Zhengzhou | Majestic Peaks, Zhongyue Temple in Dengfeng.

The first stop in Dengfeng was Zhongyue Temple. Like the Dai Temple on Mount Tai, it was an official temple for worshipping the Five Sacred Mountains and is now a national key cultural relic preservation site. Zhongyue Temple was formerly known as Taishi Shrine in the Qin Dynasty and was named Zhongyue Temple in the Northern Wei Dynasty. It was destroyed by fire in the late Ming Dynasty and was completely renovated during the reign of Emperor Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, based on the layout of the Forbidden City. Therefore, some people call it the "Small Forbidden City in the Sky." Most of the existing buildings are from the Qing Dynasty. The scenic area is quite large, with the main buildings located along the central axis. The main attractions are (ancient buildings + stone tablets + ancient trees). The temple is very popular for burning incense, with many people burning whole bundles of yellow paper/yuanbao. Free incense is also available for ordinary visitors. The visit takes about 1–2 hours. The entrance fee is 30 yuan. It is not far from the urban area, and Taishi Que is just opposite the scenic area. Overall, it is worth a visit.