The Beilun passenger ferry terminal in northeastern Ningbo is the main departure point for boats to Mount Putuo, Zhoushan city, and the other islands of the Zhoushan archipelago. The terminal is in the Beilun district, about thirty-five kilometres from central Ningbo, reachable by a dedicated bus service from the city centre or by taxi in about forty minutes.
Ferries to Mount Putuo take approximately ninety minutes and run frequently throughout the day; faster vessels make the crossing in about sixty minutes. The ferry journey itself is part of the experience — the archipelago scenery emerging from the East China Sea, the island profiles rising from the water, and the transition from industrial port city to Buddhist island — and is worth making in good weather even if time is limited. Tickets are sold at the terminal or through online booking platforms; during the major Guanyin festival periods, advance booking is essential.