New Mountain Gate

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.

Three plates of evening rain

“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…”

Pagoda of Master Puzhao

The Pagoda of Master Puzhao stands to the east of Wanghai Tower and was constructed in the second year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. It is a hexagonal brick-and-stone structure, comprising a base, a body, five tiers of densely eaved cornices, and a finial. The base is a Sumeru pedestal built of stone, while the body is constructed of brick in a hexagonal plan; its eaves are adorned with carved bracket sets, and tower‑like finials are sculpted at the corners. In front of the pagoda stand two steles that document the temple’s setting and history: one is the “Stele of the Life and Deeds of Master Puzhao,” inscribed by Zhipu on the Mid-Autumn Festival in the thirty-second year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty; the other is the “Stele Erected to Reaffirm the Sect,” also known as the “Stele Commemorating the Continuation of the Tradition,” erected in the sixteenth year of the Daoguang era (1836). On May 16, 1992, the People’s Government of Jixian County designated it as a county‑level cultural relic protection site.

Wansong Temple

Wansong Temple is the largest temple on Panshan Mountain. Originally known as Li Jing An, it was named after the renowned Tang‑dynasty general Li Jing, who once resided here. In the early Qing period, the poet and imperial censor Song Luo remarked that “it would be improper to address a worthy predecessor by his given name,” and thus renamed it Weigong An. Wansong Temple is celebrated for its “green mountains and clear waters, misty moonlight among the vines, and pine‑scented breezes”; its “stately presence and solemn Buddhist statues make it truly one of the foremost monasteries in the eastern capital region.” The Zen master Puzhao once served as abbot, reciting the four‑character Buddha mantra and guiding others toward goodness. In the spring of the forty‑third year of the Kangxi reign (1704 AD), Emperor Kangxi, during another imperial tour, bestowed an imperial edict renaming the temple Wansong Temple. Today, though Wansong Temple still echoes with the ancient chime of its bells and stands beneath towering pagodas, it no longer bears the poetic imagery of its name—no thousand pines casting their shadows, no myriad valleys filled with the rustling of pines—nor does it possess that same exquisite charm.

Rinse Gorge

“Shuxia Gorge” was inscribed by the renowned Taiwanese calligrapher, Mr. Liu Bingnan. It speaks of Panshan’s scenic splendor and the cascading streams, which truly resemble a gorge where one might rinse and wash.

The main attractions of Panshan Mountain

Wufeng Bashi: The scenic beauty of Panshan is renowned for its “Five Peaks and Eight Rocks” and the “Three Terraces’ Splendor,” which together create an exceptionally unique landscape. The main peak, Guayue Peak, rises to an elevation of 864.4 meters; it is embraced by Zigai Peak in front, backed by Zilai Peak, connected to Jiuhua Peak on the east, and flanked by Wujian Peak on the west, with these five peaks clustered closely and their jagged rocks standing in striking profusion. The Three Terraces’ Splendor: Nature has naturally fashioned the “Three Terraces’ Splendor”—the upper terrace excels in pines, whose gnarled trunks twist skyward; the middle terrace shines with peculiar, wondrous rock formations; and the lower terrace captivates with cascading waters that sparkle like jade and spurt pearls. The Evening Rain over the Three Terraces: The Evening Rain over the Three Terraces is one of the Ten Scenic Spots of Tianjin. At dusk, when the lingering haze and mist veil the hills, all three terraces—the upper terrace famed for its pines, the middle terrace celebrated for its rocks, and the lower terrace admired for its water—are shrouded in clouds.