Panshi City

Panshi City

Panshi City is a cultural heritage site protected by Chongqing Municipality.

Panshi City, also known as Dashicheng or Mapan Fort, is located in Aiguo Village, Shuangjiang Town, Yunyang County, Chongqing. Perched at the highest point of the new county seat, it resembles a massive millstone, hence its name. The "Huayang Guo Zhi" (Records of the States South of Mount Hua) refers to the "large and small stone cities of Quxi," which are believed to be this site. Initially expanded during the Song Dynasty and further developed in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it served as a strategic military stronghold. The Yunyang County Annals from the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty states: “Panshi City is the pillar of Kuimen and the guardian of eastern Sichuan.” In March 1958, after the Chengdu Conference, Chairman Mao Zedong, while passing through Shuangjiang by boat, inquired in detail about the history and evolution of Mapan Fort from local officials accompanying him, calling it very unique. In 1983, Professor Chen Gufu from the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design instructed the provincial planning institute to develop Mapan Fort as a Three Gorges tourist attraction. With the construction of the new county seat, a protection and development plan for Panshi City was approved, transforming Mapan Fort into an urban park and an upcoming highlight of the Three Gorges scenic area.

The construction of Panshi City began as a defense against Mongol forces. In the second year of the Chunyou era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1242), Yu Jie was appointed as the Pacification Commissioner of Sichuan, commanding the military and civilians of central Sichuan to resist the Mongol invasion. Recognizing that the Mongols excelled in cavalry and archery but were not adept at mountain warfare, he adopted a defensive strategy of “using the mountains as fortresses, arrayed like stars in the sky,” selecting 15 strategic forts along the Yangtze River, Jialing River, and key transport routes for renovation and fortification. These became pivotal points for both offense and defense. Panshi City, as a supporting stronghold in the defense system of Wanzhou Tiansheng City (also known as the Small Stone City), gained prominence. Yu Jie stationed his general Lü Shikui here to effectively defend against the Mongols. From then on, Panshi City became widely renowned.

After the Yuan Dynasty, someone built the Tanhua Temple on the fort. Due to its spectacular scenery, it gradually came under private ownership. During the Yongzheng and Qianlong eras of the Qing Dynasty, it was divided between the Tan and Liu families. In the 54th year of Qianlong’s reign, a member of the Tu clan named Huai’an purchased the fort, relocated his family there, and built the ancestral hall of the Tu family in the north-central part of the fort. After the Tongzhi era, the fort walls were significantly expanded, gates were renovated, gun ports and artillery holes were added. At the same time, several ponds were constructed in low-lying areas, and hundreds of houses were built, relocating the entire Tu clan to live within the fort. It was turned into a formidable military fortress. Among the 246 forts in the county, it stood out for its majesty, steepness, and uniqueness, earning widespread praise.

Panshi City is surrounded by sheer cliffs, which are 30–50 meters high, with a relatively flat top covering a total area of approximately 3.5 hectares. There are two gates: a front gate and a rear gate. The front gate is situated slightly to the east and is less steep. To the left of the front gate, inscribed on the cliff face in large regular script are the three bold characters “盘石城” (Panshi City); to the right, an inscription by Xu Zuanceng of the Qing Dynasty titled “Record of Panshi City” can be found, though it has faded and is no longer legible. The gate is entirely built from huge stones, making it extremely sturdy. It is equipped with a watchtower and concealed gun emplacements. Standing at the gate, one can see clouds drifting overhead and birds chirping nearby, giving a feeling of standing atop the world.

Entering the gate, you’ll find groves of citrus trees, as well as pine and bamboo gardens, creating a tranquil and beautiful landscape. The view from the ramparts is even more breathtaking. Tu Fengshu wrote in the “Inscription on the Restoration of Panshi City”: “The climate in the mountains is exceptionally pleasant—not cold in the depths of winter, nor hot in the height of summer. Looking down at the great river, boats pass beneath the cliffs, and you can almost reach out to touch their sails. Countless peaks and valleys gather within your sight. Some are shrouded in shadow, others bask in sunlight, and some are veiled in rain, each presenting a different mood. Soon, the shadowed areas brighten, the sunny ones cloud over, and the rainy ones clear—within moments, the scenery shifts in countless ways. After the rain clears, mist and fog rise, and the long river and towering mountains seem to sink into the cloudy depths, no longer distinguishable. The city floats like a leaf boat, gently bobbing amid the surging waves. Then, when the clouds disperse, the mountains look freshly bathed, with waterfalls cascading and splashing down into the air. The old records list ‘Stone City Misty Rain’ as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Yun’an—a truly marvelous sight.”