Today you may have to settle for a cup of coffee as breakfast; you’ll be picked up at 7:00 for your transfer to the bus station at the southern side of the Bund. A public bus will drive you for three hours along neatly maintained factory properties and growing highways to Luchao, where you’ll catch a boat to Putuoshan Island. Bring along some food for in the bus (on the way back as well); the boat only has a simple bar. Around 12:30 the 35m high statue of Guanyin will come into view.

You’ll stay in a comfortable 3.5 star hotel with all necessary facilities. Have some lunch at your hotel, rest up for a bit and then head out sometime at the end of the afternoon to see the statue of Guanyin. At this time of day it will be beautifully lit by the setting sun. The best way to explore the island is by foot; the island has been cultivated for pedestrians and there are signs everywhere to lead you in the right direction. Putuoshan is small (approximately 6km in circumference) and you can easily walk around it in a day. You’ll walk along neatly kept walking paths in the shadow of tropical trees and plants that are maintained by an army of gardeners.

Wake up early this morning and enjoy the charm of the island before the rest of the world awakens. Delight in the many delicately carved rooftops and arches mirrored in the ponds of the Puji temple. Stroll through the temples, along the pagodas and well-kept gardens. More than 500 monks live on Putuoshan island; however you won’t see many of them during your stay. You’ll have a better chance of seeing them mid-February, June and in September due to several important ceremonies, such as the festival of the goddess.

Bring along your towel and lay it down on the official “100 steps” beach or head down a little further to the "1000 steps” beach. Around noon you’ll start to see people with buckets and garden hoses in them; it’s time for lunch and these are the catches of the day for the Putuo fish restaurants. In true Putuo style just point out what you’d like to eat and enjoy a delicious meal at an affordable price. In the afternoon you can head back to the beach or take in some Chinese culture, for instance you can visit Fayuchan temple. The temple lies on top of a mountain and pilgrims climb hundreds of stairs to reach it. Every three steps they kneel and bow down with their hands on the ground.

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