Meizhou Island
Meizhou Island is the place where Matzu was deified. Heralded as a “paradise in the south”, the island is home to over 30 famous scenic spots, including gorgeous coastal landscapes, an ancestral temple, a golden beach that has been described as the “Hawaii of the East”, and interesting rock formations. The island is also home to the original temple to Matzu, a goddess worshiped by over 200 million people worldwide. Known as the “Mecca of the East”, the temple receives a stream of pilgrims each year on Matzu’s birthday and Ascension Day, which fall on March 23rd and September 9th of the lunar calendar, respectively.

Guanghua Temple
Established in the 2nd year of Emperor Yongding’s reign in the Southern Chen dynasty, Guanghua Temple is a renowned site that boasts a history of over 1,430 years. It is regarded as one of the four great Buddhist monasteries of Fujian along with Gushan Temple of Fuzhou, South Putuo Temple of Xiamen, and Kaiyuan Temple of Quanzhou.

South Shaolin Temple
Originally known as Linquan Temple, South Shaolin Temple was built during Emperor Yongding’s reign in the Southern Chen Dynasty (577 CE). Archaeologists unearthed remnants of South Shaolin Temple in 1986, and the temple was rebuilt in 1998. The construction project spanned an area of 26.1 square kilometers encompassing Jiuhua Mountain and includes interesting rock formations - two locations that are listed among Putian’s 24 great sights.