Dengfeng

Dengfeng is a county-level city of Henan Province located in South Central China and is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Zhengzhou. In ancient times it was referred to as Yangcheng. This beautiful city has an overall land area of around 1,220 km2, while the population is estimated to be around 630,000 inhabitants. It occupies the southwestern corner of Zhengzhou and is the westernmost county-level division. The city is situated at the foot of Mount Song, one of the most sacred mountains in all of China. Consequently, Dengfeng is renowned for becoming one of the most important spiritual centers in the country. Here there can be found a number of religious institutions and famous temples, such as the Taoist Zhongyue Temple, the Buddhist Shaolin Temple, the Confucian Songyang Academy and the Gaocheng Observatory, hence its poetic expression derived from Chinese literature as the spiritual "center of heaven and earth". Being such an important spiritual city, parts of Dengfeng were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010. How did the city gain its spiritual status? The answer lies in its past. In the beginning of the Xia Dynasty, the capital Yangcheng was constructed to the west of Gaocheng Township on the Yin River under the sacred Mount Song. This is where the now well-known Shaolin Monastery was built. Traditionally considered as the origin of Zen, this monastery has become a popular tourist attraction as well as a place to learn martial arts for both adults and children. As of 2012, the city is associated to 3 subdistricts, 8 towns, and 5 townships. Dengfeng is a city full of metaphor and spirituality that deserves a visit. Come and explore the depths of this city and witness its mesmerizing beauty, both inside and out!

Location: Zhengzhou

Elevation above the sea: 2,400 m

Website: dengfeng.gov.cn

Sources: Wikimedia, OpenStreetMap