Scenic Beauty of Panshan Mountain

Panshan Scenic Area, located northwest of Jixian County in Tianjin, is a national 5A‑level scenic spot. Its history dates back to the Han Dynasty, with its construction beginning in the Tang and reaching its zenith during the Qing Dynasty. The Qianlong Emperor of the Qing dynasty made 32 imperial tours to Panshan, leaving behind 1,366 poems praising the mountain and famously remarking, “Had I known of Panshan earlier, why would I have needed to journey south?” Panshan Scenic Area is a key national scenic and historic site and a national 5A‑level attraction; it was once listed among China’s fifteen most celebrated landscapes and is renowned at home and abroad as “the First Mountain of Eastern Jing.” The area lies 12 kilometers northwest of Jixian County town in Tianjin. In ancient times, Panshan was known by such names as Panlong Mountain, Sizheng Mountain, and Wuzhong Mountain. Because its ridges wind and coil like a dragon, with no fixed form yet an imposing presence, it came to be called “Panshan.”

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…”

Tiancheng Temple

Tiancheng Temple was first built during the Tang Dynasty. It was originally known as “Fushan Temple,” also called “Tiancheng Fushan Temple,” and was sometimes referred to as “Tiancheng Dharma Realm.” At the temple gate stands a pavilion that overlooks the foothills, its vista resembling a winding alleyway; the mountain streams, moss‑covered rocks, and myriad details are all clearly visible. From afar, the clustered peaks form a breathtaking landscape, like a painting come to life. Some say that the four mountains converge to create a natural fortress, which is why it was once named “Heavenly City.” Later, the character “city” was changed to “achieve,” evoking the idea of a “heavenly masterpiece,” hence the name Tiancheng Temple. Behind the temple rises a towering peak called Cuiping Peak; at its base, an ancient pagoda gleams in the light, and before it stands a fragrant cypress tree as old as the pagoda itself. Flanking it are two tall, stately ginkgo trees, together composing a scene straight out of a celestial painting.

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…

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…

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…