Location: Dengfeng
Top Things to do in Dengfeng
The 10 Best Things to Do in Dengfeng, China
Dengfeng (Chinese: 登封; pinyin: Dēngfēng; postal: Tengfeng) is a county-level city in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China. In ancient times, it was known as Yangcheng (simplified Chinese: 阳城; traditional Chinese: 陽城; pinyin: Yángchéng).
Restaurants in Dengfeng
1. Shaolin Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 642 reviews
This is a famous martial arts monastery, the birthplace of both kung fu and Zen Buddhism
Reviewed By Soozee - Middleton in Teesdale, United Kingdom
We were excited to learn about the Shaolin way and see some martial arts. Unfortunately we didn't.
Basically we walked through a temple complex, peering into buildings with very little explanation (our guide was pretty useless).
We saw some basic acrobatics by the martial arts kung fu school at the perimeter, but that was it. I expected some demonstration by the monks, but we had nothing at all.
The Pagoda Forest was interesting - monuments to past monks.
Rather disappointing, really - felt it just filled time before we caught the train to Beijing! I don't feel I learnt very much about Shaolin at all.
2. Mt. Song
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 79 reviews
Reviewed By mattodowd - Beijing, China
This is absolutely beautiful scenery, with some really fascinating rock formations on the way and is great for those who enjoy a hike.
General information:
Mount Song (嵩山, songshan), is within the Shaolin Temple scenic area, entry for which costs 100 RMB. If you go into the Shaolin Temple scenic area via the main entrance, you reach the Shaolin Temple after 15 mins walk, and the bottom of Mount Song in another 10 mins, where you can take the cable car up or walk. A single ride on the cable car costs 50 RMB, return costs 80 RMB. Once you get to the top, there is a hiking route which takes you along the top of the mountain, then all the way down, finishing in Sanhuangzhai (三皇寨). The signs all say it takes 3-4 hours, but I did it in just under 2.5 hours. Bear in mind that this is a completely different point of the mountain to the Shaolin Temple. I have found on some websites that there is a bus from there to Dengfeng, but there was no sign of it when I went. I had to take an illegal taxi.
Instead, what I would recommend is that you do it the other way round, starting at Sanhuangzhai, walking up and then taking the cable car down to the Shaolin Temple. Do bear in mind that there are a LOT of steps if you are walking up, so it is only for those who are fit. I don't think the scenery on the way up the mountain is actually fantastic, I'm just recommending it this way for practicality based on the transport available, and because it will be quieter this way. The scenery once you reach the top of the mountain is fantastic, so it will be worth the hike!
How to get there from Luoyang (NB - I would only recommend doing it this way if you can speak some Chinese):
I went to the Shaolin Temple Scenic Area from Luoyang, where there are buses from the Luoyang Jinyuan Coach Station (洛阳锦远汽车站）at 5am and 8am for 19 RMB one way. Ask for the Shaolin Temple (少林寺，shaolinsi). This is the coach station NEXT TO the Luoyang train station - don't get it confused for the Luoyang Coach Station (洛阳汽车站), which is diagonally opposite the train station. Ensure you buy the ticket from the official ticket windows, ignoring the unofficial "travel agencies" that try to pester you outside the station. If you are going for the 5am bus, you might need to buy the ticket a day in advance, as I'm not sure the ticket windows are open that early in the morning. The coach station is a bit chaotic, so you might need to ask a few times before you find the right bus. The right one to get is the coach which says 洛阳＝少林寺 in red bold letters on the front.
The bus takes about 2 hours to get there and you can buy tickets for the return bus back to Luoyang on the way there. Return buses are at 3:30 and 4:30. If you want to see both the Shaolin Temple and Mount Song, then definitely go for the 4:30 one. The driver just told me that he would be somewhere outside the main entrance, so I'd advise getting there early in case you can't find it. There is a phone number on the ticket that you can ring if you can't find it.
On the way there, the bus driver might offer to take you to some smaller places too, which I went to, but it is not worth it. You need as much time as you can get for Mount Song and the Shaolin Temple. So just ask him to drop you off at the entrance to the Shaolin Temple.
Itinerary that I would recommend if starting and finishing in Luoyang:
1. Bus at 8am from Luoyang Jinyuan Coach station, arriving at the Shaolin Temple about 10am.
2. Catch a taxi to Sanhuangzhai, which is the bottom of the mountain, arriving 10:30am.
3. Hike the mountain to where the cable cars are, arriving about 14:30. Just follow the signs to the Shaolin Temple.
4. Catch the cable car down to near the Shaolin Temple, then walk 10 minutes to see the Kungfu martial arts show at 15:00.
5. Visit the Shaolin Temple and the Pagoda forest.
6. Catch the bus back to Luoyang at 16:30 from the car park outside the main entrance to the Shaolin Scenic Area (bear in mind it takes about 15 mins to walk to the car park from the Shaolin Temple).
NB - The itinerary above would be if you did the hike fairly quickly. If you want to spend more time on it, I recommend staying the night in Dengfeng, which can be reached cheaply by taxi from the Shaolin Temple.
3. Pagoda Forest of Shaolin Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 117 reviews
Reviewed By LG_Kay - Singapore, Singapore
This place is just 300m from the Shaolin Temple. All local tour groups only visit the Shaolin Temple and left, hence this place is rather peaceful and quiet. The pagodas are fenced and scattered, with different sizes and designs, an indication of their religious status.
According to websites, after a respected Shaolin monk’s death, his remains or ashes would be buried underground and a pagoda would be constructed upon it, of which the height, number of tiers, shape and the space it occupied would be decided according to his lifetime achievements and contributions. The number of tiers of the pagodas must be odd numbers and no greater than 7. There are some English translations for certain exhibits. About 20mins is sufficient to briefly cover the area.
4. Shailin Martial Arts Hall
Overall Ratings
4 based on 108 reviews
Reviewed By GSJ71 - Singapore, Singapore
If the Martial Arts hall refers to the kung fu show inside the hall inside the monastery, then I wish somebody would have adviced me to skip it. The show is very short, it is very crowded and it mostly comprises of volunteer spectators trying to do kung fu... it's more of an audience participation comedy activity and definitely not worth the time. Had I known, I would have spent more time seeing the monastery and skipped the show.
5. Regular Yard, Shaolin Temple
Overall Ratings
4 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By LG_Kay - Singapore, Singapore
This is part of Shaolin Temple. The courtyard has many very old cypress trees, some even thousands of years old. Depending on your time of visit, you may observe youngsters practicing kung fu here. Though now a very touristy place, one can have a glimpse of the past where the monks were practising to perfect the kung fu, which Shaolin is renowned for.
6. Sanhuang Village Scenic Resort
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By snorkel-luvin - Chicago, Illinois
This hike is an under-reported excursion taken by few westerners. That is probably because the cable cars were just upgraded in 2015 and the temple at the end, which makes for a great destination, was just restored less than two years ago. Really amazing hike, with great vistas and crags. Safe, so long as you stay on the trail. There are sturdy railings and path broad enough. Suspension bridge looks new, too, and sturdy. Super cool hike, highly recommended.
7. Zhongyue Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
Reviewed By LG_Kay - Singapore, Singapore
According to websites, Zhongyue Temple was first built during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) and was the place where emperors and ministers from various historical periods paid their respects to the God of Mount Songshan in central China. It is the largest and oldest intact building complex among the Five Holy Mountains in China. It is praised as the palace museum in central China and the sixth paradise of Taoism.
I visited this temple as I have half a day to spare. I took bus 10, 1rmb, to get there. Note for bus ride, ensure you have small notes with you, as buses do not provide change.
Entrance ticket is 30rmb. The temple complex is huge, with many temples, halls, rooms, gates and steeles. There are many very old cypress trees inside the complex, some really gigantic in size and height.
As I visited in Mar, low peak season, there are only some locals, mainly to offer incenses and prayers. Most of the time, I was entirely alone and enjoyed the peace and quiet there. Also great for photography, I could easily take pictures without anyone in the frame :). I spent slightly more than 1 hour just to walk the entire complex. Recommended if you have time to spare.
8. Song Yang Academy of Classical Learning
Overall Ratings
4 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By vhay2013 - Markham, Canada
This is where Duke Zhou, Confucius's teacher taught, as well as, many other Chinese classical literature were written. For me, it was interesting to be standing in the same room and wandering on the grounds where the great minds were taught. However, the classical literatures have no meaning to me. Our guide, Charlie from China Odyssey tours, was extremely enthusiastic in sharing the history (he was a history teacher) but it went over my head. My parents, on the other hand, who were educated in Asia, knew what books Charlie was talking about and found the place interesting. If you've studied the classics, this may be a place of interest but for someone like me, with no education in the Chinese classical lit, I would have skipped this place.
9. Songye Temple Pagoda
Overall Ratings
4 based on 9 reviews
Reviewed By Gary T - Xinzheng, China
The pagoda of Songyue Temple was built in the Northern Wei Dynasty, about 1400 years ago. It is the oldest brick pagoda in China. The setting is fabulous, on the side of a mountain. Unfortunately, the rest of the temple is long-since gone, and the inside of the pagoda is gutted out. The main reason to see this is for the beautiful scene. It's definitely off the beaten path, so you need a local to show you how to get there. There is, or was last year, a caretaker family living on the premises. Otherwise there is not really all that much to see. On the other hand, Dengfeng is full of historic and scenic places scattered all around the city, and of course there is the world-famous Shaolin Temple nearby. Also there is a Yuan Dynasty Observatory in the neighborhood which Trip Advisor has listed incorrectly as the Xuan Yuan Temple. That Observatory is definitely worth a visit. Indeed, one could spend a day visiting the less-famous historical spots of Dengfeng. You can buy a pass at one of the temples which is good for several months and will admit you to many of the attractions. I have photographed pretty much all the sights of Dengfeng and have posted them on my GaryLeeTodd.com website, which I make freely available to everyone.
10. Fawang Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Scentedlotus - Australia
On the winding journey from Luoyang to Shaolin, the ancient Fawang Temple,beckons the traveller to respite there... On a day framed by flurries of snowflakes, I spied its towering pagoda,set fast against a backdrop of craggy peaks,and stopped to sojourn there....Steep steps lead upwards past aromatic urns, crackling with offerings of juniper kindles,to the wooden red temples,all home to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,which draw devout worshipers to their portals.Monks clad in mustard robes,braved the icy winds to come and greet all ....distant chantings carried on the breeze bring the heavens down to earth at this most celestial of destinations..Fawang Temple is most certainly the gem of Shaolin
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