{"id":760,"date":"2026-08-30T10:36:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T10:36:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/?page_id=760"},"modified":"2026-08-30T10:36:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T10:36:14","slug":"little-putuo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.ynatcn.com\/?page_id=760","title":{"rendered":"Little Putuo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Little Putuo (Xiaoputuo), Dali, Yunnan<\/h1>\n
Little Putuo is a tiny limestone islet on the eastern shore of Erhai Lake<\/strong>, just off the coast of Haiyin Village<\/strong> in Wase Town<\/strong>, Dali. Measuring only about 100 square meters<\/strong> and rising just 12 meters above the water, this miniature island is home to a Ming Dynasty Guanyin Pavilion and is one of the most iconic photo stops along the eastern ring road of Erhai Lake.<\/div>\n
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\ud83c\udfdd\ufe0f The Three Highlights<\/h2>\n
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Highlight<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Pocket-Sized Fairy Island<\/strong><\/td>\nThe entire island is barely large enough for the two-story pavilion and two ancient trees. From a distance, the lone pavilion standing in the lake with Cangshan Mountain as a backdrop creates a dreamlike, ink-wash painting scene<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ming Dynasty Guanyin Pavilion<\/strong><\/td>\nBuilt around 1643<\/strong> during the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty, this two-story pavilion houses a Buddha statue on the first floor and Guanyin (Goddess of Mercy) on the second. It was listed as a Dali City cultural relic in 1991<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Winter Seagulls<\/strong><\/td>\nFrom November to March<\/strong>, tens of thousands of Siberian black-headed gulls<\/strong> migrate here to winter. The sight of flocks circling the tiny island is one of the most heartwarming scenes on Erhai Lake<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\udcdc Legend & History<\/h2>\n
Guanyin’s Sea Seal<\/strong>: Legend says a dragon once wreaked havoc in Erhai Lake. To subdue it, Guanyin cast a great seal into the water, which transformed into this round islet \u2014 hence its original name “Haiyin”<\/strong> (Sea Seal). The fishing village on the opposite shore also took the name Haiyin Village. Because its location and form resemble Mount Putuo in Zhejiang (a sacred Buddhist site), it later became known as “Little Putuo.”<\/strong><\/div>\n
The pavilion has been rebuilt and repaired multiple times over the centuries, notably after being destroyed in 1856 and rebuilt in 1861, with further renovations in 1917 and 1982.<\/div>\n
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\ud83c\udfab Practical Information<\/h2>\n
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Detail<\/th>\nInfo<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Entrance Fee<\/strong><\/td>\nFree<\/strong> to view from the shore<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Island Access<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a55 island fee + \u00a515 round-trip boat (boats depart when 8+ passengers gather; 5-minute crossing). Private wooden boats by local villagers cost roughly \u00a510\u201315<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Opening Hours<\/strong><\/td>\n09:00\u201318:00 (last entry at 18:00)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Recommended Visit<\/strong><\/td>\n20\u201345 minutes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Parking<\/strong><\/td>\n~\u00a510 per vehicle<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Location<\/strong><\/td>\nHaiyin Village, Wase Town, Dali City \u2014 about 20 meters offshore on the east side of Erhai Lake<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\ud83d\ude97 How to Get There<\/h2>\n