Mount putuo (Pu tuo shan)

Aug. 28-30. 2009

Program

Friday 8pm - 6am Sat. Shanghai - Putuoshan by ship
Ship departure from the Wusong habour (first class cabin with twin beds and private bathroom costs around RMB 400) It was a pleasant trip, we enjoyed the sea view from the deck with a cup of tea till sunset, watching stars (you can even see galaxy if you are on a lucky clear night) then have an early sleep, because at 4am the ship starts to make a little bit noice - broadcasting their breakfast menu for 5 times in details. :-p

Sat. 6am arrive in Mount putuo
Check into hotel and breakfast then spend the morning hiking up the highest hill (1088 steps) visiting temples if you are interested in culture
otherwise you can choose to be lazy on the beach and swim in the sea!
If you want to play beach volleyball, beach is available, but you need to bring your own gear. (no more entrance fee to beach, but you do need to pay a fee for toilet and shower)

In the afternoon, swim in the sea - it is clean, but a little bit muddy with sands. The water is clean and very warm by end of Aug. still. You can bring your own surfing board, the wave is high in the afternoon, which makes it a lot of fun!

In the evening, enjoy the sun set, have a good walk around the night market, having sea food on the beach under the stars.... then have a walk on the beach, lie down on beach or sit on a rock to enjoy the night, a beautiful skyfull of starts, no noice, only sea, wind and nature. (no party on the island, you have to entertain yourselves with each other)


Sunday
Sleep long or choose to get to see sunrise and jogging on the beach. Visiting the famous Guanyin Bodhisattva temple, have a pleasant walk under the shadows to bamboo forest. Have your sea food lunch... pack your bags.

13.30 noon speed boat back to shanghai
arrive in shanghai at 16.00 harbour, there will be a shuttle bus transfer you back to city near - nanpu bridge around 17:00, enjoy the journey to learn a new perspective of Shanghai...

18:00 Sunday you are back in your home, prepare pictures to share with others :-)

How to get there

Ticket office near the bund city center.
JinLing ticket office
open hour: 7:00 - 17:30
Add: 59 Jinling Dong Road near the bund (location is very close to Laris / M on the bund, Jinling road is one street south of Yan an road)
Tel 6328 3120

Call this number and order your tickets (also return tickets), they will deliver to you anywhere in shanghai and then you pay in cash. Try to book 3 days before in the early morning, in summer tickets sold out very quickly. If you really have no tickets, go to the habour directly to buy a ticket, you may risk to sleep on the deck in your own sleeping bag, but they will sell you a ticket to go on the ship always.

Ship departure from Wusong harbour (it is near line 3 subway station "songbin station", up north east part of shanghai, count on 1 hour drive by taxi on Friday with traffic jam, usually it takes 30min max from xin tian di/people square) on friday at either 8pm or 8.40pm.
The ship name "luo jia shan" is the best one departure at 8pm. First class for two person share cabin, around RMB 400 per person, 2nd class for 4 persons share, 3rd class for 6 persons share room... 4th class uncountable, unless you want to try. :-) return by fast boat can also be purchased at the same agent from shanghai, pick up at putuoshan

Where to stay

A few options below, they are all 5 min walking distance to the hundred step beach (swimming beach) I was recommended by the agent lady of option 3rd, but I liked the bed room picture online of option 1, we tried their twin beds and three beds room. it is neat and clean, just only hot water supply in the evening from 6-11pm. It requires pre-booking, since rooms quickly go out on weekends. I deposited a bit by bank transfer. It is an official agent called Putuo tourist info. Ms. Wang Ming Zhan, her number is 0580 - 6091 227. She also arrange pick ups and free transfer to habour with cars when you arrive and leave. We find their service quite good.


1. Qian he hotel
- RMB 600 for twin beds or single king size bed. excl. bf.
- RMB 650 for three beds room excl. bf.
see picture below:
http://www.putuoshan.net/qianhe/qianhe.html

2. Xi lai xiao zhang hotel
- 5 star room in no. 6 building RMB 1290 per room excl. bf.
- 4 star room in no. 1 building RMB 1140 per room excl. bf

http://www.putuoshan.net/xilei/xil.html

3.Tu wei shan zhuang hotel
- 4 star room RMB 660 include 2 bf.

http://www.putuoshan.net/tuwei/tuwei.html

Hope it gives you some reference, we had a lot of fun in putuoshan, I would recommend this trip to my friends.

Upcoming weekend escapes