Things to do in Dengfeng

I really loved the presentación, and the walk to the Chuz temple is definitely worth it if you want to avoid the crowds of the main shaoling temple. And i recommend to be at least 20 min before the show starts to find a good spot

I visited Henan in October and went to Songyang Academy in Dengfeng, one of the four great academies in China, with a profound historical and cultural heritage! Mount Song, the central peak of the Five Sacred Mountains, was a bit strenuous to climb, with over 5,000 steps. But the scenery was truly beautiful.

The scenic area is well-planned. The three main attractions are: first, walk to Songyang Academy, where the ancient trees are incredibly beautiful; then, take the sightseeing bus not far from the academy, and for 15 yuan per person, go directly to Fawang Temple to worship Buddha. After worshiping Buddha, take a tree-lined path with 360 steps that go downhill all the way to Songyue Temple Pagoda. Then, for another 15 yuan per person, take the sightseeing bus directly to the exit. The whole way is flat or downhill, so it's easy and effortless.

The price is a bit on the expensive side. But if you like the place, it's worth it. Zhongyue Temple isn't large; it's right by the roadside as soon as you enter Dengfeng. But it's definitely worth taking photos. The parking lot is above the main road with no shade, so it can be quite sunny. The scenic area itself is shaded by trees, making it relatively cooler. The Three Cypresses within the scenic area are 2500 years old, and there are several other ancient trees that are several hundred years old, enough to give you a sense of the history of Zhongyue Temple. Taishi Que, directly opposite Zhongyue Temple, is located at the end of a tree-lined avenue 500 meters south. If you know about it, I recommend visiting it as well. It's my country's No. 001 national treasure in the category of ancient architecture.

Taking the Shaolin cable car up and down towards Sanhuangzhai, passing the scenic wonder of Shuce Cliff, and reaching the suspension bridge, we gazed at Sanhuangzhai in the distance. However, due to time constraints, we had to abandon our journey, leaving with a sense of regret.

I highly recommend taking the cable car to Sanhuangzhai, unless you're a trail marathon runner. Around May 1st, the trees are lush and green, and the pink blossoms of the catalpa trees are particularly beautiful in the mountains. It even rained the night before we left, allowing us to see the misty Songshan Mountains and the rarely seen streams and waterfalls.

The scenery is magnificent! There's no cable car; it's all a hard climb (you can take a shuttle bus to Taishishan Square to save some walking). There are many mosquitoes along the way in summer, so it's best to bring mosquito repellent and essential oil. There are small shops along the route, but since everything is transported by porters, the prices are a bit high (one of the porters sang incredibly well! Unfortunately, I didn't record it). You can see tons of beautiful butterflies and gorgeous cats along the way! The cats on the mountain are so beautiful! Lots of calico and long-haired cats! This should probably help with catching mice…

There's no cable car; you have to climb the entire way. It's recommended to take the shuttle bus to the trailhead to conserve energy. The climb takes about 3-4 hours, similar to Mount Tai. Those with poor stamina are advised against attempting it, as there's no turning back once you start. The scenery along the way is average, not as beautiful as the Shuce Cliff at Shaoshi Mountain. However, the view from the summit is quite nice, and you can take commemorative photos with the altitude marker. The descent takes about 1-2 hours. The route down from Fawang Temple is the fastest, but the scenery is the least impressive. Those who enjoy hiking can still give it a try, as it's Mount Song, the Central Peak, and the place where Empress Wu Zetian performed the Fengshan ceremony.