Little Putuo Island (小普陀)
A tiny island temple floating on Erhai Lake near Wase Village, best visited at sunrise for mist-shrouded views and worth exactly the 15 minutes it takes to see it.
Duration
15-30 minutes
Cost
¥30 ($4) Erhai Lake access fee; small boat ¥10-20 ($1.50-$3) round trip (negotiable)
Hours
Daylight hours (no fixed closing time)
Booking
No booking needed
Little Putuo Island (小普陀, Xiǎo Pǔtuó) is the smallest island in Erhai Lake — little more than a rock with a temple on it. And that's exactly the point.
From the east shore near Wase Village (挖色镇), the island looks like it's floating, especially at dawn when mist still clings to the water. A small local boat (¥10–20 round trip, negotiate firmly) takes you across in under two minutes. On the island, a two-story Ming Dynasty pavilion houses a temple to Guanyin (观音), the Buddhist bodhisattva of mercy. The ground floor holds Buddha statues; climb the narrow stairs for lake-and-mountain views stretching to Cangshan (苍山).
That's it. The whole visit takes 15 minutes. But if you're cycling the Erhai Lake loop (洱海环湖), Little Putuo is the most photogenic rest stop you'll make. In winter months, flocks of seagulls congregate here, turning a quick photo into something genuinely memorable.
Don't go out of your way for it. Do stop if you're passing by — especially at sunrise.
Practical tips
- Little Putuo is a photo stop, not a destination. It shines at sunrise when morning mist wraps the island — the classic Dali shot. Arrive by bicycle or scooter on the Erhai east-shore loop; local boatmen at Wase Village (挖色镇) will ferry you across for ¥10-20 round trip. Negotiate before boarding and confirm it's round-trip. November through March, winter seagulls mass around the island and make for spectacular photos.