Dengfeng Travel Guide: Plan an Ultimate Trip to the City of Martial Arts
Located in the central-western part of Henan Province, Dengfeng is a county-level city under the administration of Zhengzhou City, and it is adjacent to Zhengzhou to the east and Luoyang to the west. There are world-class landmarks in this city, including the “Center of Heaven and Earth” Historical Architecture Complex, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, and the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms,” a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Recognized nationwide as the “City of Cultural Relics” and the “City of Martial Arts,” Dengfeng is not only home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites but also serves as a spiritual hub for Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. The Shaolin Temple, the Taoist Zhongyue Temple, and the Confucian Songyang Academy are all famous worldwide.
Chinese: 登封 dēng fēng
Location: Southwest Zhengzhou
Population (urban area): 732,000
Basic History of Dengfeng
Dengfeng in China has a long history dating back over 5,000 years to the Xia Dynasty, the first slave society dynasty in Chinese history, which established its capital in Yangcheng, present-day Gaocheng in Dengfeng, Henan. In 696 AD, Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty held a grand fengshan (sacrificial) ceremony on Mount Song and renamed Songyang County to Dengfeng County and Yangcheng County to Gaocheng County, and that’s the derivation of the city’s name.
Why Visit Dengfeng?
- Breathtaking Views: Designated as a National Garden City and a Forest City of Henan Province, known as the “Natural Oxygen Bar” and “Health and Wellness Sanctuary” of the Central Plains, Dengfeng greets visitors with mountains, forests, lakes, and waterfalls.
- Shaolin Temple: It offers a good opportunity for visitors to explore the famous Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Zen Buddhism as well as the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu.
- Cultural Heritage: Dengfenghouses colorful cultures for visitors to experience, such as Ancient Pagoda Culture, Fengshan Culture, Han Que Culture, Geological Culture, and so on, where you’ll learn more about Central Plains throughout
- Delicious Food: DengfengCity in China is a paradise for food enthusiasts. The Stewed Lamb, Eight Treasures Pastry, Sesame Seed Cake, and Mustard Shreds are the specialties there, and they are all must-try food on your Dengfeng tours.
Top Dengfeng Tourist Attractions
Top Things to Do in Dengfeng
Explore the Shaolin Temple
Located on the northern bank of Shao Creek in Dengfeng, Shaolin Temple’s layout includes seven courtyards, covering a total area of about 57,600 square meters. Key structures include the Permanent Residence, Pagoda Forest, and the First Patriarch’s Hut. It shows visitors a great number of stone carvings, numerous inscriptions, and the Shaolin Kung Fu performance, which cannot be missed during your Shaoling Temple tours.
Recommend Shaolin Temple tours:
- One Day Xian-Luoyang Tour by High Speed Train
- 2 Days Best Luoyang Tour to Shaolin Temple with Local Experts
- 7 Days Xian & Luoyang Tourwith Shaolin Temple
Hike the Beautiful Mount Song
Covering an area of 450 square kilometers, Mount Song in Dengfeng stretches over 60 kilometers from east to west, with its highest peak reaching 1,512 meters. Along with its breathtaking scenery, it’s a heaven for hikers. And, it offers many routes for hiking, among which most people start from Shaolin Temple or Songyang Academy to experience both scenic sites and historical relics along the way.
Discover the Prominent Pagoda Forest
About 300 meters west of Shaolin Temple, at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain in Dengfeng, lies the largest pagoda forest in China. This famous Shaolin Pagoda Forest serves as the burial site for the monks and abbots of the Shaolin Temple throughout the generations. There are over 200 pagodas in various shapes, reflecting differences in construction and carving art.
Uncover the Ancient Songyang Academy
Built in the Northern Wei Dynasty as a Buddhist activity site, this academy in Dengfeng developed into an institution of higher learning in China. When visiting Songyang Academy, there are several artifacts you must see: the Tang Dynasty stele at the main gate, two “General Cypress” trees over 4,500 years old in the courtyard, and the “Golden Edict of Empress Wu” in the academy’s library.
Visit the Star Observatory
Located in Gaocheng Town of Dengfeng City, it is one of the oldest existing astronomical observatories in China. Founded by the Yuan Dynasty astronomer Guo Shoujing, it is one of the most famous astronomical scientific buildings in the world. Visiting there, you’ll get to know the development and achievements of ancient astronomy.
Tour nearby Cities & Attractions
Nearby Dengfeng, there are many other cities and attractions to explore on your Henan tours. You can travel to Zhengzhou to marvel at its merge of modernity and antiquity, go to Kaifeng for a cultural banquet, and embark on a trip to Luoyang to explore the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring thousands of Buddhist sculptures carved into the cliffs.
Dengfeng Weather & Best Time to Visit
Located in a warm temperature zone, Dengfeng has a humid monsoon climate with four distinct seasons. With an average annual temperature of 13.6°C, the city’s hottest month is July and the coldest month is January. It receives concentrated rainfall in July and August, with an average annual precipitation of 640 mm.
Hence, the best time to visit Dengfeng is from April to October when the weather is mild and the surroundings are pleasant. More specifically, springs see beautiful Dengfeng covered by flowers, summers witness the coolness of Mount Song, and autumns show a golden town like a fairyland. While winters in Dengfeng are too cold and dry, which is less ideal for traveling.
Dengfeng Hotels
Dengfeng offers various types of hotels to accommodate, no matter near Mount Song, Shaolin Temple, or downtown. If you want to further experience the Buddhist culture and martial arts after your tour of Shaolin Temple, stay at the Chan Wu Hotel in Dengfeng. If you want to stay in the city center, Moshe Hotel and Venice Hotel are good choices.
Dengfeng Transportation
How to Get to Dengfeng
By Air: Dengfeng does not own an airport. You can fly to either Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport or Luoyang Beijiao Airport from major cities in China, like Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, and Chengdu. Then take a 2-hour long-distance bus to Dengfeng.
By Train: Train service is not available in Dengfeng. You can take a train to Zhengzhou or Luoyang if you prefer a journey by train and then take a bus there.
By Bus: Bus tends to be the major transportation to get to and depart this city. There are frequent buses to Dengfeng from Zhengzhou and Luoyang, and the journey takes about 2-2.5 hours and costs CNY20-30.
How to Get around Dengfeng
Dengfeng has a well-developed bus transportation system, and there are buses No. 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 11, which allow you to get around the city conveniently. Also, Dengfeng bus stations offer direct buses to Shaolin Temple (Line 8) and Songyang Academy (Ling 2 and 6). Besides, since it is a small city, you can also travel to any part of it by taxi with a reasonable fare.
