The Luoyang Trip – III

May 23rd, 2006 Filed under English entries, Travel

@ 2006-05-23 17:24

Out of the city – Song Mountain and Shaolinsi Temple

Why we chose Luoyang to come? ‘Cause it has Song Mountain, Shaolinsi Temple and Longmen Grottoes nearby.

After a whole day launging about the town and a big meal in the night plus a sound sleep, we recovered when got up the next morning. Our second day’s task was to visit Song Mountain and Shaolinsi Temple.

Many people go to Shaolinsi from Zhengzhou, but the distance from the temple to Luoyang is de facto no longer than to Zhengzhou and the traffic to there is very convenient. We went to the railway station square and took a coach heading for Xuchang and got off midway at Shangqiu from where we then hoped a taxi to Sanhuangzhai (三黄寨), back door of Shaolinsi. Song Mountain is not refer to any specific peak or hill, it’s a common of the peaks and hills of a district. There’re two routes to follow to visit Shaolinsi (which is located at the foot of Song Mountain). If you admire the magic power of nature, then you should start the journey from Sanhuangzhai and then follow your way to Shaolinsi. Sanhuangzhai is characterized by a world of varied geological structure. Mountains are in the shapes that you’ve never imagined. Some are squeezed like books, some are… I just can’t describe them, just too miraculous. Also, if you prefer human landscape you can walk a way reversed that is first visit the Shaolinsi at the foot and then climb the way to Sanhuangzhai. But in this case, you have very likely been exhausted when you arrive at the magnificent Sanhuangzhai. I like nature beauty so I choose the first route. Though it was golden holiday, the people at Sanhuangzhai were much fewer than we have expected and I think the traffic here can be called normal. But when we got to Shaolinsi, it’s a different scene. It’s just like too much dumplings in a pot! And I think the third reason I recommend you to start from Sanhuangzhai is because the heavy traffic at the Shaolinsi.