A heartrending love story of a realm never to be held, and a profound, Zen‑infused compassion for all beings. As the Milky Way turns, the moon waxes and wanes, snowflakes drift across the sky, and streams murmur softly. High atop Pan Mountain, at an elevation of over 700 meters, a breathtaking love tale unfolds, accompanied by the lingering echoes of serene Buddhist chants—here, amidst mountains and waters, one may rediscover the pure, unadulterated essence of self. This is “Tianxia • Pan Shan,” a grand, immersive live‑action spectacle set against the natural splendor of Pan Mountain.

Since ancient times, Panshan has captivated countless scholars with its breathtaking scenery, inspiring them to wander its slopes and compose odes in its honor, thereby leaving behind a wealth of invaluable historical and cultural legacies. With 72 temples and nearly a thousand monks, Panshan has earned widespread renown, earning the title of “the First Mountain of Eastern Jing” throughout the land. Indeed, Panshan is not only a splendid mountain of striking natural beauty but also a veritable cultural landmark, and Buddhist culture stands as one of the most vibrant and defining threads of its heritage.

To showcase Panshan’s distinctive Buddhist and temple culture to a global audience, the creators—including Mei Shuayuan, known as the “father of Chinese live‑action performances”—invested heavily to craft this culturally immersive spectacle, offering a breathtaking audiovisual experience. It has been warmly embraced by visitors to Jixian County, particularly those who are devoted to the study of Buddhism.

According to reports, the story depicted in “Tianxia • Panshan” unfolds during the Qianlong era, when Buddhist teachings flourished on Mount Panshan. The emotional conflicts of the principal characters center on the agonizing choice between patriotic devotion and personal feelings, and the plot unfolds with dramatic twists and turns driven by the characters’ shifting emotions. When the nation was beset by war and famine, Emperor Qianlong and Pan’er resolutely set aside their romantic love for the greater good, embodying the Buddhist ideals of universal compassion and boundless mercy. As Mr. Mei Shuayuan has noted, though the tragic love story between the emperor and the commoner evokes deep sighs, and the scenes of natural and man-made calamities brought on by severe drought and warfare are profoundly heartbreaking, it is precisely because this immersive, site-specific production weaves Buddhist culture into the very landscape that “Panlong Romance” conveys a silent, profound love for all beings. For this reason, “Tianxia • Panshan” remains a “beautiful tragedy.”

The entire performance is divided into six sections: “Prologue: Mount Yuanshan,” “The Mortal World,” “The Green Lamp,” “The Yellow Scroll,” “The Purple Clay,” and “Epilogue: Mount Qingshan.” Scenes of farming, warfare, and rain‑praying flow seamlessly from one to the next. Set against a backdrop of real mountains and flowing waters, the stage unfolds a breathtaking, poetic tableau. A grand cast, dazzling light effects, and soaring original music lend the immersive live‑action production an even more majestic sweep, bringing to vivid life the profound Buddhist heritage that has long been woven into this land.

“If I had known there was Panshan, why would I have descended to the Jiangnan region?” With its irresistible allure as “the First Mountain of Jingdong,” Panshan draws countless visitors, becoming a sacred haven where people seek out nature and immerse themselves in Buddhist culture. Those who come to Panshan to explore its secluded beauty strive, even during their brief stay, to not only savor its most breathtaking vistas but also to uncover its rich and captivating Buddhist heritage.

“Tianxia • Panshan” stands as a living testament to Buddhist culture and a treasured legacy of Chinese Buddhist music. Traveling far and wide across the land, traversing countless mountains and rivers, and shedding all weariness, come to Panshan and, amidst heaven and earth, behold this exquisitely beautiful, timeless love story.