Mountain Town Charm

Mountain Town Charm

The mountain town of Anwen is a picturesque ecological settlement where “mountains nestle within the city, the city weaves through mountains, they complement each other, and the urban landscape curves around water.” Known as Zhejiang’s Shangri-La, it boasts scenic spots such as Anfu Temple, Hailuo Mountain, Huatai Mountain, Banmoon Mountain, and the cultural landscape of Wenxi Stream that runs through the town. It is the main area for sightseeing, shopping, entertainment, and leisure in Pan’an, serving as the hub for dining, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, and shopping. With its overall image as a beautiful ecological town, it attracts visitors for tourism, vacation, and relaxation.

[Changwen Pagoda]

Located on Meizhi Mountain (also known as Ma’anshan) behind Huihua Temple in Anwen Town, the pagoda was built in June of the 35th year of the Wanli reign during the Ming Dynasty (1607 AD). Despite the passage of time, it still stands firmly. The pagoda is 41.68 meters tall with a circumference of 24.68 meters. The walls are 1.5 meters thick, built on a foundation of strip stones, with walls constructed from specially made green bricks, lime-filled joints, and an outer layer of lime plaster. It is a hexagonal seven-story hollow brick pagoda. Between each floor, there are beam supports with floorboards laid on top, allowing visitors to reach the top by climbing the spiral staircase. The exterior walls between the second and upper floors feature projecting eaves created by stacking bricks in a scalloped pattern, with upturned eave corners, giving the structure a majestic and spectacular appearance. Wenxi Leisure Corridor: The beautification of the waterfront and rubber dam enhances the charm of the large Wenxi water surface, together with the rows of commercial buildings and residential houses on both sides, forming a modern Pan’an urban landscape that adds vitality and elegance to the city.

[Anfu Temple]

Originally built in the 8th year of the Xiantong reign during the Tang Dynasty (867 AD), it was then called Anwen Temple and has undergone multiple renovations since. In the 2nd year of the Zhiping reign of the Song Dynasty (1065 AD), it was renamed “Anfu Chan Monastery.” The poet Lu You once studied at the temple while taking refuge in Anwen, and his poem “Farewell to the Monks of Anfu” has been passed down through history. Efforts should be made to further expand the scale of Anfu Temple and improve its surrounding environment.

[Wenxi Fish Watching]

Wenxi is the mother river of Pan’an. Along the river section from Hailuo Bridge to Dongxi Bridge, every dawn, thousands of carp rise from the bottom of the water to begin their daily “performance”: some swim in tandem, some whisper to each other, others glide side by side, often attracting early morning exercisers to stop and watch. When dusk falls, groups of red fish create ripples on the water’s surface. At this time, residents living by the stream bring stools and sit by the water, watching the gentle and adorable carp, slowly releasing the fatigue brought by a day’s hard work. Children shout and cheer, feeding the carp with their rice while playing with them, creating a rural scene of “humans and fish sharing joy” that captivates and enchants all who see it.

[Danfeng Ancient Path]

Located northwest of Pan’an County, starting at the foot of Tashan and ending at Zhuse Lingtou, this ancient path served as a strategic mountain pass of the ancient Anwen Town. The mountain pass stretches 5 kilometers along both the northern and southern slopes, paved entirely with block stones and strip stones. Ancient maples and towering pines line both sides of the path. In midsummer, lush green leaves provide shade from the sun, and when deep autumn arrives, the maple leaves turn a brilliant red, presenting a magnificent sight—hence the name “Ten Li of Red Maples at Zhuse Ridge.”