Located at the foot of Wulao Peak in the south of Xiamen Island, between the beautiful campus of Xiamen University and unspoiled hillside, the South Putuo Temple is regarded as one of the must-see tourist destinations in Xiamen and well known among all the Buddhist temples in China.

History about South Putuo Temple
The South Putuo Temple was once called Puzhao Temple. Originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), this Buddhist temple has a history of more than 1,400 years. It was destroyed in the warfare during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in Qing Dynasty (1662 - 1722), it was ordered to rebuilt into a Buddhist Temple by a naval general and named South Putuo Temple. The site we see today remained the appearance of Qing Dynasty.

Main Palaces in South Putuo Temple
Covering an area of 30,000 square meters, in South Putuo Temple there are four main buildings located on the north-south axis: the Devajara Hall (the Hall of Heavenly Kings), the Mahavira Hall, the Dabei Hall (the Hall of Great Compassion) and the Sutra-Keeping Pavilion.
The Devajara Hall consists of the statues of four ferocious Heavenly Kings. In the center of the hall stands a fat Buddha, the Maitreya.
The Mahavira Hall is built in 1921 and consists of the statues of the Trinity of the Three Ages. The three main Buddhas inside represent the past, today and the future.
The Dabei Hall is an octagonal tower which was rebuilt in 1928. Thousands Hands Guanyin Buddha is consecrated in the hall and 48 hands Guanyin Buddha are put in the other three directions inside the hall.
The Sutra-Keeping Pavilion was built in 1936 and consist of thousands of Buddhist scriptures, Buddha images from Burma, ivory Sculptures, wood sculptures, bronze bells, incense burner, etc.

Besides the main palaces, many rooms flanking the main buildings include dormitories, libraries and study rooms for monks. The Drum and Bell Towers, the Benevolence Tower and the Universally Shining Tower are all gorgeous and magnificent. Implying the meaning of the boundlessness of Buddha Dharma, the architectural complex looks very dignified.

The temple has a large number of worshippers and pilgrims all the year around. Even if you are not interested in Buddhism, a visit to the South Putuo Temple you will feel a refreshing experience.