Dengfeng Travel Guide, Songshan Shaolin Temple

Songshan, a famous mountain with a profound historical and cultural heritage, is the "Central Peak" among the Five Great Mountains. It is not only the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu, but also the gathering place of the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism. There are both majestic natural landscapes and cultural relics that have been passed down for thousands of years. Next, follow this 2-day, 1-night guide to explore the unique charm of Mount Shaoshi and Mount Taishi, and immerse yourself in the Zen and martial arts culture and geological wonders. Itinerary Day 1: Shaoshi Mountain - Exploring the Cultural Core - 07:30 Depart from Zhengzhou or Luoyang to start the Songshan trip. - 09:00 Arrive at Shaolin Scenic Area smoothly. The first stop is the famous Shaolin Temple. Don’t forget to watch the martial arts performances. The superb skills of the monks will surely open your eyes. - Move to Tallinn, which has the largest existing ancient tower complex, and each ancient tower seems to be telling a story from the past. - Take the Shaolin ropeway to Sanhuangzhai. The suspended plank road is thrilling and the scenery of Shuce Cliff is even more unique, which makes people marvel at the uncanny workmanship of nature. - 16:00 End the day's trip and return to the city to rest. Day 2: Mount Taishi - Experience the essence of humanities - 08:00 Go to Songyang Academy, the first of the four major academies in the Song Dynasty, and feel the rich cultural atmosphere here. - Then visit the Qimu Que, one of the three remaining ques from the Han Dynasty. The heavy sense of history overwhelms you. - Enter the Zhongyue Temple, the largest extant ancient building complex among the Five Sacred Mountains, and marvel at its magnificent architecture. - Finally, head to Junji Peak, the main peak of Mount Taishi. Once you reach the top, you will be able to see the entire view of Mount Songshan. The magnificent scenery will make you intoxicated. Transportation Guide Main Transportation - You can choose to take the high-speed rail to Zhengzhou East Station or Luoyang Longmen Station, and then transfer to the intercity bus, which will take about 1.5 hours to get there. - If you drive, just navigate to "Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area" and take the Zhengshaoluo Expressway to get there directly. Transportation within the scenic area - Shaoshi Mountain: It is highly recommended to take the Shaolin Cableway, with a one-way ticket price of 70 yuan, which can save 3 hours of climbing time and allow you to enjoy the beautiful scenery easily. - Taishi Mountain: Take the sightseeing bus for 15 yuan to get directly to the Laomu Cave entrance, which is convenient and fast. Top 5 must-see attractions Shaolin Temple Martial Arts Hall: There are three wonderful real kung fu performances at 10:30, 14:30 and 16:00 every day, including Eight-Section Brocade, Hard Qigong, Weapon Showdown and other programs, which are absolutely shocking. Sanhuangzhai Suspension Plank Road: Walking on the 1.6 billion-year-old geological fault and the unique red rock valley landform, you feel like you are on the surface of Mars. General Cypress at Songyang Academy: The 4,500-year-old "Second General Cypress" is a living fossil of an ancient tree personally conferred by Emperor Wu of Han, and has witnessed the passage of time. Tianzhong Pavilion of Zhongyue Temple: This is the only existing official building complex from the Qing Dynasty. There are 368 thousand-year-old cypresses hidden in the 11 courtyards, which are full of ancient charm. Luya Waterfall (only in rainy season): As the first of the eight scenic spots in Songshan, the three-level waterfall has a drop of more than 100 meters. Li Bai once left a poem here. The spectacular scene in the rainy season is unforgettable. Pitfall Avoidance Guide - Shaoshi Mountain VS Taishi Mountain Selection: If you are a mountaineering enthusiast, you must not miss the Junji Peak of Taishi Mountain, but the whole route is stone steps, and it takes about 4 hours to reach the top. - Martial Arts Performance: Remember to go 20 minutes in advance to reserve a seat. Those in the front row will have the opportunity to participate in interactive sessions. - Sanhuangzhai: It is recommended to enter from the west and exit from the east, so as to avoid the peak flow of tourist groups. - Zhongyue Temple: There are temple fairs on the first and fifteenth day of every month. Going there at this time can experience Taoist blessing ceremonies and feel a different cultural atmosphere. Accommodation suggestions - Zen experience: We recommend "Shaolin Zhaojian Shanju", which is a Zen meditation hotel directly under the temple. You can also participate in morning classes and experience Zen life when you stay there. - First choice for photography: "Sanhuangzhai Zen Temple" is the only accommodation in the scenic area. It is the perfect place to take pictures of the sunrise and sea of ​​clouds. - Cost-effective choice: "Dengfeng Chanwu Hotel" is located in the city center, a 5-minute walk to the night market, making it convenient for travel and food. Special Tips - Holders of student ID, teacher ID, or journalist ID can enjoy a 50% discount on tickets. - Tickets for Shaoshi Mountain and Taishi Mountain need to be purchased separately. The ticket price for Shaolin Scenic Area is 80 yuan, and the ticket price for Taishi Mountain is 50 yuan. - Every October at the Shaolin Kung Fu Festival, there will be thousands of martial arts performances. The scene is very spectacular, so don't miss it.