South Shaolin Temple (南少林寺) on Lin Mountain, 10 km northwest of Putian city, is the most widely accepted site of the origin of Southern Shaolin martial arts (nánshǎolín quán, 南少林拳). Destroyed in the Qing dynasty and rebuilt in the 1990s, the current complex is new but the tradition lived on: the Putian region is where several southern styles — including Wuzuquan (五祖拳), Huozhuangquan (虎桩拳) and elements of later Fujian baihequan (白鹤拳) — trace their lineage.
Come for three things: (1) the daily training demonstrations by monk-students (morning and afternoon, included in admission), (2) the large statuary and the quiet mountain setting, and (3) the short trail up Lin Mountain behind the temple for views back to the coast.
Practical: admission 40 CNY. Open 07:30–17:30. Taxi/DiDi from Putian Railway Station about 35 minutes; no direct public transport. Combine with Guanghua Temple and a Putian lunch for a busy day, or with Meizhou Island across two days.