The Purple Bamboo Grove is located at the southeastern tip of Putuo Mountain, facing Luojia Mountain across the sea. What people often refer to as the ‘Purple Bamboo Grove’ is not a patch of purple bamboos, but scenic spots such as the Purple Bamboo Grove Zen Temple, the Guanyin Temple Where She Refused to Leave, and the Chaoyin Cave. This is the earliest dojo of Guanyin on Putuo Mountain. Many people also come here to visit because of the legend of the ‘Guanyin Who Refused to Leave’.
Entering the scenic area from the parking lot, going straight at the intersection leads to the Nanhai Guanyin Statue and Guanyin Jump. Turning left and walking to the end is the Purple Bamboo Grove Zen Temple. The mountain gate and the Heavenly King Hall of the Purple Bamboo Grove Zen Temple are combined into one, with a very unique shape. A gate tower protrudes from the main gate in the middle of the Heavenly King Hall, forming the archway of the mountain gate. The words ‘Purple Bamboo Grove of Potalaka’ inscribed on the lintel are in the handwriting of Kang Youwei. The temple is not large in scale. The main building is the Yuantong Treasure Hall, where a seated statue of the Purple Bamboo Guanyin is enshrined. People can offer prayers here. In addition, there are many plaques and couplets inscribed by famous people in the details of the temple, with a strong sense of Zen, which are worth carefully browsing. Exiting the gate of the Purple Bamboo Grove Zen Temple and walking along the path opposite towards the sea are the Guanyin Temple Where She Refused to Leave and the Chaoyin Cave. From a distance on the road, you can see the sea-viewing pavilion in front of the Guanyin Temple Where She Refused to Leave. The temple is not large. The original ancient nunnery has long disappeared. Today’s buildings are all new constructions. However, this is the earliest place where temples were built on Putuo Mountain and the beginning of worshipping Buddha. Therefore, it is also a place that must be visited on Putuo Mountain. Opposite the Guanyin Temple Where She Refused to Leave is the Chaoyin Cave. The cave half-submerged in the sea swallows and spits out the tide day and night, with a sound like thunder. Viewing the sea view here and looking at Luojia Mountain opposite in the distance is like a huge Buddha lying on the sea. The scenery is very beautiful. Legend has it that this was once the place where Guanyin Bodhisattva manifested her spiritual powers. Therefore, devout men and women are more willing to regard this sound of the tide as the preaching sound of the Bodhisattva, adding a bit of mystery to the Chaoyin Cave. There is also a stele nearby engraved with ‘Prohibited Area for Self-Immolation and Burning Fingers’. It is said that in the past, many believers came here and jumped into the cave by the Chaoyin Cave to sacrifice themselves or burned their fingers in front of the Guanyin Temple Where She Refused to Leave, thinking that by doing so they could achieve enlightenment sooner. So the local military governor erected this stele here. Now no one ‘sacrifices themselves or burns their fingers’ here anymore. This piece of history has become a story that tour guides love to talk about, and the stele has become a landmark for tourists to take photos. After visiting the Purple Bamboo Grove, you can walk to the south to worship the 33-meter-high Nanhai Guanyin Statue. In addition, it is very close to the dock. Walking back to the dock, you can also visit scenic spots near the South Heavenly Gate and the dock along the way. Open all year round from 06:00 to 18:00.Purple Bamboo Grove
The Purple Bamboo Grove is located at the southeastern tip of Putuo Mountain, facing Luojia Mountain[...]
