GUNUNG · People's Republic of China

Mount Song

嵩山 (Sōng Shān) — juga disebut Zhongyue (中岳, Gunung Tengah)

Information

Elevation: 1.512 m
Country: People's Republic of China (CN)
Location / Range: Eastern Qinling Mountains, Dengfeng County, Henan Province, central China
Mountain type: Old metamorphic & sedimentary mountains (Precambrian rock) — non-volcanic, eastern Qinling range
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 34.4847, 112.9603
Difficulty: Easy–moderate; there are very well-developed tourist trails and cable cars in some areas; a full climb to the summit requires stamina but no technical difficulty
Best Season: March–May (spring, flowers and green scenery) and September–November (autumn, leaf colors); summer is hot and crowded; winter is cold but quiet
Permits & Rules: A national park entrance ticket (Songshan Scenic Area) is required; various sub-areas (Shaolin Temple, Zhongyue Temple, Guanxing Platform) may have separate tickets. Combined ticket packages are available
Hazards: Rocky trails slippery when it rains; high crowds during the holiday season and spring; scorching heat on the open slopes in summer

Description

Mount Song (嵩山, Sōng Shān, 1,512 m) is one of China's Five Sacred Mountains (五岳, Wuyue) and is designated the Central Sacred Mountain (中岳, Zhongyue) in Chinese cosmology — revered as the 'centre of heaven and earth'. Located in Dengfeng County, Henan Province, it divides into two main massifs: Taishi Shan (太室山, ~1,492 m) and Shaoshi Shan (少室山, ~1,512 m). On its slopes and valleys stand some of China's oldest preserved historic sites: the Shaolin Temple (少林寺, founded ~495 CE) — birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and traditional Chinese martial arts; the Songyue Pagoda (嵩岳寺塔, 523 CE, China's oldest brick pagoda); Zhongyue Temple (中岳庙); the Songyang Academy (嵩阳书院, one of China's four great academies); and the Yuan-dynasty Guanxing Astronomical Observatory Platform (观星台, 1276–1368 CE). In 2010, UNESCO inscribed the 'Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in the Centre of Heaven and Earth' as a World Heritage Site (#1245). Geologically, Songshan exposes ancient Precambrian basement rocks rarely seen elsewhere, giving the area scientific as well as spiritual significance.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Rute Puncak Junji (Taishi Shan) — Songyang Academy / Luya Waterfall

Berat — untuk pendaki berpengalaman; tanpa kereta gantung di Taishi

15.00 km +1100 m 6–8 jam traverse penuh; 4–5 jam pulang-pergi

The classic route to Junji Peak (1,491.7 m), the ceremonial Central Sacred Mountain summit bearing the inscription 'Central Sacred Mountain, Highest Point'. The common approach passes Luya Waterfall and an upper ridge with sweeping views, then descends to Songyang Academy (a World Heritage site). With no mechanical assistance on the Taishi side, this route is longer and climbs continuously on stone stairs — recommended for fit, experienced hikers only.

Route Segments

1

Songyang Academy / Air Terjun Luya → Punggungan atas

Bagian awal scenic; tangga batu menanjak terus
2

Punggungan atas → Puncak Junji

1.492 mdpl

Puncak seremonial dengan prasasti Gunung Tengah; panorama Dengfeng
3

Puncak Junji → turun via Songyang Academy

Traverse penuh; tanpa kereta gantung

Source

Rute Sanhuangzhai (Shaoshi Shan) — jalur papan tebing

Sedang — banyak tangga batu curam; cocok untuk pendaki pemula dengan kebugaran cukup

8.00 km +600 m 3–4 jam (termasuk istirahat)

The most popular route on the Shaoshi side, starting from the Sanhuangzhai gate. The opening Haohan Slope is very steep (~300 m of gain in 20–30 minutes) before the trail becomes a paved stone path clinging to the cliff face with open drops, passing the 'Book Cliff' (Shuceya) rock formations, Nantianmen, and a suspension bridge. Many hikers close the loop by descending on the Shaolin Cable Car (~8 min) and then visit the Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest.

Route Segments

1

Pintu Sanhuangzhai → Puncak Haohan Slope

↑ 300 m ⏱ 20–30 menit

Tangga batu sangat curam, bagian tersulit di awal
2

Haohan Slope → Jalur papan tebing & 'Book Cliff'

Jalan batu di sisi tebing dengan jurang terbuka; formasi Shuceya
3

Nantianmen & jembatan gantung → Stasiun kereta gantung

Tutup loop; turun via Kereta Gantung Shaolin ±8 menit menuju Kuil Shaolin

Source

Climbing Experiences

Hikers describe Mount Song (嵩山) less as an alpine climb than as a long, leg-burning stone-stairway trek across two massifs: Taishi Shan (home to 1,491.7 m Junji Peak, the ceremonial Central Sacred Mountain summit) and Shaoshi Shan (the Sanhuangzhai area with cliff-clinging plank walkways). Many are caught off guard that a peak 'only' ~1,500 m high is so strenuous because of relentless steep stairs — Sanhuangzhai's Haohan Slope gains roughly 300 m in just 20–30 minutes. The appeal is layered: 'Book Cliff' rock formations, suspension bridges, ancient temples and academies (Songyang), and proximity to the Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Spring and autumn are best; a cable car serves the Shaoshi side but not Taishi.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.