In ancient times, Panshan was known as Panlongshan, Sizhengshan, and Wuzhongshan. Panlongshan derived its name from its sprawling, winding contours—shapeless yet undulating, resembling a dragon in motion. Sizhengshan earned its name because a solitary peak rises abruptly, standing apart without equal; its honeycomb‑like, lotus‑petal‑shaped slopes are uniform on all four sides. As for Wuzhongshan, during the Spring and Autumn period, Panshan lay within the territory of the State of Wuzhong, and the mountain took its name from the state. The origin of the name Panshan is attributed to two accounts: one, according to the Yuan‑dynasty Daoist Ji Zhizhen, holds that in antiquity a scholar named Tian Pan came from the State of Qi to take up residence here; the other, as recounted by the Qing‑dynasty poet‑monk Zhipu, suggests that at the end of the Eastern Han, the renowned local gentleman Tian Chou once lived in seclusion on this very spot, giving rise to the name “Tianpanshan”—meaning that Tian Chou had lingered and dwelt here. Later, the name was shortened to Panshan.

　　According to the “Record of Panshan,” beginning with Emperor Cao Cao of the Wei Dynasty, emperors of successive dynasties—including Tang Taizong, Liao Taizong, Liao Shengzong, Jin Shizong, and the Qing emperors Kangxi and Qianlong—visited Panshan. They commissioned extensive construction projects, carved temples into the mountainside, and left behind more than 300 cliffside stone inscriptions. From imperial rulers and high officials to scholars, literati, and devout believers, countless people flocked to the mountain to enjoy its scenery, engage in Zen meditation, and pay homage to the Buddha, their streams never ceasing. As early as the early Tang period, Emperor Taizong Li Shimin, on his triumphant return from an eastern campaign, praised Panshan’s splendor, composing the verse: “Here is a place fit for leisure and delight; why seek it beyond Xiangcheng?” This exalted tribute underscored the mountain’s breathtaking beauty. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, 72 monasteries and 13 pagodas were erected here, while imperial palaces and pavilions sprang up everywhere, creating an unprecedented landscape that made Panshan a thriving Buddhist sanctuary. In the Tang era, with the flourishing of Buddhism, Panshan, together with Mount Wutai in Shanxi, stood as twin spiritual centers, earning the appellation “Eastern Wutai.” Its serene natural scenery and profusion of Buddhist temples drew a steady stream of pilgrims and visitors; many scholars and artists came either to practice Zen and worship or simply to savor the mountain’s charms, leaving behind countless poems, calligraphic masterpieces, commemorative steles, and legendary tales—each adding layers of cultural richness and boundless charm to Panshan. During the Qing dynasty, Emperor Kangxi visited the mountain nine times, while Emperor Qianlong, upon his first tour of Panshan, was so captivated that he exclaimed, “Had I known of Panshan, why would I have ventured south of the Yangtze?” He then ordered the construction of the grand imperial retreat, Jingji Villa, in the eastern section of the mountain. Panshan reached the zenith of its prosperity, and Qianlong returned to visit it another twenty-seven times. The imperial court used this secluded palace both to conduct state affairs and as a favored summer retreat. To appreciate the villa’s exquisite vistas, the Qing emperors annually invested vast sums, drawing on traditional Chinese garden‑design techniques and blending the finest elements of northern and southern landscaping, thus transforming Jingji Villa into a magnificent, opulent, and elegantly beautiful royal garden.

　　However, by the first half of the 20th century, due to wartime devastation and years of neglect, most of these structures had fallen into ruin. During the Anti-Japanese War, the Panshan region served as one of the revolutionary base areas in eastern Hebei. The Japanese army enforced a brutal “three‑all” policy, and many Buddhist temples on Panshan were destroyed by the flames of war and enemy sabotage. Nevertheless, the mountain’s serene and picturesque scenery—its clear skies and verdant peaks—continued to captivate visitors. After liberation, a martyrs’ cemetery was established at the foot of Panshan, serving as a place for future generations to pay their respects.