Five Peaks and Eight Stones

　　The scenery of Panshan is renowned for its unique splendor, epitomized by the “Five Peaks and Eight Rocks” and the “Three‑Tiered Passages.” The main peak, Guayue Peak, rises to an elevation of 864.4 meters, flanked by Zigaifeng to the front, Zailaifeng to the rear, Jiuhuafeng to the east, and Wujianfeng to the west—five peaks clustered together amid jagged, towering rock formations.

A victory in three sets

　　Nature has naturally fashioned a “three‑plate triumph”: the upper plate is dominated by pines, their branches winding and arching toward the sky; the middle plate is ruled by rocks, strange and wondrous; and the lower plate is graced by water, splashing like jade and spouting pearls.

Three plates of evening rain

　　The Three-Plate Evening Rain is one of the Ten Scenic Spots of Tianjin.

　　The “Three Sections” of Panshan—the Upper Section, where pines reign supreme; the Middle Section, famed for its rocks; and the Lower Section, celebrated for its waters—are all shrouded in mist and cloud at dusk, when the fading light mingles with hazy smoke. Standing amid the mountains, one beholds a scene that seems “neither fully clear nor truly rainy.” At such moments, “the mountain’s clouds swell and spread, vast as a sea of snow‑white peaks, with forms rising and vanishing within—like masts of smoke borne on the wind.” This spectacle of Panshan has been lauded by scholars and artists alike as the “Evening Rain over the Three Sections.”

Temple

　　Historically, it has been home to 72 temples and numerous exquisite pagodas, as well as a royal garden—“Jingji Villa”—and is renowned in Buddhist circles as the “Eastern Wutai Mountain.” Panshan boasts majestic, precipitous peaks and graceful, serene ridges; from afar, one can behold seas of clouds and rustling pines, while up close, the water and rocks reveal their unique charm. Every step reveals captivating scenery, and each vista is accompanied by its own tales and legends. It stands as a premier destination for leisure and tourism, where natural landscapes and historic sites coexist, and Buddhist and imperial cultures harmoniously converge.

Northern Shaolin

　　According to the “Jixian County Gazetteer,” the Northern Shaolin Temple was originally named “Faxing Temple” and later known as the Northern Shaolin Chan Monastery. Situated on a broad, open hillside at the southern foot of Mount Pan in Jixian County, Tianjin—on the “Central Pan” site—it was first established during the Wei and Jin dynasties and has a history of approximately 1,500 years. It is the earliest Buddhist temple documented in the Jixian County Gazetteer and also the oldest temple in Tianjin.

　　According to historical records, during the Yuan dynasty, Daoism was highly esteemed. In the twenty-third year of the Zhiyuan era (1286 AD), the Yunzi sect of Daoism dispatched its disciple Zhang Zhige to scout potential sites for a temple, ultimately selecting Panshan. Subsequently, the Daoist community renamed the site Qiyun Guan. In the second year of the Yanyou era under Emperor Renzong of the Yuan (1315 AD), the emperor issued an edict restoring Qiyun Guan to a monastic institution and renaming it “Northern Shaolin Chan Temple.” Master Xue Ting Fuyu then instructed the monks at the temple to practice the martial arts of Shaolin.

　　During the Ming dynasty, imperial edicts granted titles to the Northern Shaolin Temple, and it underwent major renovations in the Yichou year of the Chenghua era and the Dinghai year of the Jiajing era. In the ninth year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing dynasty, the Duobao Pagoda was extensively rebuilt; during the Kangxi period, the monk Benzhu…

　　The temple underwent restoration; in the tenth year of the Qianlong reign, an imperial edict ordered the repair of the main hall, and the emperor personally inscribed the plaque reading “Ephemeral Divine Delight.” During the Anti-Japanese War, the Japanese army designated Panshan as a “no-man’s land,” resulting in the destruction of most of the temple complexes in the area. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Shaolin Temple was placed under the jurisdiction of Zhuanwayao Village in Guanzhuang Town, and villagers gradually constructed dwellings on the temple grounds, thereby damaging the original planar remains. In 1992, the extant foundations of the mountain gate, stone steles, ancient pagodas, and cliffside carvings of North Shaolin Temple were designated as a Tianjin‑level cultural relic protection site.

　　The reconstruction of the Northern Shaolin Temple is imminent, with its master plan now largely finalized. The centuries‑old ruins of the Northern Shaolin Temple have been awakened from their long slumber. After several rounds of refinement, the reconstruction blueprint has taken shape, and the project has entered the implementation phase. The latest revised plan was jointly developed by Tsinghua University and a design firm from Taiwan. Its overarching vision honors the traditional values of Zen, martial arts, medicine, and the arts, embodies the Shaolin way of life, and seamlessly blends time‑honored cultural heritage with a spirit of contemporary innovation—transforming the Northern Shaolin into a serene, unpretentious sanctuary for spiritual cultivation.

　　March 26, 2015 — During the spring equinox, the Beishao Lin Temple scenic area on Panshan Mountain in Jixian County, Tianjin, which is currently undergoing restoration and reconstruction, is ablaze with the blossoms of wild mountain peach trees, their fragrant blooms painting the hillsides in vibrant hues. According to local farmers, around the Qingming Festival, mountain peach blossoms, wild apricot flowers, and other flora burst into bloom in succession, drawing a steady stream of visitors eager to enjoy the seasonal beauty.

Jade Manor

　　According to page 1885 of the “Ri Xia Jiu Wen Kao,” the Shunzhi Emperor personally bestowed the name “Yushi Zhuang,” a village with a history spanning more than 350 years. Even today, it continues to embody the beauty and virtues symbolized by its name—its spirit of resilience and integrity—and stands as a culturally rich rural community steeped in profound heritage: Yushi Zhuang.

　　Panshan’s renowned “Five Peaks, Eight Rocks, and Seventy Temples”—including Zigaifeng Peak, Liangjia Stone, Wanfo Temple, and the Qianlong Emperor’s imperial inscription “Qianchi Xue”—are all located in Yushizhuang Village. Panshan is celebrated for its three great treasures—pine trees, rocks, and water—with its rock‑and‑water scenery particularly outstanding at Yushizhuang. The locally sourced Maifan stone mineral water is low in sodium yet rich in silica, containing 8.4 mg/L of sodium and 43 mg/L of silica. Drinking this mineral water is believed to offer health benefits and help prevent illness. Bathing in a Maifan stone spa enhances skin elasticity and the flexibility of capillaries, helping to ward off skin ailments, relieve fatigue, and leave the skin rosy and smooth. The waters of Shenxian Lake, the seepage from cliffside crevices, the sacred spring at Wanfo Temple, and the stream of Qianchi Xue are all integral parts of Panshan’s aquatic splendor—truly a place where favorable winds and flowing waters bring good fortune. In days gone by, the persimmons, walnuts, and oil chestnuts of this region were prized tributes to the imperial court; today, they enjoy a well‑earned reputation both at home and abroad.

　　Throughout the ages, emperors, scholars, and poets have all come here to leave behind their calligraphic masterpieces. Historical records show that the Qing emperor Qianlong visited this place 32 times. It is a celebrated site—blessed with good fortune, rich in treasures, and steeped in quiet mystery. In the entire village, every elder over the age of 80 can carry firewood on their back, push a cart, or sew and mend. Here, there are no endemic diseases; even common ailments arise only occasionally, often due to carelessness in daily life. The health and longevity bestowed by nature are what the locals take greatest pride in—and this is closely linked to the local water quality and the high concentration of negative oxygen ions, earning the area the nickname “a natural oxygen chamber” among city dwellers.

　　The four songs of Yushizhuang—“Panshan Gao Gao,” “Environmental Song,” and two others—capture the broad-mindedness and heartfelt sentiments of the local people. Among them, the village anthem “Panshan Gao Gao” was written by Qiao Yu, composed by Xu Peidong, and performed by Yan Weiwen.

　　The mountain gate of Shiquyuan is designed in the architectural style of the Spring and Autumn period and constructed entirely of granite— a feature unparalleled elsewhere. The three large characters “Shiquyuan” were inscribed in the master’s own hand by General Zhang Aiping, former Minister of National Defense.

　　A clay sculpture by Yu Qingcheng, a member of the 9th and 10th National Committees of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Blending clay‑sculpture art, rural culture, and sexual culture into a single whole, his work has been hailed as “divinely exquisite” and earned him the title of “Master Artist” from UNESCO. His sculptures are sure to inspire joy and delight. Under Master Yu Qingcheng’s hands‑on guidance, more than twenty rural women have created numerous clay‑sculpture pieces—souvenirs beloved by visitors at home and abroad—while also enriching the villagers’ material and spiritual lives.

　　Wanfo Temple, under the jurisdiction of Yushizhuang, boasts a history of 1,300 years. It is home to the nation’s largest stone-carved standing statue of the Western Three Saints, as well as 10,960 lifelike stone Buddha statues, their radiant light bestowing auspiciousness and peace upon every visitor.

　　Wu Daozi’s “Scroll of Eighty-Seven Immortals” from the Tang Dynasty was magnificently reimagined by the Yushizhuang artisans, who enlarged the grand, awe‑inspiring scene of this celebrated historical painting by a factor of fifty and carved it into the dam face of Shenxian Lake. This monumental work stands as the world’s largest single‑panel stone relief depicting a group of figures, and has been officially recognized in the Guinness World Records.

Wanfo Temple

　　Panshan Wanfo Temple, originally known as “Shifo Hall,” is situated on the southern slope of Panshan, just west of the West Gate of Shiquyuan Garden. It comprises four main sections: the Screen Wall, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Iron Bell, and the Great Hero Hall. Within the Wanfo Hall stands China’s largest stone sculpture of the Three Saints, with a total of 10,960 Buddha statues. In 1993, led by Han Zhen, the people of Yuzhuang drew upon their rich cultural heritage to reconstruct Shifo Hall one kilometer west of its original site, renaming it “Wanfo Temple.” Nestled against steep peaks and overlooking precipitous cliffs, it is the only Buddhist sanctuary in eastern Beijing and northern Tianjin that fully embodies the threefold essence of the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, visible from dozens of miles away. The three characters “Wanfo Temple” were inscribed by Zhao Puchu, former Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the Buddhist Association of China.

　　Inside the hall stands the nation’s largest stone statue of the “Three Saints of the West”: at the center is Amitabha, 8.1 meters tall; to the left and right are Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva and Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva, each 7.6 meters high. Along the northeast, west, and south walls, from the base of the wainscoting to the ceiling, stretches a “Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas,” featuring 10,960 cave‑style niches, each enshrining a single Buddha image. In 1997, the people of Yushizhuang renovated the Stone Buddha Hall, added an auxiliary building, and constructed the Temple’s Screen Wall, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Great Hero Hall, as well as east and west side halls, along with a 99‑step staircase that produces a soothing water‑sound effect. With these additions, the “Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas” was finally completed. Today, the temple has become an important venue designated by the Tianjin Buddhist Association for believers to engage in Buddhist activities.

　　Wanfo Temple is one of Tianjin’s religious venues, home to resident monks, where the morning bell and evening drum resound and pilgrims gather in great numbers. On the 19th day of the second, seventh, and ninth lunar months, as well as on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the temple hosts large-scale Buddhist ceremonies.

On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, as well as on auspicious days during the Spring Festival, devout men and women come here to pay their respects.