Sanyuan Temple, now known as Puji Temple, sits folded into a natural depression on the second terrace of Mount Xiushan. Built in 1428 during the Ming Dynasty, it was the mountain’s first Taoist sanctuary, dedicated to the officials of Heaven, Earth, and Water. The architects designed the compound to embrace the steep, uneven terrain. Visitors approach through a compact, multi-level courtyard system that manipulates perspective and elevation. The front gate, a two-story pavilion, rests two meters below the inner courtyard. Stepping through its low entrance and climbing the shadowed stairs, visitors emerge into a sudden expanse of light, looking up to see the main hall perched on a high platform. The sweeping eaves of the hall dominate the sightline, recalling the dramatic angles found in ancient Dunhuang architectural paintings.

The mountain’s slope dictates the temple’s dual entrances, both positioned at natural bends in the ascending path. The lower gate guides visitors inward past stone lions and a flared spirit wall. The upper entrance is built directly into the ground floor of the eastern wing. Here, delicately carved circular window covers and a stone tablet inscribed with the characters "Hai Tian Chun Xiao"—Spring Dawn over Sea and Sky—encourage travelers to pause. This layout transforms a demanding mountain climb into a carefully paced garden stroll.

Over the centuries, the site has absorbed significant physical and cultural shifts. Most of the surviving timber structures date to Qing Dynasty restorations. Following severe damage from the 1970 Tonghai earthquake, the compound underwent extensive repairs in the 1980s. During this period, it transitioned from a Taoist shrine to a Buddhist sanctuary, reflecting a broader history of religious fluidity across Mount Xiushan. Today, the temple remains an active place of worship and a celebrated botanical haven. In winter and spring, more than two hundred potted white magnolias bloom across the courtyards. This floral tradition traces its roots back to the Ming Dynasty, continuing a centuries-old practice of cultivating quiet beauty within the mountain's architectural enclosures.