Chinese Buddhism's birthplace remains a place of pilgrimage

A stream with an ancient rock inscription beside it at the Shiliang Scenic Area in Tiantai county, Zhejiang province..[Photo provided to China Daily]

The street isn't far from the 666-hectare Lotus Terraced Fields.

The proximate Shantouzheng village hosts more than 20 dilapidated buildings that are 70 to 100 years old.

The settlement hopes investors will renovate them into boutique hotels. Six have been rented out for this, and the first repurposed house, Tingsong Building, opened in October.

This could contribute to a revival of Tiantai as a destination, by bringing more explorers and pilgrims to the site hailed for its natural and supernatural splendor.

If you go

Visitors can drive or take travel buses from Zhejiang province's Hangzhou, Ningbo or Taizhou.