Mount Songshan

Introduction to Mount Songshan

As the central peak among China’s Five Great Mountains, Mount Song integrates world-class geological wonders; a sacred land of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism; and the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu.

Geographic Overview: The Center of Heaven and Earth

  • Location & Scope: It is situated in the northwest of Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, belonging to the Funiu Mountain Range. Stretching about 60 kilometers east to west and 20 kilometers wide, it covers a total area of around 450 square kilometers. It is 70 kilometers away from Zhengzhou in the east and 50 kilometers from Luoyang in the west, overlooking the Yellow River to the north and facing the Yingshui River to the south.
  • Mountain Composition: It consists of two major mountain ranges—Taishi Mountain and Shaoshi Mountain, with a total of 72 peaks (36 peaks for each range).
  • Taishi Mountain features grand and majestic terrain. Its main peak, Junji Peak, stands at 1,491.7 meters above sea level, traditionally recognized as the main summit of Mount Song.
  • Shaoshi Mountain is steep and precipitous. Its highest peak, Liantian Peak, reaches 1,512 meters, the tallest point of Mount Song.
  • Geological Miracle (World Geopark): Formed approximately 3.6 billion years ago, Mount Song is one of the oldest mountains in the world. Having experienced three major orogenic movements—the Songyang, Zhongyue and Shaolin movements—it exposes complete strata of the Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. Geologists hail it as a geological museum with “five geological ages coexisting”. It was listed as a World Geopark by UNESCO in 2004. The iconic Shuce Cliff in Sanhuangzhai of Shaoshi Mountain boasts vertically distributed quartz rock layers, resembling stacks of ancient books, presenting a spectacular natural landscape.

Historical Evolution: A Sacred Mountain for Imperial Worship

  • Name Origin: It was called Waifang in ancient times; known as Songgao and Chongshan in the Xia and Shang dynasties, and Tianshi Mountain in the Western Zhou Dynasty. After the Eastern Zhou capital moved to Luoyang, it was designated as the Central Mount Song for its location at “the center of heaven and earth”. The Book of Songs records: “Grand is the Song Peak, reaching high to the sky”.
  • Imperial Rituals: Regarded as the cosmic center since ancient times, it was a sacred site where emperors held grand worship ceremonies to pray for national prosperity and peace.
    • Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty paid homage here and officially confirmed its status as the Central Great Mountain.
    • Empress Wu Zetian ascended Mount Song for worship eight times during her reign. She honored it as the “Divine Peak of Heavenly Center”, changed her reign title to Wanshou Dengfeng, and renamed the local county Dengfeng, meaning “ascending Mount Song, enfeoffing the Central Peak, and accomplishing great achievements”.

Religious & Cultural Heritage: Harmony of Three Religions, Zen & Shaolin Kungfu

Mount Song is the only sacred mountain in China where Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism coexist and thrive in harmony, bearing profound Chinese civilization.

Buddhism: Ancestral Shrine of Zen, Cradle of Kung Fu

  • Shaolin Temple: Nestled at the foot of Wuru Peak in Shaoshi Mountain, it was founded in 495 AD (the 19th year of the Taihe reign in the Northern Wei Dynasty).
  • As the ancral shrine of Zen Buddhism: The Indian master Bodhidharma meditated facing a wall here for nine years and spread Zen Buddhism, making Shaolin Temple the origin of Chinese Zen.
  • The birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu: Monks created Shaolin Kungfu for physical fitness and temple defense. After thousands of years of development, Shaolin Kung Fu has become a world-famous symbol of Chinese Shaolin Kungfu, with the reputation that “all kung fu under heaven originates from Shaolin”.
  • Songyue Pagoda: Built in 523 AD during the Northern Wei Dynasty, it is China’s oldest existing brick pagoda and the only 12-sided multi-eave pagoda. It is a core part of the World Cultural Heritage Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in the Center of Heaven and Earth.
  • Other notable sites include Chuzu Nunnery, Erzu Nunnery and Fawang Temple, one of China’s earliest Buddhist temples.

Taoism: Taoist Blessed Land, Premier Peak of the Five Mountains

  • Zhongyue Temple: Located at the southern foot of Taishi Mountain, it was first built in the Qin Dynasty. It is the largest and best-preserved ancient Taoist architectural complex among the Five Great Mountains, known as the “Little Forbidden City”. Covering over 100,000 square meters with more than 400 halls, it enshrines the God of Zhongyue and ranks as the sixth minor blessed land of Taoism.
  • Three Han Que Towers: Including Taishi Que, Shaoshi Que and Qimu Que, built in the Eastern Han Dynasty. They are China’s oldest surviving national ritual architectural relics, exquisite in carving and invaluable for historical and artistic research.

Confucianism: Cradle of Neo-Confucianism, One of the Four Great Academies

Songyang Academy: Situated at the southern foot of Taishi Mountain, it was originally a Buddhist temple and later transformed into a Confucian academy in the Song Dynasty. Together with Yingtian Academy, Yuelu Academy and Bailudong Academy, it is known as one of the Four Great Academies of the Song Dynasty. Neo-Confucian masters Cheng Hao and Cheng Yi lectured here for a long time, making it a key birthplace and dissemination center of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism. The academy houses two ancient cypresses named “General Second Cypress”, planted over 2,000 years ago by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty.

Core Cultural Relics (World Cultural Heritage)

In 2010, the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in the Center of Heaven and Earth—including Shaolin Temple (main compound, Chuzu Nunnery and Pagoda Forest), Zhongyue Temple, Songyang Academy, Songyue Pagoda, Gaocheng Observatory and Three Han Que Towers—was inscribed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List.

  • Shaolin Pagoda Forest: A cemetery for eminent monks from past dynasties, with 248 brick and stone pagodas built from the Tang to the Qing Dynasty. It is China’s largest existing pagoda forest.
  • Gaocheng Observatory: Designed by the renowned astronomer Guo Shoujing in the Yuan Dynasty, it is China’s oldest and best-preserved ancient observatory, as well as a world-famous astronomical architectural relic.

Tourism & Scenic Zones

Mount Song Scenic Area is divided into three core sections:

  1. Shaolin Scenic Area (Zen & Kung Fu): Covers Shaolin Temple Main Compound, Pagoda Forest, Chuzu Nunnery, Dharma Cave, Shaolin Kungfu performance venue and Sanhuangzhai with stunning geological landscapes. It features Zen culture, authentic Shaolin Kung Fu and precipitous natural scenery.
  2. Zhongyue Scenic Area (Taoism & Blessing): Includes Zhongyue Temple, Junji Peak of Taishi Mountain and Luya Waterfall. It highlights Taoist culture, mountain hiking and blessing rituals, as well as natural water landscapes.
  3. Songyang Scenic Area (Confucianism & Traditional Learning): Comprises Songyang Academy, Songyue Pagoda and Fawang Temple. It focuses on Confucian Neo-Confucianism, ancient architecture and stele culture.

Honors & Status

  • World Cultural Heritage (2010)
  • World Geopark (2004)
  • National 5A-level Tourist Attraction
  • National Key Scenic Spot
  • An important birthplace of Chinese civilization

In summary, Mount Song is not only a mountain of extraordinary geological wonders, but also a cultural sacred mountain that carries 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, integrates three major religions, and nurtures the timeless spirit of Shaolin Kung Fu.