May Day Attraction Recommendation: Shaolin Temple | The Foremost in the World

☀️Bearing the fame of the foremost famous monastery in the world, and the martial arts color of the movies, Shaolin Temple holds a unique place in memory. ⭐Originally thought to be located at the peak of Mount Song, it was only upon arrival that I realized it is actually situated at the foot of the mountain. Entering through the mountain gate, one reaches it in a moment, making it the first scenic spot to visit when touring Mount Song. 🥇Shaolin Temple on Mount Song is not only the birthplace of Zen Buddhism but also the origin of Chinese Kung Fu, known as the 'Ancestral Court of Zen and the Holy Land of Kung Fu.' As a World Cultural Heritage site, it has numerous historical relics ✅Martial Arts School Shaolin monks have participated in national wars many times, making significant contributions. Shaolin Kung Fu, with its thousand-year reputation, is renowned far and wide. During the May Day holiday, there is a martial arts performance by a thousand people, which is a spectacular sight. The wonderful martial arts show wins applause and praise. Watching a segment of Shaolin Kung Fu, with its graceful posture and strong, expansive power, is a must-do when visiting Shaolin Temple. The visit lasts about 0.5 hours ✅Shaolin Temple Past the mountain gate is the corridor, and the temple itself is not very large. The three main halls, front, middle, and back, rise in succession: the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and the Thousand Buddha Hall, all shrouded in incense with a constant stream of visitors. Various scriptures are available for free in the temple. The temple's imperial steles include the 'Tang Taizong's Shaolin Teaching Stele,' 'Empress Wu Zetian's Poetry Stele,' 'Precepts Altar Inscription,' 'Shaolin Temple Stele,' 'Lingyun Zen Master's Pagoda Inscription,' and more. The complete visit takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. ✅Pagoda Forest To the west of the temple, there are 241 brick and stone pagodas from various dynasties. With their numerous and varied sizes, heights, and shapes, they are scattered and arranged haphazardly, resembling a dense forest, and are known as the 'Museum of Ancient Chinese Pagoda Art.' The Pagoda Forest is not open for entry; visitors can only view it from outside the fence. Since it is the burial ground of ancient monks, it is also inappropriate to take photos. The visit lasts about 0.5 hours. ✅Ancestral Hall Located to the north of the Pagoda Forest, it is the oldest surviving wooden structure in Henan, built to commemorate Bodhidharma's wall-gazing. Inside the main hall's shrine is a statue of Patriarch Bodhidharma. The Bodhidharma Cave on the Five-Breasted Peak is also worth visiting. The visit lasts about 0.5 hours. 🕒If it's a one-day tour of Mount Song, you can reserve 2 to 3 hours to visit the various attractions of Shaolin Temple, with the remaining time for climbing up and down the mountain. If there's ample time, you can also watch a performance by the warrior monks. 🚠The attractions of Shaolin Temple are relatively concentrated, with convenient shuttle services within the scenic area. Nearby are two mountain cableways, leading to two peaks of Mount Song.