Nanputuo Temple (南普陀寺) is a large Buddhist temple in the south of Xiamen Island, next to the gate of Xiamen University. It suits a morning before a walk along the shop street at the university gate or in Zengcuoan. The history and address on this page come from the temple's own site. Hours and the fee come from Wikivoyage, which is not official and is dated, so please check at the temple gate. For the city, see the Xiamen guide. Checked on 17 October 2026.
What we could and could not confirm
| Item | What we found | Source and status |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 515 Siming South Road, Siming District, Xiamen, postcode 361005 | Temple's official site, checked 17 Oct 2026 |
| Phone | 0592-2087282 (客堂, reception hall) | Temple's official site, checked 17 Oct 2026 |
| Hours | 4:00 to 18:00 | Wikivoyage, not official; the temple pages we could open show no hours |
| Fee | Free | Wikivoyage, updated Feb 2017; the temple's site shows no price |
| Bus routes near the temple | Routes 1, 21, 45, 309, 751, 841 and b1 | Wikivoyage, not official |
The temple's official site loads through scripts, and the home page we could read has only its history, address and contact details. That leaves us with no second source to confirm the hours and the fee. If another source disagrees with what we give, trust the notice at the temple gate.
A short history, from the temple's site
The official site says the temple was built between the late Tang and the Five Dynasties, first under the name Sizhou Temple (泗洲院). In the Northern Song the monk Wenzui restored it and renamed it Wujinyan (无尽岩). It was destroyed in the Yuan, rebuilt early in the Ming by the monk Jieguang and renamed Puzhao Temple, and burned again in wartime early in the Qing. In the 22nd year of Kangxi (1683), Shi Lang, after retaking Taiwan, was stationed in Xiamen and donated money to repair the temple. The Dabei Hall (大悲阁), which enshrines Avalokiteshvara, was added, and the name Nanputuo has been used since. In the early Republic the temple had a layout of three halls and seven buildings, according to the site.
What is in and around the temple
Wikivoyage describes a large Buddhist temple complex, parts of it more than a thousand years old, mostly dedicated to Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara), with a hill behind it that you can climb for views over Xiamen. It says there are many small Buddha statues on the hill and several vegetarian restaurants at the temple. That is from Wikivoyage; we have not checked it against the temple's own site.
Getting there and what to pair it with
Wikivoyage says the temple is just above the main gate of the university, and that from the Zhongshan Road area and the Gulangyu pier it is about a 20-minute walk to the university, or you can take a taxi or a bus (routes above). After the temple, Wikivoyage recommends the Siming South Road in front of the university gate, about 150 m long and lined with shops and stalls selling to students, close to Zengcuoan, the district of bars and barbecue. For Xiamen University we found no official visiting rule, so ask your hotel or read the notice at the gate.
Etiquette
We found no official dress or photography rule for this temple, so we state none. Our general suggestion, not the temple's rule: dress modestly as you would for a temple at home, and ask staff before photographing inside halls where people are praying. Check the closing time before you climb the hill, since Wikivoyage gives opening until 18:00.
Links on this page and our earnings
This page has no ticket button, because Wikivoyage says entry is free and we have no registered affiliate link related to this temple. We earn nothing from this page. Our disclosure page explains how affiliate links work and what we never do.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Nanputuo Temple open?
Wikivoyage says 4:00 to 18:00, which is not an official source. The temple pages we could open show no hours, so check at the gate or call 0592-2087282, the number on the temple's site.
How much is the entry?
Wikivoyage says free (updated February 2017). The temple's site shows no price, so check at the gate.
Where is Nanputuo Temple?
At 515 Siming South Road, Siming District, Xiamen, according to the official site, beside the main gate of Xiamen University.
How long should I allow?
We have no official figure. Our suggestion, not official: half a morning, including the walk up the hill and a vegetarian lunch.
When was it built?
The official site says it was founded between the late Tang and the Five Dynasties, destroyed and rebuilt several times, and given a major repair in 1683 under the Qing.
How do I get there from the Gulangyu pier area?
Wikivoyage says about a 20-minute walk, or a taxi or bus; see the route numbers in the table above.
How this compares
We opened China Highlights' Xiamen guide and Lonely Planet's Xiamen page. China Highlights mentions the temple and the view from the hill behind it in its city overview, without hours or fees, and Lonely Planet's page is a hub. This page gives the temple's own history and address, labels the hours and fee as Wikivoyage's older data, and tells you to check the gate.
See also
- Xiamen travel guide
- Gulangyu: ferry, tickets and how to get there
- Where to stay in Xiamen
- China travel guide for foreigners
Official sources and further reading
- Nanputuo Temple official site (Chinese): history, address, contact
- Wikivoyage: Xiamen Island (hours, fee, bus routes, vegetarian restaurants; not official)
- Wikivoyage: Xiamen (city overview; not official)
- China Highlights: Xiamen Travel Guide (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
- Lonely Planet: Xiamen (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
