Mount Song, historically known as Waifang, Songgao, and Chonggao, is located in the central part of Henan Province, belonging to the Funiu mountain range. In ancient times, it lay adjacent to Luoyang and is the Central Mountain (Zhongyue) among the Five Great Mountains of China. Since 1983, it has been under the administration of Dengfeng City. Covering a total area of approximately 450 square kilometers, Mount Song consists of two main sections: Shaoshi Mountain and Taishi Mountain, with a total of 72 peaks. The highest peak, Liantian Peak, reaches 1,512 meters above sea level, while Junji Peak, the main peak of Taishi Mountain, stands at 1,492 meters. An ancient poem says: “Lofty and grand is the Central Mountain; its peak towers to the sky.” Mount Song is renowned for its ancient and stable natural geology as well as its splendid cultural heritage. The famous Shaolin Temple is located on Mount Song.
In 1982, Mount Song was designated by the State Council as one of the first batch of national scenic spots. On February 13, 2004, it was selected as a “World Geopark” by the Earth Science Division of UNESCO. On May 8, 2007, the Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area was approved by the China National Tourism Administration as a national 5A‑level tourist attraction. Mount Song is one of the sacred places where Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism coexist. It is not only a sacred site of Chinese Taoism and the cradle of Han Chinese Buddhism, but also the birthplace of China’s New Confucianism.
Geographical Environment
The “Book‑cliff Rock” of Mount Song is one of the landmark landscapes, a relic of the Zhongyue Orogeny.
Mount Song lies across the Central Plains, stretching east‑west. It was called Waifang in ancient times, Songgao or Chongshan during the Xia and Shang dynasties, and Yue Mountain in the Western Zhou period. In 770 BC, when King Ping moved the capital to Luoyang, Mount Song was regarded as the “center of heaven and earth” – with Mount Tai to the east and Mount Hua to the west – and was named Zhongyue (Central Mountain). Its lowest elevation is 350 meters, and the highest is Liantian Peak on Shaoshi Mountain at 1,512 meters; the main peak, Junji Peak on Taishi Mountain, is 1,491.7 meters high. To the north, Mount Song overlooks the Yellow River and Luo River; to the south, it faces the Ying River and Ji Mountain; to the east, it connects to the ancient capital Bianliang (Kaifeng), and to the west, it adjoins Luoyang, the capital of thirteen dynasties. It is often called the “Famous Mountain within the Capital Region, between the Two Capitals of Bian and Luo.” With its extraordinary peaks and numerous temples and pavilions, it ranks as the foremost mountain in the Central Plains.
Geological Evolution
Mount Song was granted World Geopark status due to its diverse record of geological evolution. Its geological structure is renowned for its ancient rock ages, complex tectonics, complete crustal development, and excellent outcrops. Among the 72 peaks, rock strata from the Archean to the Cenozoic can be found. The crust and rocks of the Archean, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras are all exposed here, earning it the geological nickname “Five Generations Living Together.” The exposures of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks in the Mount Song area constitute the oldest rock series in China – the “Dengfeng Duo Rock” of the Dengfeng Group. Nearly all rock and strata types found in North China are concentrated here, spanning a time scale of 3 billion years. The ancient rock series of Mount Song formed about 2.3 billion years ago, and the best‑preserved relics are those of the three major tectonic movements from the Archean to the Paleozoic – the Songyang Movement, the Zhongyue Movement, and the Shaolin Movement. Mount Song has thus become a hotspot for geological researchers.
Scenic and Historical Sites
Mount Song has been visited by over 30 emperors and more than 150 renowned scholars throughout history, and is considered a blessed grotto‑heaven where immortals gather and converse. With its numerous scenic and historical sites, it is truly worthy of its status among the Five Great Mountains. The Book of Songs contains the famous verse: “Lofty and grand is the Central Mountain; its peak towers to the sky.” The Zhongyue Temple, a Taoist sacred site first built in the Qin Dynasty, is one of China’s ancient architectural complexes. It was added to the list of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units in 2001 and became a World Cultural Heritage site in 2010. The Songyang Academy, located at the southern foot of Taishi Mountain, is one of the four great academies of ancient China. The Fawang Temple, also at the southern foot of Taishi Mountain, is one of the earliest Buddhist temples in China. The world‑famous Shaolin Temple, renowned for both Zen Buddhism and martial arts, is situated on Shaoshi Mountain of Mount Song.