Songshan Shaolin Travel Guide~

I went from Luoyang. I checked the location of Songshan on the navigation, and it’s actually closer to Luoyang. I originally planned to take a taxi to the Luoyang bus station in the morning to catch a bus because carrying a suitcase is troublesome. A friend suggested I try carpooling, and it worked! They took me from the hotel right to the entrance. I went to Shaoshi Mountain, near the Shaolin Temple. The driver was very nice and told me that in Henan, local license plates don’t have to pay highway tolls, so if I carpool back from Songshan, I wouldn’t have to pay tolls. After getting off at 9:30, just down the stairs is Songshan Shaolin. There’s a photo studio at the entrance where you can store your suitcase for 10 RMB, so you don’t have to carry it inside. Take a taxi to Sanhuangzhai, where they will drop you off at the parking lot. The parking lot there is still under construction but should be completed later; currently, there’s a temporary parking lot. Tickets are also sold at the entrance of Sanhuangzhai. Teachers get half price with their qualification certificate. Henan is really friendly to teachers. After entering through the Sanhuangzhai ticket gate, there’s a shuttle bus costing 20 RMB. You must take the shuttle; otherwise, you’ll get tired before even walking much. If you have good stamina, just ignore me. At the foot of the mountain, the stairs start. I climbed the Zhongtianmen stairs of Laojun Mountain, which was quite a challenge but manageable. I rewarded myself with snacks on the way up. While I was eating, a little cat kept rubbing against me. The food wasn’t suitable for it, or I would have fed it. After this stairway, it was easier with ups and downs. You can’t enter inside Sanhuangzhai; there are no-entry signs. Further ahead is a suspension bridge that only allows 8 people at a time. The bridge is wooden underneath. If you’re not afraid of heights, it’s fine; if you are, just look up, haha. The Shuce Cliff beyond is very beautiful, a rare spectacle—perfect for photos and check-ins! I took the cable car down, bought a one-way ticket for 70 RMB. The round-trip ticket is 120 RMB, but I believe once you get down to Sanhuangzhai, you won’t have the courage to go back up by cable car, so buy the ticket you need based on your situation. After descending, you reach the Pagoda Forest and Shaolin Temple. The Shaolin Temple is quite large, and the ginkgo leaves are beautiful, over 1500 years old. After a round trip, go down to the Kung Fu Square where performances take place at 2 PM and 3 PM, lasting about half an hour. When I was there, I caught the tail end of the show. Many people watch, standing at the entrance. I left at 4 PM, planning to carpool to Zhengzhou. Wow, I tried twice, and both times they said I needed to pay highway tolls, but I already knew there was no toll. One gave the excuse of ETC device fees, another said if I had a private ride, I shouldn’t pay. If I carpool with others, what’s the point of paying for a private ride? I would rather they openly say extra fees; lying and cheating outsiders like this is really disappointing. Later, my travel companions told me there’s a bus from Shaolin Temple to Zhengzhou for 30 RMB per person. It’s at the third-level parking lot, with a sign and arrow pointing the way. Just go straight down. You can buy tickets online or scan a code for the driver. The destination is Zhengzhou Bus Station. Pay attention to the schedule; I saw buses roughly every half hour. If you miss one, you have to wait an hour. The last bus is at 5:30 PM, so be mindful of your sightseeing time. I really couldn’t climb Taishi Mountain anymore, leaving some regrets for next time. It’s an invitation for the next visit. I’ll come back to Yuzhou again!