Shaolin Temple

‼️‼️‼️Here comes the guide to Shaolin Temple of Songshan❤️❤️❤️ Location: Dengfeng City, Henan Province, more than an hour away from Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, approximately due west of the airport. 🔥Attractions: Songshan is divided into Taishi Mountain and Shaoshi Mountain ⭕️Taishi Mountain: Songyang Scenic Area (Songyang Academy, Fawang Temple, Songyue Temple Pagoda, Huishan Temple, etc.) and Zhongyue Scenic Area (Zhongyue Temple, Luya Waterfall, Guanxing Platform) ⭕️Shaoshi Mountain: Shaolin Temple, Sanhuang Fortress, with Songyang and Shaolin cableway 🔥Time Arrangement: ⭕️Both Taishi Mountain and Shaoshi Mountain are worth climbing and can be divided into two days. The One Line Sky, Junji Peak sunrise, Heavenly Ladder on Taishi Mountain, and the Book Cliff, Luya Waterfall on Shaoshi Mountain are all incredibly beautiful! ⭕️Stay one night in Dengfeng City, you can stroll around the city area and taste the local snacks. 🔥Route: ⭕️Shaoshi Mountain has 2 entrances and 2 routes, one from Sanhuang Fortress entrance to Shaolin Temple exit, and the other from Shaolin Temple entrance to Sanhuang Fortress exit. ⭕️Taishi Mountain has 3 routes, one from Zhongyue Songshan Scenic Area entrance, which is the Songyang Academy side, exit at Luya Waterfall, two the same entrance but exit towards Fawang Temple, three Luya Waterfall entrance, Zhongyue Songshan Scenic Area exit. 🔥Tickets: The ticket is 80 yuan per person, which can also be purchased on Ctrip. After entering the scenic area, it is recommended to buy a round-trip sightseeing car ticket for 25 yuan per person. There is some distance from the scenic area entrance to Shaolin Temple, and taking the sightseeing car saves time. 🚘Transportation: ⭕️Zhengzhou Central Station, that is, Zhengzhou Long-Distance Bus Station, is right opposite to Zhengzhou Station, a 10-minute walk, to go to Dengfeng take a bus at Zhengzhou Central Station. ⭕️Zhengzhou-Dengfeng round-trip buses can be booked on the official account 【Yuzhouxing】 for 27, tickets on-site for 25, online ticket purchases also require picking up a paper ticket from the automatic ticket machine, the bus journey is about 2 hours, the earliest at 6 am and the latest at 7 pm, with many departures. ⭕️There are round-trip buses from Zhengzhou Central Station to Shaolin Temple, and Shaolin Temple has martial arts performances to watch every day. ⭕️Take bus No. 8 from Shaolin Temple to Dengfeng, right at the entrance of Shaolin Temple scenic area, scan the code on the bus for 5 yuan.

The Songshan scenic area includes three sub-areas, and the management authority of Shaolin Temple only extends within its mountain gate. Founded in the 19th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (495 AD), it was built by Emperor Xiaowen to accommodate the Indian monk Batuo, who came to preach. It is named 'Shaolin Temple' because it is situated in the dense forests of the Shaoshi Mountain in the hinterland of Mount Song. The residential compound of Shaolin Temple covers an area of about 57,600 square meters. The current abbot is Shi Yongxin, the 47th generation of the Caodong school and the 33rd successor. Shaolin Temple is not only the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism but also the origin of Chinese Kung Fu, known as the 'ancestral court of Chan Buddhism and the holy land of Kung Fu,' and is acclaimed as 'the foremost temple under heaven.' It is famous worldwide for its Shaolin Kung Fu, developed and continuously evolved by generations of Shaolin monks, with the saying 'All martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin, and Shaolin martial arts are the best under heaven.' It is a World Cultural Heritage site, a key national cultural relics protection unit, and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. In August 2010, the historical architectural complex including the Shaolin Temple residential compound, Chuzu'an, and the Pagoda Forest was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.

||| Secret Manual Guide. Mount Song is in the Zhongyue area, which has many scenic spots, and many people can't distinguish the relationship between Shaolin Temple, Songyang Scenic Area, and Mount Song. Here is a breakdown for everyone. Mount Song is a concept of a mountain range, and all the above scenic areas are located on Mount Song. Mount Song has many peaks, and currently, the more significant ones are Shaoshi Mountain and Taishi Mountain, so remember these two first. Mount Song is said to be the first uplift on Earth to emerge from the sea level. The area is geologically ancient and has a long history. We can divide it into two major scenic areas: the Shaolin Temple-Sanhuang Village Scenic Area on Shaoshi Mountain, and the Songyang Scenic Area on Taishi Mountain. Shaolin Temple-Sanhuang Village is a bundled scenic spot, with Shaolin Temple being the cultural landscape of Shaoshi Mountain and Sanhuang Village being the natural landscape. The Songyang Scenic Area also has many attractions, mainly for climbing to the peak of Junji, and other cultural spots include Songyang Academy, Songyue Temple Pagoda, and Dafawang Temple. It takes at least one day to visit each of these two scenic areas, two days if you want to explore them fully, or three days if you take it slower. The play method for Shaolin Temple-Sanhuang Village is as follows: If you don't want to go to Sanhuang Village to see the mountains, you can just visit Shaolin Temple. If you buy a round-trip shuttle bus ticket, it takes 1-2 hours. Mainly visit the monks' living quarters, Chuzu An, and the Pagoda Forest. Shaolin Temple is the monks' living quarters, the main temple complex. The Pagoda Forest is the cemetery of monks from past generations. It's a 5-minute walk from Shaolin Temple. Chuzu An is a temple commemorating the Patriarch Bodhidharma, a Song dynasty wooden structure, and the oldest wooden structure in Henan. It requires about a 15-20 minute walk, starting from the direction of the Bodhidharma Cave. Note that there is a section under construction here, but it does not affect the visit; just follow the signs from Shaolin Temple towards the Pagoda Forest and look for the Bodhidharma Cave sign, which doesn't indicate Chuzu An, but after walking 300 meters, you will see signs for it. It takes about 1 hour to walk up to the Bodhidharma Cave. Walking only. There are two cable cars at Shaolin Temple, one is the Shaolin cable car to Sanhuang Village, and the other is the Songyang mini cable car that can only be reached by cable car to Erzu An. Erzu An is not very interesting and can be skipped. Sanhuang Village is quite steep, with nice natural scenery. Refer to picture 8 for the visiting time. 【Shaolin Temple Pitfall Avoidance】 For self-driving, do not navigate to the Shaolin Scenic Area parking lot, as this is not the official one, and it's 4 kilometers away from the entrance of the scenic area. You can navigate to the Shaolin Temple Garan Hall, which is the parking lot. If you also want to go to the Songyang Scenic Area, be sure to buy an annual pass, which costs 150 for non-locals and includes almost all the scenic spots in the Mount Song area. The more you visit, the more worthwhile it is. Songyang Scenic Area Play Method There is no cable car in the Songyang Scenic Area, and the entrance can be navigated to Songyang Academy. There are two eco-car routes here, one going to Dafawang Temple and Songyang Temple Pagoda, both of which are national key cultural relics protection sites, suitable for those who like cultural attractions, with a walking distance of 3-4 kilometers. The other is to Taishi Mountain Square for climbing to the peak of Junji, which can save some time for the summit. The one-way ticket for each is 15 per person. Songyang Academy does not require an eco-car, just a 200-meter walk. Junji Peak is the main peak of Mount Song at 1491 meters, with about 5 kilometers of mountain trails one way, taking 2-3 hours one way depending on individual fitness.

Travel plan is as follows: Day 1: - 08:00 Departure, drive to Luoyang City, Henan, with an estimated journey of about 2 hours. - 10:00 Arrive in Luoyang City, first visit the Luoyang Museum to learn about the history and culture of Luoyang. The tour is expected to last about 1 hour. - 11:30 Taste local specialties in Luoyang, such as Luoyang Water Banquet, Peony Cake, etc. - 13:00 Drive to Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area, with an estimated journey of about 1 hour. - 14:00 Arrive at Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area, explore the landscape and view wildlife. The tour is expected to last about 2 hours. - 16:30 Drive back to Luoyang City and check into the hotel for rest. Day 2: - 08:00 Departure, drive to Kaifeng City, Henan, with an estimated journey of about 1.5 hours. - 09:30 Arrive in Kaifeng City, visit Longting Park to learn about the history and culture of the Song Dynasty. The tour is expected to last about 1.5 hours. - 11:00 Taste local delicacies in Kaifeng, such as Kaifeng Stuffed Buns, Stir-fried Eel Paste, etc. - 12:30 Drive to Yuwangtai Park to explore the culture of Emperor Yu. The tour is expected to last about 1 hour. - 14:00 Drive to Zhengzhou to visit the Zhengzhou Museum and learn about the history and culture of Zhengzhou. The tour is expected to last about 1.5 hours. - 16:00 Drive back to Luoyang City and check into the hotel for rest. Day 3: - 08:00 Departure, drive to Dengfeng City, Henan, with an estimated journey of about 1 hour. - 09:00 Arrive in Dengfeng City, visit the Shaolin Temple to learn about Chinese martial arts and Zen culture. The tour is expected to last about 2 hours. - 11:30 Taste local specialties in Dengfeng, such as Songshan Tofu, Baked Bun with Donkey Meat, etc. - 13:00 Drive back to Luoyang City to explore the old city area of Luoyang and experience the charm of the ancient capital. - 15:00 End of the trip, drive back to Luoyang. This travel plan avoids crowded places and focuses mainly on natural scenery and cultural charm, while also considering the needs of the elderly and children, hoping to bring you a pleasant travel experience.

✅ You can book a bus from Zhengzhou Central Long-Distance Bus Station to Shaolin Temple on the Yuzhou Hang mini program from 7:30-10:30 (try to leave early, the journey takes about 2 hours) with a bus almost every hour🕰️ (there are also buses from Luoyang). Return tickets can also be booked here, with the last bus leaving Shaolin Temple at 17:00 ✅ Tickets🎫 are 80 yuan per person. After entering the scenic area, it is recommended to buy a round-trip ticket for the sightseeing bus for 25 yuan per person. There is some distance from the entrance of the scenic area to Shaolin Temple, and taking the sightseeing bus saves time. ✅ First, take the sightseeing bus🚌 to the cable car entrance and take the Shaolin cable car round trip for 100 yuan per person. After getting off the cable car, it's mostly flat roads. Walk for about fifteen minutes to reach Shuce Cliff. Taking photos here📸 is quite impressive, and you can see Sanhuangzhai from a distance. If you have the energy, you can continue to climb to Sanhuangzhai. After returning the same way down the cable car, you can walk to the Shaolin Temple residential compound, passing by the Pagoda Forest on the way. ✅ Tour the residential compound. After entering the mountain gate, people will come up to offer their services as guides for 50 yuan per time, which is cheaper than the tourist center. I think it's worth listening to. There are 4-5 monk performances a day in the compound, with shows at 2 pm and 3 pm lasting 30 minutes, and watching costs 30 yuan💰 per person in cash only. Although the venue is simple, you can still experience Shaolin Kung Fu. Not far from the entrance, the Shaolin Martial Arts Museum has free martial arts performances (mostly by students here). The sightseeing bus🚌 has a stop here, so you can choose one of the two. ✅ If you don't go to Sanhuangzhai, the overall trip is quite relaxed. There is no need to climb mountains⛰️, and you won't miss any important sights. It's an easy journey for both the elderly and children.

Shaolin Temple, located at the foot of Mount Song's Wuru Peak in Dengfeng City, Henan Province, is named for its location in the dense forests of the Shaoshi Mountain in the hinterland of Mount Song. It was founded in the 19th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (495 AD) by Emperor Xiaowen to accommodate the Indian monk Batuo, whom he revered, at the northern foot of Shaoshi Mountain in Mount Song, facing the capital city of Luoyang. The residential compound of Shaolin Temple covers an area of about 57,600 square meters, and its current abbot is Shi Yongxin. Shaolin Temple is a world-famous Buddhist monastery and the ancestral court of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in Chinese Buddhism. It holds an important place in the history of Chinese Buddhism and is known as 'the number one famous temple under heaven.' It is renowned worldwide for the Shaolin kung fu developed and continuously evolved by generations of Shaolin monks, giving rise to the saying, 'All kung fu under heaven originated from Shaolin, and Shaolin kung fu is supreme in the world.'

#2023TravelWish #henanprovince #china By now, everyone should know of the famous KungFu shows of the Shaolin Monks, but what impressed me most when visiting was not the martial arts (although that was thrilling) but rather the beautiful architecture, history and peace of the place. Admittedly, we made the trip off season, so there were not as many tourists, but even so, the quiet of the place stood out. Watch out for my favourite part not featured here, the ancient tree with hundred bear old finger holes used by decades of monks for practice!

Zhengzhou! 👉1. Admire the sculptures at the Mother River Yellow River Sculpture Park🌊, where you can find a collection of large-scale sculptures themed around the Yellow River, which are grand and spectacular. 👉2. Visit the Shaolin Temple to experience Zen culture🧘, watch song and dance performances, observe Zen martial arts, and feel the charm of Zen culture. 👉3. Go shopping on Zhengzhou's bustling commercial pedestrian street🛍, feel the rapid changes of the city, and enjoy a colorful shopping and leisure experience. 👉4. Listen to the Swan Fountain music performance at Erqi Square🎶, where the musical fountain on the square is set against the colorful lights, which is very spectacular. 👉5. Visit the Shaolin Temple Forest Park to admire the maple leaves🌳, the maple leaves here are beautiful every autumn, making it a great place to view the leaves. 👉6. Go mountain climbing in Songshan🧗‍♂️, where the peaks are stacked and the ancient trees reach the sky. You can enjoy the beautiful forest scenery from the top of the mountain. 👉7. Visit the fruit orchard in Wolong District for fruit picking️, where you can pick fresh and sweet fruits and get close to nature. 👉8. Dine in the main room at Jiuyou, and experience the authentic taste of Hunan cuisine. 🍲 👉9. Visit the Songshan Shaolin Temple for a night tour🌙, the Shaolin Temple is more hazy and quiet at night, where you can feel the Zen. 👉10. Take a hot spring bath at Zhuxinzhuang Manor🧖‍♂️, soak in the hot spring pool to wash away the fatigue of the journey.