Tourist Guide and Food Guide of Shaolin Temple in Songshan Mountain
Tourist Guide
Overview of the Scenic Spot
Geographical Location: Located at the foot of Wuru Peak of Songshan Mountain, Dengfeng City, Henan Province.
Main Attractions
Changzhu Courtyard: The core building of Shaolin Temple, which is the main place for monks to conduct Buddhist activities, etc. Here, you can admire the magnificent ancient architecture and exquisite Buddha statues.
Pagoda Forest: The cemetery of monks of all dynasties in Shaolin Temple, preserving 241 brick and stone pagodas of various dynasties from the 7th year of Zhenyuan in the Tang Dynasty (791 AD) to the 8th year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty (1803 AD), with different shapes and high artistic and historical value.
Chuzu Nunnery: A place to commemorate Bodhidharma. Its architecture has the style of the Song Dynasty, and the stone pillars of the main hall are exquisitely carved.
Martial Arts Hall: You can watch the wonderful Shaolin martial arts performance and experience the vigorous and fierce Shaolin Kung Fu.
Tour Route Planning
One-day Tour Route
Morning: Enter through the gate of Shaolin Temple, visit Changzhu Courtyard, appreciate its ancient architecture and Buddhist cultural relics, and then go to the Martial Arts Hall to watch the Shaolin martial arts performance (the performance time is usually in fixed periods, which can be queried in advance and arranged reasonably).
Noon: Have a meal in or around the scenic spot and take a break.
Afternoon: Visit the Pagoda Forest, experience its unique historical atmosphere and architectural art, and then you can choose whether to go to other attractions such as Chuzu Nunnery according to your physical strength and time.
In-depth Tour Route (Two Days or More)
First Day
Second Day
Ticket and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: The full-price ticket of the Shaolin Temple scenic spot (including Changzhu Courtyard, Pagoda Forest, Chuzu Nunnery, Martial Arts Hall, etc.) is 80 yuan per person. For specific preferential policies, please refer to the official website of the scenic spot.
Opening Hours: Open all year round. From March to November: 07:30 18:00; From December to February of the following year: 08:00 17:30.
Food Guide
Dengfeng Specialties
Dengfeng Sesame Cake
Introduction: Also known as Jiaogai Sesame Cake, it is a traditional famous snack in Dengfeng. It is characterized by a crispy outer skin and a soft inner part with a strong wheat flavor. Generally round in shape, there is a dense layer of sesame seeds on the surface of the cake. After baking, the fragrance of sesame seeds and the fragrance of the cake blend with each other.
Tasting Place: There are many small stalls and restaurants around Shaolin Temple that sell it. For example, some snack shops near the mountain gate can taste a more authentic Dengfeng sesame cake.
Shaolin Vegetarian Cuisine
Introduction: Using vegetarian ingredients to make various dishes with vivid shapes and unique tastes. For example, “vegetarian meat” made of tofu, “Luohanzhai” made of mushrooms, vegetables, etc., not only has an exquisite shape but also is rich in nutrition, reflecting the Buddhist food culture.
Tasting Place: The vegetarian hall in Shaolin Temple and some restaurants specializing in vegetarian cuisine around the scenic spot can taste it, such as some vegetarian restaurants with a Zen style.
Stewed Mutton
Introduction: Using fresh local mutton as the main ingredient, combined with ingredients such as vermicelli and fungus to stew. The soup is thick and mellow, the mutton is tender, and the taste is fresh and fragrant with a slight spiciness. It is one of the favorite cuisines of Dengfeng people.
Tasting Place: Some old and famous restaurants in Dengfeng urban area, such as “Gaoji Stewed Mutton”, can taste the authentic stewed mutton.
Other Food Recommendations
Jiang Noodle Soup
Introduction: Using fermented mung bean milk to make the noodle soup, and then adding noodles, celery, peanuts and other ingredients to cook. The taste is unique, sour with a fragrant smell. It is a common traditional noodle in Henan Province.
Tasting Place: It can be found in some street shops or snack streets in Dengfeng urban area at a reasonable price.
Hengzi
Introduction: Made of vermicelli and sweet potato starch, it can be fried or stewed. When frying hengzi, add side dishes such as bean sprouts and green peppers. The taste is soft and glutinous with a chewy texture and a salty and fragrant flavor.
Tasting Place: Some local home-cooked restaurants or night market stalls sell it.
Accommodation Suggestions
Homestays in or around the Scenic Spot
The advantage is that it is close to the scenic spot, convenient for sightseeing, and some homestays can provide a unique Zen accommodation experience, allowing tourists to feel the cultural atmosphere of Shaolin. The disadvantage is that the price may be relatively high, especially in the peak tourist season.
Hotels in Dengfeng Urban Area
The price is relatively more affordable, there are more choices, and the supporting facilities such as catering and shopping are more complete. But there is a certain distance from the Shaolin Temple scenic spot by car, so it is necessary to plan the travel transportation in advance.
Transportation Guide
External Transportation
Airplane: You can first take a plane to Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport, and then transfer to an airport bus or high-speed rail to Dengfeng at the airport.
High-speed Rail: There is no high-speed rail station in Dengfeng. You can first go to Zhengzhou East Station or Luoyang Longmen Station, and then transfer to a bus to Dengfeng. From Zhengzhou East Station to Dengfeng, you can take a bus at Zhengzhou General Bus Station, Zhengzhou Central Bus Station, etc.; from Luoyang Longmen Station, you can take a bus to Dengfeng at Luoyang Longmen Passenger Transport Center.
Bus: There are several bus stations in Dengfeng, and there are long-distance buses directly to Dengfeng from surrounding cities.
Internal Transportation
Transportation in the Scenic Spot: There are battery cars in the Shaolin Temple scenic spot that can be taken to shuttle between various attractions, which is more convenient for tourists with insufficient physical strength or tight schedules.
Transportation in Dengfeng City: There are buses in Dengfeng City that can go to major attractions such as the Shaolin Temple scenic spot. You can also take a taxi to travel, and the price is relatively reasonable.
