Panshan Scenic Area

　　Panshan is a national key scenic spot and a 5A-level national tourist attraction. It is located in Jixian County in the northern part of Tianjin, China, approximately 120 kilometers from Tianjin and just 90 kilometers west of Beijing, earning the reputation as the “Number One Mountain East of the Capital.”

　　The main peak of Panshan is Guayue Peak, which stands at an elevation of 864.4 meters. It rises like a bamboo shoot piercing the sky, majestic and grand. Its name comes from the autumn nights when the bright moon hangs high above the peak due to the mountain's height. Visitors who climb to the summit can enjoy the sunrise over the East Sea in the morning and the lights of the capital city at night. Below the peak lies Yunzhao Temple, built during the Tang Dynasty by Daoist Master Daozong. Due to its location at the mountaintop, often shrouded in clouds and mist, it was granted its current name by imperial decree. In front of the main peak is Zigai Peak, shaped like an umbrella; behind it is Zilai Peak, connected to Guayue Peak, featuring an octagonal double-eaved bell pavilion at its summit with a large bell hanging inside. To the east is Jiuhua Peak, resembling a lotus flower; to the west is Wujian Peak, whose summit is flat as a whetstone. The five peaks of Panshan cluster together and are revered by Buddhists as the “Five Terraces of the East,” with competing beauty among the ridges, creating picturesque scenery.

　　Panshan is majestic and precipitous, with overlapping peaks, sea of clouds, pine waves, and uniquely clear rocks and waters, offering a serene and enchanting atmosphere. It is famed for the wonders of the “Five Peaks,” “Eight Rocks,” and the “Three Terraces.” Throughout history, 72 temples, 13 pagodas, and the royal garden—Jingji Mountain Villa—were built here. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty visited Panshan 28 times and once praised, “If I had known about Panshan, why would I have gone south of the Yangtze?” Through recent in-depth development, many temples such as Rousheng, Tiansheng Temple, Wansong Temple, and Yunzhao Temple have been restored and rebuilt, several new scenic spots have been developed, and a passenger cableway stretching over a kilometer has been constructed.

　　Panshan Scenic Area boasts a long history and is home to numerous cultural relics such as temples and pagodas. Known as the “Five Terraces of the East,” it is a Buddhist site rich in cultural heritage. The most famous site in Panshan, the Tiansheng Temple area, is situated on the lower terrace of the “Three Terraces.” Monk Yunhai, the emperor’s personal monk representative, once practiced Buddhism here. Within the temple grounds are Feibo Gully, Juanjuan Spring, imperial stelae, pagodas, as well as ancient cypresses and ginkgos with branches spreading like an umbrella and roots that have thrived for millennia. Structures such as the Mahavira Hall, Three Saints Hall, Jiangshan Yilan Pavilion, and Woyun Tower within the temple are majestic and solemn, simple and elegant. They are imbued with strong Buddhist characteristics, yet also possess the ambiance of imperial gardens and landscape styles, making visitors linger in admiration.

　　The most renowned feature of Panshan is its stone carvings. With a myriad of poses and forms, grand and spectacular, the stone carvings of Panshan are scattered throughout the mountain—some carved into huge cliffs and rocky faces, others inscribed on massive boulders. There are bold, large characters as well as tiny inscriptions. The site is abundant with poetry by famous individuals; alone, there are over 300 poems inscribed by emperors, making it a poetic anthology engraved in stone. There is also a rich collection of calligraphic steles and engravings spanning many years and showcasing diverse styles, enriching the stone-carved landscapes of Panshan with profound cultural meaning. The two characters “Rusheng” (Entering the Scenic Realm), carved into a huge boulder on the eastern side of the steep mountain pass between Dong and Xi Fuqing Ridges, measure two meters in size, written in regular script by Ronglu, a late Qing Dynasty Grand Secretary and Minister of the Grand Council. Signed as Zhonghua, the strokes are graceful, vigorous, and free-flowing. The phrase originates from the ancient poem: “The lush mountain hues lead into a wondrous realm, with the murmuring stream echoing through the valley.” It aptly describes how visitors begin their journey of “entering the scenic realm to seek serenity” from this point.

　　A signature sight of Panshan is the pine trees of the upper terrace. Countless pines in various shapes and forms complement the rugged cliffs, unique rocks, and clear, babbling streams, composing a marvelous landscape painting. The Guest-Greeting Pine of Panshan is located by the mountain stream and the Bayi Bridge, and is one of the famous ancient and notable trees in Panshan and the Beijing-Tianjin region. With a trunk circumference of eight feet and a height of three zhang (approximately 9.6 meters), its branches extend outward and slightly lean forward, as if bowing to welcome guests—hence the name Guest-Greeting Pine. Sturdy and upright, the pine harmonizes naturally with the surrounding thatched pavilions, stone bridges, and murmuring streams, dotting the valley in perfect balance.

　　Time Needed

　　Half a day or 1 day (it takes about 3.5 hours to hike up to the main peak; it is recommended to choose the cable car or sightseeing bus based on your own condition)

　　Ticket

　　Peak season ticket: 100 RMB/person; off-season ticket: 60 RMB (seniors and students receive a 50% discount with valid ID; children under 1.2 meters and people with disabilities are free). Tickets are valid for two days and can be verified by fingerprint. Cable car fees are additional: Panshan Cableway (Phase I): full journey 120 RMB/person, one-way 60 RMB/person; Panshan Yunsong Cableway (Phase II): full journey 120 RMB/person, one-way 60 RMB/person.

　　Opening Hours

　　8:00–18:00

　　Location

　　Lianhualing Village, Guanzhuang Town, Jixian County, Tianjin (15 kilometers northwest of Jixian County)

　　Address: Panshan Scenic Area, Jizhou District

　　Tel: 29826000