Gǔn Xuě

Here lies the “Aoxue” area of Panshan, where jagged, towering boulders are piled one upon another. From these stones, waterfalls cascade down the rugged cliffs, tumbling like rolling snow—hence the name. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, in 207 AD, Emperor Wu of Wei, Cao Cao, while leading a northern campaign against the Wuhuan, beheld this place: towering trees reaching for the heavens, majestic peaks rising steeply, and deep ravines roared with rushing waterfalls that tumbled through a sea of rocks, their spray glittering like ice and snow. The scene resonated deeply with his grand, heroic spirit, and he swiftly inscribed the two characters “Gunxue” on the stone wall. Later, floods and torrential rains washed away the original inscription, leaving no trace; today, the words have been re-carved to restore the landscape of yore. As for why the character “Gun” in “Gunxue” lacks the three‑dot radical for water—its left side is replaced by the image of a waterfall. On this point, some people…

Cloud Pavilion, Pear Shadows

Woyunlou, built against the mountainside and by the water, is a two‑story structure with three bays, featuring a high ridge and soaring eaves, ornate carved beams and painted rafters, and an air of solemn grandeur. It was rebuilt in 1984. On summer days, after a rain clears and the sun breaks through, one often sees streaks of rosy clouds; gently stirred by the breeze, they either veil the building or drift right past it, creating a most intriguing spectacle—hence its name. Opposite Woyunlou stands an ancient opera stage, restored and reconstructed in 2005. The inscription “Yunlou Lǐyǐng” was penned by Emperor Qianlong. “Yunlou” refers to Woyunlou, “Lǐ” denotes the old opera platform, and “Yǐng” evokes the lotus pond. The opera stage, the lotus pond, and Woyunlou echo one another from afar, together composing the scenic vista known as “Yunlou Lǐyǐng.” When people think of the “Li Garden,” many are reminded of traditional Chinese opera, which is commonly called…

Ginkgo Tree at Tiancheng Temple

On either side of the temple stand two tall, stately ginkgo trees, standing like imposing guardians at the entrance to Tiancheng Temple’s courtyard. The ginkgo, also known as the white fruit tree, the “grandson‑grandfather” tree, or the duck‑foot tree, is often called China’s tree worldwide. Originating in the Paleozoic era, it survived the Quaternary glaciations and now survives only in China, making it of great scientific value for paleontological research and earning it the nickname “living fossil.” Both of these ginkgo trees are 25 meters tall, with trunks measuring 3.1 meters in circumference, and are over 800 years old—yet they are still considered “young trees.” Exactly how long such trees can live remains a mystery. In 1993, Tianjin Television reported that in Qufu, Shandong, there are two ginkgo trees that have already reached the age of four…

Feng Qiaosong

The Phoenix‑Crest Pine stands on the eastern cliff face of Wansong Temple. With an age of 500 years, its branches and trunk stretch out horizontally from the rock, resembling a colorful phoenix lifting its tail as if about to take flight, or a peacock spreading its plumage—hence its name, “Phoenix‑Crest Pine.”

Wansong Temple Pagoda Grove

The Stone Pagoda Grove at Wansong Temple houses ninety-nine pagodas. Nestled against the mountain and adjacent to the temple, the grove stands tall and imposing, its solemn presence and grand scale serving as the crowning touch to this profound cultural landscape—a sacred site dedicated to the salvation of all beings. With the exception of the “Pagoda of Master Taiping,” most of the other pagodas were originally scattered across various monasteries on Panshan Mountain. Over time, torrential floods and historical upheavals wrought extensive damage, leaving the foundations and individual components of the pagodas strewn throughout the mountain’s many corners. In 2006, the Panshan Administration mobilized considerable manpower and resources to painstakingly recover the fragments of these pagodas from every corner of the mountain and reassemble them in front of Wansong Temple. Following restoration and reconstruction, the grove now comprises a total of ninety-nine stone pagodas. These structures are fashioned in square, hexagonal, or lama‑style forms.

Mountain tranquility and scenic community

This residential complex comprises a harmonious ensemble of landscape architecture and natural vistas. The buildings, with their dark-tiled walls and verdant roofs, rise in varied, dramatic forms, creating a richly layered composition that is both visually striking and pleasing to the eye. Key features include the paifang archway, the central plaza, the mountain gate, the lotus pond, the “Mountain Serenity, Harmonious Scenery” pavilion, and the Yecheng Pavilion, among others.