Huiji Monastery sits near the summit of Mount Putuo at around 220 metres, reachable by cable car from the foot of the mountain or by a long climb up stone steps through the forest. The monastery is the smallest of the three major temples but has the best views — on clear days the surrounding islands of the Zhoushan archipelago are spread out below, and the monastery's courtyard looks out over a sweep of pine forest and sea.
The cable car takes about four minutes and is the preferred option for most visitors; the stairway climb takes forty-five minutes to an hour and is worth doing in one direction for the experience of the forest and the smaller shrines on the way. Near the summit, a small tea house serves tea grown on terraces below the temple, and the combination of altitude, sea air, and Buddhist atmosphere makes for an excellent excuse to sit for an hour.