| Song Mountain lies in Dengfeng city, in the | | | | Buddhism, and is the home of many wondrous |
| heart of Henan Province and about 80 | | | | temples, including Shaolin Temple, the |
| kilometers (50 miles) east of its capital, | | | | largest pagoda forest in China, Ta Lin |
| Zhengzhou. | | | | (meaning pagoda forest) and the most ancient |
| | | | pagoda in China, Songyue Temple pagoda. A |
| Song Mountain has fine natural scenery. Its | | | | visitor can also visit the oldest cypress, as |
| 72 mountains, grouped around the peaks of | | | | well as the earliest star observation |
| Mount Shaoshi and Mount Taishi, extend for | | | | platform in China. |
| about 70 kilometers (43 miles) from east to | | | | |
| west. Besides these mountains, there are many | | | | What makes Song Mountain different from the |
| valleys, caves, pools and waterfalls, each of | | | | rest of the Five Mountains is its profound |
| which provides the visitor with a unique and | | | | and extensive cultural history. For this |
| wonderful experience. The landscape is so | | | | reason, a visit to Song Mountain will be |
| unique that it has been given the title of | | | | greatly rewarding for scholars of religion, |
| 'International Geological Park' by the United | | | | physical culture, astronomy, archaeology, |
| Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural | | | | geology, art, and architecture, as well as |
| Organization (UNESCO). | | | | for travelers with a passion for beauty and |
| | | | history. |
| Song Mountain is the birthplace of China Zen | | | | |