Located in central Henan, Dengfeng is a small city situated at foot of the holy mountain, Song Shan (嵩山). Dengfeng has been considered the spiritual and physical center of China for over 3000 years. It is the “中” of 中国. In 2010, UNESCO declared the city and its surrounding monuments a World Heritage Site because it was historically considered “The Centre of Heaven and Earth”.How to Get to ThereDengfeng does not have a train station. The best way to get there is to take a train to a major city in Henan, either Luoyang or Zhengzhou. From each city, there are many buses from the local long distance bus stations. It takes about 2 hours from either city and the fare is about 35RMB.Top Places to See

Shaolin Temple

Undoubtedly the most famous sight in the area is this world famous temple. The school of Zen Buddhism (which eventually spread to Japan and Korea) was developed here, along with the art of Kung Fu. The temple and the scenic area that surround it are highly commercialized. There is a martial arts training center next to the temple that has Kung Fu shows every hour and the mountainside has several cable car lines in lieu of actual hiking paths.Right next door to the temple is one of the most unique sights in China: The Pagoda Forest. There are no trees, but rather over 240 stupas that create the illusion of a stone “forest”. All of the most respected abbots and monks of Shaolin are buried and commemorated in these pagodas., with some dating back to the Tang Dynasty.How to get there: The temple itself is several kilometers away from Dengfeng. Those staying in town can take a local bus that leaves every 20 minutes from the central bus station. Fare ranges from 3 – 5RMB, depending on the mood of the ayi who collects the bus fare.

Songyang Scenic Area

This scenic area is the closest attraction to Dengfeng, only a 20 minute walk away from city center. This area has several ancient structures and includes access to one of the holy peaks of Song Shan. It’s noticeably quieter and much less commercial than the nearby Shaolin. Instead of large tourist groups, there a small groups of Chinese families who hike and picnic along the mountainside.The major attraction of the area is the Songyang Academy of Classical Learning, a short walk from the main entrance and ticket office of the scenic area. It is a Confucian temple and one of the major universities of ancient China. Some of the most important tenets of Confucianism were developed here by Confucius’ disciples. After visiting Songyang Academy, most visitors choose to climb the Junji peak, the highest point of Song Shan. The stairs that lead to the peak start right next to the entrance of the Academy. The trail itself is very long and dotted with small temples, both Taoist and Buddhist. Interestingly enough, there are also several religious, museum-worthy artifacts on display in the homes of peasants who live in the scenic area; it’s a great way to meet locals and get to learn about Chinese religious history.For those not in the mood to climb a mountain, visitors can walk back to the main entrance of the scenic area and continue along a road that goes in the opposite direction of the Academy to see the other major sites of the area: Fa Wa Temple and the Songyue Pagoda. Fa Wa Temple is a Buddhist temple with very few tourists and mostly worshipers (unlike most temples in Shanghai). The Songyue Pagoda is the oldest pagoda in China and dates back to the 6th century AD.How to get there: The main entrance of the scenic area is 1.5km from city center. A cab ride there is under 10RMB. The Songyang Academy is 10 minutes walking from the entrance, while the Fa Wa Temple and the Songyue Pagoda are much farther. Both of these sites are about a hour and a half hike, this is why there a so few tourists. The best way to get there is to hitchhike. Locals with vans drive along these road and will take you up the mountain for about 10-15RMB per person.Other Sites

Zhongyue Temple

A short cab or bus ride away from city center, this ancient Taoist temple is located at the foot of Songshan Mountain. It’s the largest temple in the area. It’s staffed by not only monks, but also a group of volunteer ayis who are particularly aggressive about getting donations from visitors.

Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory

This astronomical observatory looks like ancient Mayan pyramid, but was actually built during the Mongol Yuan Dynasty. This spot had been used by emperors since the Zhou Dynasty for astronomical calculations. The actual observatory was built in the 13th century AD. It’s about an hour away from Dengfeng, about a 60RMB cab ride.

Luya Waterfall

A large waterfall located nearby the Zhongyue Temple. It’s a great place to go hiking; however there is very little water flow during the dry season in the summer. This article was written by Veronica Hernandez. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Veronica Hernandez