Pishan Mountain

　　Pishan Mountain is situated east of Huzhou city. Because it lies close to the city, it is called Pishan (literally “Near City Mountain”). With its picturesque landscape, the mountain has drawn scholars and poets through the dynasties. During the Southern Liang Dynasty, Liu Yun, governor of Wuxing, built the Pishan Pavilion and the Reading Platform on the mountain. In the Five Dynasties period, the Qian family constructed gardens following the mountain’s contours, featuring exquisite rock caves. During the Song Dynasty, Wu Yuezhong erected the “Kuangyuan Pavilion” on Pishan. In the Ming Dynasty, Minister Pan Jixun built the Pishan Garden. The mountain is known for its clear waters and lush peaks. At its northern foot lies Pishan Pond, with its rippling blue waters; to the south flows the Tiaoxi River, busy with boat traffic; and to the northeast runs the Tanghe River, encircling the mountain. Climbing Pishan offers splendid views—both the distant Taihu Lake and the nearby Huzhou city are beautifully framed. Zhou Mi of the Southern Song Dynasty wrote: “From here, one can joyfully gaze down at Taihu Lake, as if almost able to reach out and touch it.” Today, a wide stone staircase leads from the mountain’s base to its summit, with the Hezhang Pavilion constructed midway for visitors to rest. At the top sits the Ciyun Temple, which was originally the Pan family’s ancestral shrine before being converted into a Buddhist temple. Along its central axis, the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Yuantong Hall are built along the mountain’s slope, with the main deity being a large jade Buddha from Myanmar.