To the west of the Ancient Buddha Relic Pagoda lies “Feibo Gully.” In summer and autumn, the gully’s waters cascade down from Cuiping Peak, their flow resembling flying silk—hence the name. As one poem puts it: “Waterfalls and springs pour beneath the peak, their forms like strands of white silk gently drifting.”
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“Ruru,” a Buddhist term, denotes a sublime state of perfect harmony and fluidity, free from stagnation. Here, to the north rises Cuiping Peak, flanked by the east–west‑extending Fuxing Ridge; three sides are encircled by rolling hills, coalescing into an intimate, secluded natural setting. To the south, the vista opens wide, offering an expansive panorama—a scenic haven where seclusion and openness blend, and where the flow is unobstructed yet not stifling, making it an exceptional feng shui treasure that gathers and nurtures the earth’s vital energy. A poem captures its essence: “Ruru—just as if the six sense organs had been transplanted, all five realms dissolve into the verdant screen; auspicious clouds recline upon the pavilion, drifting through the windows, while a single spring fills the pool, teeming with mountain fish.”
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This massive boulder, weathered by wind and rain over the centuries, has taken on a shape that is wide at the top and narrow at the base—resembling a traditional ingot—hence its name, “Yuanbao Stone.” It truly stands as Pan Mountain’s treasured landmark. Carved upon it are the words: “Here lie lofty mountains, steep peaks, strange rocks, and rare pines,” inscribed by Ning Chun, a scholar‑candidate from ancient Miyun. Drawn to Pan Mountain by its unique scenery, he adapted a line from Wang Xizhi, the celebrated calligrapher of the Jin Dynasty, found in his Preface to the Orchid Pavilion: “Here lie lofty mountains, steep peaks, lush forests, and slender bamboo.” Believing that this phrase fell short of capturing the essence of Pan Mountain, he revised it to read: “Here lie lofty mountains, steep peaks, strange rocks, and rare pines.” In the lower right corner is an inscription left by the esteemed scholar Fu Zengxiang, who visited Pan Mountain on three separate occasions.
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Yunzhao Temple was formerly known as Jianglong An and was founded during the Taihe era of the Tang Dynasty by Master Daozong. Historically, the temple enshrined the Imperial Treasury’s Thousand‑Leaf Precious Lotus Buddha. In the thirtieth year of the Wanli reign, it was officially bestowed the name “Yunzhao Temple.” Perched atop a sheer summit, shrouded in clouds and veiled in mist, from below one can scarcely tell whether the temple is the cloud or the cloud is the temple—hence the name Yunzhao Temple. Standing proudly at the pinnacle of Panshan Mountain, the temple has long enjoyed a renowned reputation, regarded as the foremost among all the monasteries on the mountain and hailed as the “Buddhist Palace Amidst the Clouds.” When clouds rise at the mountaintop, its golden halls gleam with radiant splendor; when the clouds disperse, its jagged peaks sparkle in the light. Ascending this sacred site evokes the sense of gazing upward at a lofty pagoda that seems close to the heavens, while looking down upon the world below, where earthly affairs seem to swirl and churn. Emperor Qianlong himself praised this place as “supreme and wondrous.”
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Comprising three tiers of platforms, the complex covers an area of 13,200 square meters and can accommodate up to 10,000 people simultaneously for large-scale performances and events. For this reason, it is also known as the Cultural Performance Plaza. Whenever Pan Shan hosts major gatherings, grand celebrations, or other significant occasions, these events are invariably held here—such as the large-scale festivities marking the 30th anniversary of Pan Shan’s opening in 2012, the annual Pan Shan Temple Fair, the opening ceremony of the Pan Shan Mountain Climbing Competition, and the opening of the Yuyang Golden Autumn Tourism Festival. Moreover, the Pan Shan Administration has traditionally staged its grand “Qianlong Ascends Pan Shan” reenactment here as well.
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“Three Plateaus in the Evening Rain” was inscribed at the behest of Mao Changwu, former advisor to the Tianjin Municipal Government. “Three Plateaus in the Evening Rain” is a distinctive scenic feature of Panshan Mountain and ranks among the “Ten Scenic Spots of Jinmen.” It evolved from the earlier “Evening Rain over Panshan,” one of the “Eight Views of Jizhou.” The term “Three Plateaus” refers to Panshan’s three celebrated vistas, while “evening rain” denotes the misty clouds that gather at dusk. In the vibrant spring of March, peach, apricot, and pear blossoms blanket the mountainside; as the east wind sweeps over the ridges, the ground seems covered with a flurry of bright snow. With each gentle breeze, petals drift down like a shower of myriad blossoms. In midsummer, at twilight, after a brief rain clears the skies, clouds, mist, and haze enshroud the entire mountain—neither fully clear nor truly rainy—hence the name “Three Plateaus in the Evening…”
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