Park of China
Overview
| Designation | UNESCO World Heritage (cultural, 2010, part of “Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in ‘The Centre of Heaven and Earth’”) Part of the first-batch National Park of China “Mount Song” |
| Province | Henan |
| Location | Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan; at the northern foot of Shaoshi Mountain, Mount Song |
| Mountains | Qinling Mountains |
| Latitude, longitude | 34.51, 112.94 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Cradle of Chan (Zen) Buddhism; Shaolin martial arts |
| Top sights | The main temple (Changzhu Yuan), the Pagoda Forest, the First Patriarch’s Hermitage |
| Nearby cities | Zhengzhou, Luoyang |
| Nearby sites | Mount Song 3km, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang 43km, Mount Wangwu 96km, Mount Yuntai (Henan) 110km, Baligou Scenic Area 133km Search nearby |
| Themes | Famous Mountain, Mountain, Buddha, Temple, Tower, Culture, Stamp, Ancient Building, Taoism |
About
Shaolin Temple lies on the shaded north side of Shaoshi Mountain at the western foot of Mount Song, with the Pagoda Forest, the First Patriarch’s Hermitage, Bodhidharma’s Cave, the Second Patriarch’s Hermitage, Yongtai Temple and the Shaoshi Que. Ringed by hills, it was among the first AAAA attractions named by the national tourism authority.
Founded in 495 and named for the dense forest (lin) below Shaoshi Mountain, it is the cradle of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China and the birthplace of Shaolin martial arts. The Pagoda Forest to its west covers about 20,000 m² with 231 brick and stone memorial pagodas of the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties and modern times, the largest in China.
The temple covers more than 30,000 m² with seven courtyards on its axis, grand in scale and fine in sculpture and painting. More than 300 stelae survive, among them the poem of Empress Wu of Tang, the Qianlong stele, the stele of the Three Teachings, works of the four great Song calligraphers and the stele of Master Dao written by the Ming calligrapher Dong Qichang, all of high calligraphic and sculptural quality.
The Thousand Buddha Hall holds 320 m² of murals out of more than 500 m² in the temple: five hundred arhats, lifelike and varied, painted in the Wanli reign of the Ming more than 400 years ago, their colours and lines still clear, the temple’s greatest treasure. Around the temple, besides the Pagoda Forest, stand pagodas of the Tang and Five Dynasties, including those of the masters Tongguang, Faru and Fahua.
Today Shaolin is famous not only for its ancient Buddhist tradition but for its martial arts: “Chinese kung fu leads the world, and all kung fu comes from Shaolin”.
On 30 August 1995 China Post issued 1995-14 “Shaolin Temple”, four stamps: the gate, the Pagoda Forest, monks practising, and the thirteen monks rescuing the Prince of Qin.
In 1928 troops of the warlord Shi Yousan set fire to the temple, destroying the Heavenly Kings Hall, Mahavira Hall, bell and drum towers and Dharma Hall; Ming and Qing buildings such as the gate and the Thousand Buddha Hall survived. The lost halls were rebuilt between 1982 and 1998.
Travel tips
Getting there: Dengfeng has no railway; long-distance buses run from Zhengzhou and Luoyang, about an hour and a half from Zhengzhou. City buses go from Dengfeng to Shaolin Temple and Zhongyue Temple.
Tickets: Shaolin Temple and Mount Song share one ticket. Park at the scenic-area car park and buy tickets at the main gate; inside, walk or take the shuttle bus to the temple and the Pagoda Forest. Further on is the lower cable-car station.
Shaolin Temple: some 10–15 km west of Dengfeng. The site includes the main monastery, the Pagoda Forest and the Chuzu Hermitage, and there are martial-arts shows.
Mount Shaoshi: from the Shaolin area take the cable car or walk up. Plank paths run around Sanhuangzhai; Shuce Cliff (“Book Cliff”) is on the way there. The climbing paths are steep.
Time: one day is enough for Shaolin Temple and Mount Shaoshi.
More photos
Nearby
| World Heritage | Mount Song 3km, The Old City of Luoyang in Han and Wei Dynasties 37km, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang 43km, Hangu Pass 74km |
| National parks | Zhengzhou Yellow River 73km, Mount Shennong 77km, Qingtian River 91km, Mount Shiren (Stone Men) 109km |
| Detailed guides | Mount Wangwu 96km, Wangmang Ridge 142km |
| AAAAA attractions | Longtan Grand Canyon Scenic Area 99km, Yaoshan Mountain and Central Plains Buddha Scenic Area 108km, Huangcheng Xiangfu Ecological and Cultural Tourist Area 117km, Baoquan Tourist Area 117km |
| AAAA attractions | Red Stone Forest 7km, Songyang Academy 9km, Zhongyue Temple 13km, Guanxingtai Observatory 22km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Wangwushan-Daimeishan UNESCO Global Geopark 96km, Funiushan UNESCO Global Geopark 169km |
| Historic cities | Luoyang 49km, Zhengzhou 72km |
| Cities | Luoyang 54km, Zhengzhou 69km |
| Historical sites | Chuzu Convent and Shaolin Pagoda Forest <1km, Pagoda of Yongtai Temple 4km, Shaoshi Que Gate Tower 4km, Pagoda of Chan Master Jingzang 6km |
| National geoparks | Songshan Stratigraphic Structure National Geopark 3km, Yaoshan National Geopark 108km, Guanshan National Geopark 131km |
| Nature reserves | Danjiang Wetland National Nature Reserve 46km, Yangcheng Manghe Macaque National Nature Reserve 95km, Dongzhai National Nature Reserve 122km, Lishan National Nature Reserve 128km |
| Historic villages | Shantouzhao Village 45km |