Mount Song 嵩山

About Mount Song

Its exposed rock sequences are important to geology, while temples and academies occupy the lower slopes. Shaolin belongs to the Shaoshi side; Songyang Academy stands below Taishi. A visit can focus on cultural buildings, mountain paths or both, but moving between sectors requires planning. Choose the entrance around the landscape you want to explore.

Mount Song lies in central Henan and was anciently called Waifang (外方), Songgao or Chonggao; it became part of Dengfeng in 1983. It has been regarded as the central peak of the Five Great Mountains (五岳), the meeting point of heaven and earth, since the Zhou capital moved to Luoyang in 770 BC. The range covers about 450 square kilometres and divides into the Shaoshi and Taishi sectors, with Liantian Peak (连天峰) reaching 1,512 metres.

The range was named a UNESCO World Geopark in 2004 for the diversity of its geological record, with rock strata from the Archean through the Cenozoic exposed among its peaks. It was listed among the first national key scenic areas in 1982, and its Shaolin scenic area became a national 5A tourist attraction (国家5A级旅游景区) in 2007. Zhongyue Temple (中岳庙), a Qin-dynasty Daoist complex, was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2001 and inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2010.

Mount Song is described as sacred to Confucianism, Buddhism and Daoism, credited as the birthplace of Han Chinese Buddhism and the origin of Neo-Confucianism. Songyang Academy (嵩阳书院) is counted among China's four great ancient academies, and nearby Fawang Temple (法王寺) is among China's earliest Buddhist temples.

What to look for

• The contrasting Taishi and Shaoshi mountain sectors, with cliffs and exposed geological layers.
• Songyang Academy at Taishi’s southern foot and Shaolin on the Shaoshi side.

The surrounding area

Provincial capital base for Henan Museum and regional transfers; urban sightseeing is distinct from Dengfeng.

Location & getting there

Getting to Mount Song

Approach through Dengfeng and choose a named sector before travelling. The Shaolin entrance west of town serves the monastery side; the Songyang Academy area north of town is a different approach to the Taishi foothills. Do not ask for a generic Songshan summit drop-off.