4.4/5
Anonymous userShaolin Temple is located in Dengfeng, nearly two hours' drive from both Zhengzhou and Luoyang, so be sure to plan your trip in advance. Upon entering the scenic area, the first stop is a Shaolin martial arts performance. Even in the off-season, you need to queue for half an hour in advance. We arrived late, and all the seats were taken, with even fewer on the second floor. We simply found a spot on the first floor and stood against the wall to watch. Further on, you reach the actual Shaolin Temple. At this time of year, the thousand-year-old ginkgo trees inside are a vibrant yellow, perfectly complementing the red walls and gray tiles of the surrounding buildings. Next to the temple is the Pagoda Forest, the final resting place of eminent monks throughout history. Next to the Pagoda Forest, there's a sightseeing cable car going up the mountain for 100 yuan round trip. Unfortunately, we had booked a vehicle in advance and didn't have time to go, so we just took the sightseeing bus directly from there, which was a bit of a disappointment. If you want to go up the mountain, you should allow at least 5 hours.
