The national 5A-level Panshan Scenic Area boasts beautiful landscapes and profound cultural heritage, making it a renowned tourist destination in North China and the world-famous “First Mountain East of the Capital.” Historically, Panshan was home to 72 temples, 13 exquisite pagodas, and one imperial garden, and as early as the Tang Dynasty, it was known in the Buddhist community as the “Eastern Mount Wutai.” The “Panshan Temple Fair” has been held annually during the lunar March, featuring various forms such as the Ullambana Festival and Buddhist ceremonies. In those times, people from nearby areas would travel tens of li, either to hike and appreciate the spring scenery or to offer incense and pray, creating a very lively scene. To inherit and promote the traditional historical culture of Panshan, Jixian County resumed the “Panshan Temple Fair” in 1997, and it has been successfully held for ten editions so far, enjoying great popularity among visitors.
Since ancient times, Panshan has been celebrated for its “superior pine trees on the upper section, remarkable rocks on the middle section, and stunning water features on the lower section,” with its water scenes leaving visitors enthralled. This year, the scenic area has invested several million yuan to renovate and upgrade its water landscapes. The nearly 500-square-meter Lotus Lake between the Woyun Building and the Theater Building is crystal clear, the Feibo Stream of Tiancheng Temple cascades down spectacularly, and the Shuixia landscape by the Dashiqiao Bridge features rushing waterfalls and flowing springs, recreating the magnificent view of the past: “Waterfalls and springs pour down from the peaks, resembling streams of white silk fluttering.”
It is understood that the main venue of this temple fair is set up at the New Mountain Gate Square of the Panshan Scenic Area, where exciting artistic performances such as acrobatics and song and dance will be held during the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, multiple sub-venues have been established to showcase traditional folk cultural activities for visitors from April 3rd to 6th. Among them, at the Panshan Rushan Square, there will be displays of folk culture and specialty snacks, including Yangliuqing New Year paintings, clay figurines by Zhang, kites by Wei, clay sculptures by Yu Qingcheng, sugar paintings, paper-cuttings, as well as traditional games. From the New Mountain Gate Square to the Rushan Square, there will be folk activities such as dragon dancing, acrobatics, Three Immortals Returning to the Cave, Single-Stage Opera, Circle of Wonders, and View-Master Shows. At Tiancheng Temple, Wansong Temple, and Yunzhao Temple, Buddhist ceremonies will be conducted. Additionally, at the Yunlou Liying Ancient Theater Building, the Panshan Scenic Area will invite groups such as the Third Troupe of Tianjin Peking Opera Theatre to present wonderful operatic and song-and-dance performances for visitors every day.