13:00 70 minutes 85
Putuoshan Wharf
(普陀山客运码头)
Baifeng Wharf
(白峰码头)
9:30, 14:30 70 minutes 85

Notes:

  1. 1) The above timetable, duration and price are only for your reference. There may be adjustments according to real-time situations.
  2. 2) The ferry may be canceled if the severe weather like typhoon comes.
  3. 3) Ferries from Daxie Wharf in Ningbo to Putuoshan have been suspended since 2013.

Baifeng Wharf

Location: Baifeng Town, Beilun District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province (白峰码头,浙江省宁波市北仑区白峰镇), about 50 kilometers & 1 hour from Ningbo City downtown by car, about 70 kilometers and 1~2 hours from Ningbo Lishe International Airport by car, about 56 kilometers and 1.5~2 hours from Ningbo Railway Station by car

Baifeng Wharf Baifeng Wharf

Putuoshan to Luojiashan Ferry

Luojiashan, also known as Mount Luojia Scenic Area, is a tiny islet of the entire Mount Putuo Scenic Area. Tourists usually stand at east bank of the Putuoshan Island to admire its magical sleeping-Buddha shape from a distance. If you want to visit up in close, you can ride a ferry from Duangu Wharf to get there. The timetable, duration and price of Putuoshan to Luojiashan Ferry and Luojiashan to Putuoshan Ferry are as follows (for your reference):

Luojiashan Luojiashan
From To Timetable Duration Price
(CNY/Person)
Duangu Wharf
(短姑客运码头)
Luojiashan Wharf
(珞珈山客运码头)
7:00, 8:00, 13:00 0.5 h 67 (round trip and the entrance fee is included)
Luojiashan Wharf
(珞珈山客运码头)
Duangu Wharf
(短姑客运码头)
9:00, 10:00, 15:00 0.5 h

Notes:

  1. 1) The above timetable, duration and price are only for your reference. There may be adjustments according to real-time situations.
  2. 2) The ferry may be canceled if the severe weather like typhoon comes.

How to Plan a Putuoshan Tour

How to Get to Putuoshan: ① Ferry from Shanghai (4~12 hrs.), Ningbo (70 mins.), Zhoushan (10~30 mins); ② Flight from Shanghai (1 h), Beijing (3 hrs.), Guangzhou (2 hrs.), Shenzhen (2 hrs.), Xiamen (1.5 hrs.), etc. plus ferry from Zhoushan; ③ High speed train to Ningbo plus ferry from Ningbo or Zhoushan; ④ Driving from Hangzhou (3.5 hrs. around), etc.

Best Time to Visit Putuoshan: June ~ October

A classic Putuoshan Buddhist tour takes about 2 days. The first is for Putuoshan arrival and the exploration of the southern part of Putuoshan, including the landmark site - the Goddess of Mercy Statue. The next morning is to get up close to the soul heart of Putuoshan, including its most significant temples like Fayu Temple, Huiji Temple, etc.

☛ 2 Days Putuoshan Buddhism Tour

Since there is no flight or train to Putuoshan, seldom tourist visits Putuoshan directly, but goes with its popular nearby tourist cities. Shanghai, Ningbo, Hangzhou and Zhoushan are the top picks.

Top 1: Putuoshan Tour from Shanghai

Touring Putuoshan and the metropolis Shanghai in one go is the hottest choice. Such a tour takes 2~5 days.

☛ 2 Days Putuoshan Classic Tour from Shanghai

Top 2: Putuoshan Tour from Hangzhou

Visiting Hangzhou West Lake and Putuoshan together is also a good choice. About 3~5 days are needed.

☛ 4 Days Hangzhou Putuoshan Tour

Top 3: Putuoshan Tour from Ningbo

Ningbo has an airport with frequent international and domestic flights and also has the closest high speed railway stations to Putuoshan. A Putuoshan and Ningbo tour needs about 3 days around.

Top 4: Putuoshan Tour from Zhoushan

If you are going to visit Putuoshan by flight or from the nearest wharfs, Zhoushan City is always the best gateway city. Therefore, taking short Zhoushan tour before heading to Putuoshan is also great. A Zhoushan Putuoshan tour takes about 2~3 days.

Some visitors also prefer to extend their Putuoshan tour to other famous Buddhist places in China, such as Mount Wutai, Mount Emei, Mount Jiuhua, etc. If you like, please feel free to tell us your preferences, and let our experienced travel consultant customize a tour for you!

Putuoshan An Panorama View from Foding Mountain in Putuoshan Putuoshan Amazing Pagodas and Cavings in Putuoshan (Mount Putuo) Our Customer John and his group visited Putuoshan in 2018 Our Customer John and his group visited Putuoshan in 2018

Travel Putuoshan with China Discovery

Looking for a worry-free Putuoshan Tour without checking ferry schedules and visiting routes? Travel with us China Discovery and let our professional travel consultant help you. No matter you are coming from Shanghai, Ningbo, Hangzhou or any other cities in and out China, we will carefully customize a perfect Putuoshan tour with your say, including your interests, budget, group size, time and every special need. Our experienced and knowledgeable guide will choose the best ferry to/from Putuoshan and introduce you the background of Putuoshan and Guanyin (Avalokitesvara, the Goddess of Mercy)!

If you are interested, please feel free to contact us!

Recommended Putuoshan Tours

Top 3 Putuoshan tours chosen by most customers to explore Putuoshan in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us.

Golden Statue of the Goddess of Mercy - Guanyin

2 Days Putuoshan Classic Tour from Shanghai

Shanghai / Putuoshan / Shanghai

The Mercy of Goddness

4 Days Hangzhou Putuoshan Brief Tour

Shanghai / Putuoshan / Hangzhou

99-Meter Ksitigarbha Statue - the Highest Bronze Buddhist Statue in the World

5 Days Buddhism Tour to Mount Putuo & Mount Jiuhua from Shanghai

Shanghai / Mount Putuo / Mount Jiuhua

Start planning your tailor-made holiday to China by contacting one of our specialists. Once inquired, you’ll get a response within 0.5~23.5 hours.

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