Panshi City

　　    Panshi City, also known as Dashicheng or Mopan Fortress, is located in Aiguo Village, Shuangjiang Town, Yunyang County, Chongqing. Perched at the highest point of the new county town, it resembles a giant millstone, hence its name. The "Huayang Guo Zhi" (Records of the States South of Mount Hua) refers to the "Greater and Lesser Stone Cities of Quxi," which denote 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 Qing Qianlong era states: "Panshi City is the pillar of Kuimen and the safeguard 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 Mopan Fortress from local officials, calling it quite unique. In 1983, Professor Chen Gufu of the China Academy of Urban Planning and Design instructed the provincial planning institute to develop Mopan Fortress as a Three Gorges tourist site. With the construction of the new county town, a protection and development plan for Panshi City has been approved, transforming Mopan Fortress into an urban park and an upcoming highlight of the Three Gorges tourist 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, strategically distributed like stars on a chessboard." He selected and upgraded 15 fortified posts along the Yangtze River, Jialing River, and key transport routes, turning them into strategic strongholds capable of both offense and defense. Panshi City, as a supporting point in the defense system of Wanzhou Tiansheng City (also known as the Lesser Stone City), received significant attention. Yu Jie stationed his general Lü Shikui here, who effectively defended against the Mongol forces. From then on, Panshi City gained great renown.

　　     After the Yuan Dynasty, someone built the Tanhua Temple on the fortress. Due to its unique scenery, the site 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 family, Huai’an, purchased the fortress, relocated his clan there, and built the ancestral hall of the Tu family in the north-central part of the fortress. After the Tongzhi era, the fortress walls were significantly expanded, gates were renovated, and gun ports and artillery holes were added. At the same time, ponds and reservoirs were constructed in low-lying areas, and hundreds of houses were built, relocating the entire Tu clan to live within the fortress. It was transformed into a militarily solid stronghold. Among the 246 fortresses 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 flat top covering a total area of about 3.5 hectares. There are two fortress gates, front and rear. 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); on the right cliff face is the "Record of Panshi City" by Xu Zuansun of the Qing Dynasty, now faded and illegible. The gate is entirely built from massive stones, making it extremely sturdy, with a watchtower above and concealed cannon emplacements. Standing at the gate, one sees clouds drifting overhead and birds chirping nearby, creating a sensation of being at the very top of the sky.

　　     Entering the gate, one finds groves of citrus trees and gardens of pines and bamboos, all contributing to the serene beauty of the landscape. The view from atop the city walls is even more spectacular. Tu Fengshu wrote in the "Inscription on the Restoration of Panshi City": "The climate in the mountains is exceptionally pleasant—not cold in the deep winter, nor hot in the height of summer. Looking down at the great river, boats pass beneath the cliffs, their sails seemingly within reach. Countless peaks and valleys gather within one’s gaze. Some are shrouded in shadow, others bask in sunlight, and still others are veiled in rain, each presenting a different mood. Soon, the shadowed become sunny, the sunny turn rainy, and the rainy clear again, shifting forms by the minute. Right after the rain, mist and fog rise, and the long river and towering mountains seem to sink into the clouded depths of the sea, no longer distinguishable. The fortress is like a leaf boat, gently bobbing amid the surging waves, with only the tumultuous waters visible. But when the mist clears, the mountains appear freshly bathed, with waterfalls cascading and splashing down into the open air. The old records list 'Stone City Misty Rain' as one of the Eight Scenic Views of Yun’an—a truly marvelous sight."