Panshan Scenic Area is located in the northwest of Jizhou District, Tianjin. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, known as the "No.1 Mountain in Eastern Beijing", and also a famous mountain-type scenic area in Tianjin. The scenic area features "Five Peaks and Eight Stones" and "Three Pans of Beauty" as its core characteristics, integrating natural landscapes, religious culture, and imperial gardens, with the landscape features of grandeur, strangeness, elegance, and seclusion. The scenic area is rich in natural landscapes, including peaks, strange rocks, clear springs, and pine waves, while the cultural landscapes include ancient temples, inscriptions of past dynasties, and celebrity poems. Panshan covers a total area of about 106 square kilometers, with the main peak, Guayue Peak, at an altitude of 864.4 meters. There are more than 30 remains of various ancient buildings and over 200 cliff carvings in the scenic area. With a long history and unique landscapes, it is an important tourist and summer resort in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.
Historical Culture
The historical culture of Panshan can be traced back to the Eastern Han Dynasty, when monks practiced here and built early temples. In the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism flourished in Panshan with numerous temples, making it an important Buddhist sacred place in northern China, among which Tiancheng Temple and Wansong Temple are the most famous. During the Liao and Jin dynasties, the religious culture of Panshan continued to develop, and many emperors visited here, leaving many relics.
The Ming and Qing dynasties were the heyday of Panshan's historical culture. In the Ming Dynasty, famous generals such as Qi Jiguang stationed troops here for defense, leaving military relics. In the Qing Dynasty, Emperors Kangxi and Qianlong particularly loved Panshan. Emperor Qianlong visited Panshan 32 times, leaving more than 1,700 poems, and built 72 temples and many imperial garden buildings in the mountains, making Panshan an important place for the royal family to escape the summer heat and worship Buddha. This period left a wealth of cultural heritage for Panshan, including imperial inscriptions and temple sites, endowing Panshan with profound cultural connotations.
Main Attractions
Guayue Peak
Guayue Peak is the main peak of Panshan, with an altitude of 864.4 meters. It gets its name because there is a Tang Dynasty-built Dingguang Buddha Relic Pagoda on the top of the peak. When the moonlight shines on the pagoda at night, it seems as if the moon is hanging from the tip of the pagoda. Climbing to the top, you can overlook the entire Panshan and the surrounding plain scenery with a wide view. There are inscriptions such as "A glance at the smallness of all mountains" on the peak, making it a must-visit viewing spot for tourists. You can climb from the foot of the mountain to Guayue Peak on foot or take a cable car for part of the journey, and the entire climb takes about 3-4 hours.
Tiancheng Temple
Tiancheng Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty and has been rebuilt many times in history. The existing buildings are in the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters, consisting of a mountain gate, a main hall, side halls, and an ancient Buddha Relic Pagoda. The temple is built against the mountain with an ingenious layout, integrating with the natural landscape. The ancient Buddha Relic Pagoda in the temple is a Liao Dynasty building, 22.63 meters high, with exquisite carvings on the tower body, and is one of the iconic buildings of Panshan. Surrounding Tiancheng Temple are towering ancient trees and gurgling clear springs, with a quiet environment, which has been praised by literati of all dynasties.
Wansong Temple
Wansong Temple is the largest temple in Panshan, originally named Li Jing'an, built in the Tang Dynasty, and got its name because there are ten thousand pine trees around the temple. The temple covers an area of about 3,000 square meters, with existing buildings including a mountain gate, a Mahavira Hall, and a Scripture Repository. Historically, Wansong Temple was an important place for the royal family to worship Buddha. Emperor Qianlong once stayed here and inscribed the plaque "Wansong Temple". The temple preserves a large number of inscriptions and cultural relics from the Ming and Qing dynasties, and there are relics such as the "Sword Dance Platform" outside the temple, which is said to be the place where Li Jing, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty, practiced swordsmanship.
Sanpan Muyu (Three Pans of Evening Rain)
"Sanpan Muyu" is one of the iconic landscapes of Panshan, referring to the hazy beauty formed by the diffusion of water vapor in the upper, middle, and lower pans of Panshan in the evening. The upper pan is famous for its pines, with green pines and cypresses in various postures; the middle pan is known for its stones, with strange rocks in different shapes; the lower pan is excellent for its water, with clear springs and waterfalls making ding-dong sounds. Every evening, clouds and mist linger, and raindrops seem to fall or not, covering the entire mountain forest in a hazy atmosphere, hence the name "Muyu (evening rain)". Tourists can enjoy this landscape at the viewing platform, especially after rain or in the early morning, the scenery is more charming.
Yunzhao Temple
Yunzhao Temple is located on the hillside of Guayue Peak, built in the Tang Dynasty, and got its name because it is often shrouded in clouds and mist, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters. The temple consists of a main hall, side halls, and guest rooms, with a simple and elegant architectural style. The temple enshrines statues such as Guanyin Bodhisattva and is an important Buddhist activity site in Panshan. From Yunzhao Temple to Guayue Peak, you need to climb a steep stone staircase, with landscapes such as "Chuanqi Rock" and "Xianren Bridge" along the way, which is very challenging.
Food
Panshan Millstone Persimmon
Panshan Millstone Persimmon is a famous local specialty, named because its fruit shape is like a millstone, with a planting history of hundreds of years. This kind of persimmon is large with thin skin, delicate flesh, high sugar content, and a sweet and juicy taste, ripening from October to November every year. It can be purchased in Panshan Scenic Area and surrounding villages and towns. Tourists can also pick them in orchards to experience farm fun. Millstone persimmons can not only be eaten fresh but also processed into dried persimmons, persimmon jam, etc., which are good gifts for relatives and friends.
Jizhou Stir-Fried Menzi
Jizhou Stir-Fried Menzi is a local traditional snack, commonly found in restaurants around Panshan. Its main ingredient is menzi made of starch, cut into small pieces and stir-fried with minced garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, and other seasonings, with a chewy and salty taste. The production process of menzi is unique, requiring local starch, which is made through processes such as boiling and solidification, with a strong local flavor.
Stir-Fried Wild Vegetables with Meat
Panshan area is rich in various wild vegetables, such as shepherd's purse, purslane, chicory, etc. Stir-fried wild vegetables with meat is a local home-cooked dish. Fresh wild vegetables are washed and stir-fried with pork, adding appropriate seasonings, with a delicious and refreshing taste and rich nutrition. These wild vegetables are mostly wild and naturally pollution-free, which is a good choice for tourists to experience farm flavor, and can be tasted in farmhouses in the scenic area.
Tickets
The ticket price is 100 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "天津盘山风景名胜区" to get the latest news or buy tickets online. As of July 11, 2025, the online ticket purchase function of this official WeChat public account is not working properly.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are slightly adjusted according to the season:
- April 1 - October 31: 7:30 - 18:00 (admission stops at 17:00)
- November 1 - March 31 of the following year: 8:00 - 17:00 (admission stops at 16:00)
It is recommended that tourists arrange their visiting time reasonably according to the season to avoid missing the best viewing period. The operating hours of cable cars and sightseeing buses are basically the same as the opening hours of the scenic area, and the last bus time is usually 30 minutes later than the admission stop time.
Tour Route
A classic one-day tour route is recommended: Enter from the main gate of the scenic area, take a sightseeing bus to Rongsheng Cable Car Station (about 15 minutes), and take the Rongsheng Cable Car to the upper pan (about 20 minutes); after getting off the cable car, walk to visit Wansong Temple, and view the temple buildings and inscriptions (about 1 hour); continue walking to Yunzhao Temple, enjoying the strange stone landscapes of the middle pan of "Sanpan Muyu" along the way (about 1.5 hours); climb from Yunzhao Temple to Guayue Peak, and overlook the panoramic view from the top (about 1 hour); when going down the mountain, you can choose to walk or take the Yunsong Cable Car to the middle pan (about 30 minutes), then walk to Tiancheng Temple to feel the tranquility of the ancient temple (about 1 hour); finally, walk or take a sightseeing bus back to the main gate of the scenic area (about 40 minutes). The total visiting time is about 6-7 hours, and the use of means of transportation can be adjusted according to physical strength.
Transportation
- Bus: In Jizhou District, Tianjin, you can take tourist line 11, Jizhou line 10 and other buses directly to Panshan Scenic Area, with a journey of about 30 minutes and a fare of 5-10 yuan. From downtown Tianjin, you can take a long-distance bus to Jizhou Bus Station, then transfer to a bus to the scenic area.
- Tourist direct bus: There are multiple tourist direct bus stops in downtown Tianjin directly to Panshan Scenic Area, such as Tianjin Station, Tianjin West Station, etc., with a journey of about 2.5 hours, a round-trip fare of about 80 yuan, and a package including the scenic area ticket is about 180 yuan.
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from Jizhou urban area to Panshan Scenic Area takes about 20 minutes, with a cost of about 30 yuan; taking a taxi from downtown Tianjin takes about 2.5 hours, with a cost of about 200-300 yuan.
- Self-driving: Starting from downtown Tianjin, drive along Jinji Expressway to Jizhou Exit, then along Jinwei North Second Line to Panshan Scenic Area, with a total distance of about 120 kilometers and a journey of 2.5 hours; the charging standard of the scenic area parking lot is 10 yuan/day for small cars and 20 yuan/day for large cars.
Must-visit Attractions
- Guayue Peak: The main peak of Panshan, with an altitude of 864.4 meters. Climbing to the top, you can overlook the panoramic view, and it is an excellent place to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds. The Dingguang Buddha Relic Pagoda on the peak is a landmark building.
- Tiancheng Temple: An ancient temple of the Tang Dynasty, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters. The Liao Dynasty ancient Buddha Relic Pagoda is its feature, and the surrounding natural landscapes and cultural buildings complement each other.
- Sanpan Muyu: The core landscape of Panshan. The upper, middle, and lower pans are characterized by pines, stones, and water respectively. The clouds and mist are hazy in the evening or after rain, with a unique scenery.
Travel Suggestions
- It is recommended to visit for 1 day, and choose to go in spring or autumn. In spring, the mountains are covered with blooming flowers; in autumn, the forests are dyed in layers, with the best scenery.
- Prepare comfortable sports shoes and breathable clothes before climbing. Pay attention to sun protection in summer, keep warm in winter, and carry rain gear with you, as the weather in the mountains is changeable.
- Tourists with limited physical strength can reasonably combine cable cars and sightseeing buses to save energy and focus on visiting core attractions; tourists with good physical strength can choose to walk the whole way to experience the fun of climbing.
- The catering price in the scenic area is relatively high. You can bring an appropriate amount of dry food and water, or eat in farmhouses at the foot or on the hillside to taste local characteristic food.
- Check the weather forecast in advance, and avoid climbing in heavy rain or thunderstorm weather to ensure safety.
Notes
- The mountain roads in the scenic area are steep, and some sections of steps are slippery. Pay attention to foot safety when visiting, do not chase and play, and do not leave the designated route without permission.
- Take good care of the scenic environment, do not spit, litter, pick flowers and plants, or carve cultural relics, and protect natural and cultural landscapes.
- Take good care of personal belongings, especially in crowded areas such as cable car stations and temples, and beware of theft.
- Abide by the regulations of the scenic area, do not smoke in non-smoking areas, and do not carry kindling into the mountains during the fire prevention period.
- Elderly people, weak people, and tourists with diseases such as heart disease and hypertension should choose the visiting route according to their own conditions, and be accompanied by family members if necessary.