Explore SongShan: Weekend Guide for Students

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Xiaolong Kungfu Academy Weekend Guide

Hello! As an overseas student at Xiaolong Kung Fu Academy, you’re perfectly located to immerse yourself in local culture. When you are not mastering traditional routines, our academy surroundings offer a magnificent backdrop for exploring Songshan Mountain, ancient architecture, and legendary local flavors on your days off. Below is a curated student guide for travel, food, museums, coffee, shopping, and hiking.

Weekend Travel & Hiking (Near the School)

Dengfeng is nestled in the Songshan Mountain Shaolin Temple region (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), offering deep natural beauty, historic trails, and challenging weekend hikes.

Shaolin Temple & Pagoda Forest (8-min drive from school,11 KM away)

  • Details: Located an 8-minute drive from the school (11 KM away).

  • Highlights: The legendary birthplace of Chinese martial arts. Watch live martial arts performances (10 AM/3 PM daily), explore the 1,500-year-old temple, and discover the physical benefits of shaolin kung fu through its history. Don’t miss the Pagoda Forest, housing 248 ancient stupas.

  • Ticket: ~¥80 (student discounts available).

Three Emperors’ Village (少室山三皇寨) – Hiking Paradise

  • Best Hike: A 3–4 hour moderate hike on Shaoshi Mountain (part of the Songshan range). Features cliffside plank walkways, stunning valley views, and unique Danxia rock formations.

  • Tip: Take the cable car up (¥70) and hike down for an easier experience.

Taishi Mountain & Junji Peak (太室山峻极峰)

  • Challenge: Summit Songshan’s main peak (1,492m). A 4-hour round trip with rewarding sea of clouds views at the top.
  • Route: Start at Songyang Academy (ancient Confucian school) → Laomu Cave → Peak.

Zhaozhi Garden (招止园) – Hidden Ancient Garden (FREE!)

  • Highlights: A serene, lesser-known gem near the main temple grounds. It is a restored Ming-Qing style garden with bridges, scenic ponds, ancient opera stages, and a stone tablet rubbing museum. Perfect for a peaceful walk, photography, or quiet meditation.

Luya Waterfall (卢崖瀑布) – Summer Escape

  • Highlights: A scenic, easy 2-hour hike to a 40m waterfall tucked away in a lush canyon. Great for cooling down on hot summer weekends.

Local Food Guide (Authentic & Affordable) at Dengfeng City

Dengfeng culinary traditions offer an authentic taste of hearty Henan cuisine, which is characteristically filling, savory, and full of local spice.

Must-Try Dishes

  1. Gaowei Spicy Dao Xiao Mian (高玮削面馆): A famous local spot serving spicy knife-shaved noodles loaded with hot chili oil and rich meat sauce (¥15–20/bowl).

  2. Dengfeng Shaobing (登封烧饼): Crispy, sesame-covered flatbread stuffed with tofu pudding or spicy shredded pork (¥5–8)—a classic street staple.

  3. Mutton Soup (羊肉汤): Rich, savory soup filled with tender mutton. Try Qinglin Mutton Soup (a local chain, ~¥20/bowl).

  4. Shaolin Vegetarian Feast (少林素斋): Delicious Buddhist vegetarian dishes prepared with farm-to-table ingredients. Try it directly at the temple or visit Shanman·Shanye Shiji (嵩小满・山野食记) for mountain-view dining.

Night Market at Dengfeng City

  • Guangming Road Night Market (光明路夜市): Packed with vibrant food stalls serving fried jelly, grilled skewers, sweet almond tea, and more. Open from 6 PM to midnight.

Museums (Deepen Your Cultural Understanding)

Fuyaoyue Ink Rubbing Museum (浮津耀墨拓片博物馆)

  • Highlights: Located inside Zhaozhi Garden, it houses a stunning collection of ancient stone tablet rubbings from the Han, Wei, and Song dynasties. Free entry.

Songyang Academy Museum (嵩阳书院)

  • Highlights: One of China’s Four Great Ancient Academies (1,500 years old). See the famous 4,500-year-old General Cypress trees and interactive exhibits on ancient Confucian education (¥30 ticket).

Dengfeng History Museum (登封历史博物馆)

  • Highlights: Housed in an ancient Ming Dynasty City God Temple, this site displays precious local artifacts ranging from the Neolithic age to the Qing Dynasty. Free entry.

Shaolin Ancient Weapons Museum (少林古兵器博物馆)

  • Highlights: Located just 300m near the school, this specialized museum showcases historic ancient chinese martial arts weapons and armor. It is an essential stop for enthusiasts wanting to analyze the evolution of shaolin kung fu weapons used throughout history.

Coffee Spots (Relax & Recharge) at Dengfeng City

Lane Pure Coffee (巷子里之纯咖啡)

  • A cozy, hidden gem in a quiet alley. Offers great hand-drip coffee and a peaceful vibe perfect for reading, recovery, or chatting (Located at 17th Alley, 100m south of Dayu Road Bridge).

Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡 - Dayu City Branch)

  • Popular chain for affordable, quality coffee (¥15–25). Located on the 1st floor of Dayu City Shopping Mall.

Chaxinju (禅心居) – Coffee with Mountain Views

  • A beautiful ancient village resort near the scenic area. Their café offers premium drinks with stunning views of the mountain peaks and traditional courtyards.

  • 📍 Shaolin Scenic Area (near the temple)

Shopping (Souvenirs & Daily Needs) at Dengfeng City

Dayu City (大禹城) & Wanjia Central City (万佳中心城)

  • Dengfeng’s two largest modern shopping malls, situated next to each other in the city center. Here you can find international clothing brands, local fashion boutiques, cosmetics, supermarkets, cinemas, and restaurants.

Shaolin Kung Fu Souvenir Shops

  • Near the Temple: Browse specialty stores to buy handmade uniforms, wooden training swords, calligraphic arts, and Buddhist meditation beads.

  • Near the School: Smaller specialty shops carry highly durable training gear, custom accessories used in MMA and Shaolin Kung Fu sparring styles, and affordable gifts.

Local Specialties

  • Shaolin Vegetarian Biscuits (少林素饼): Sweet, crumbly cookies that make great snacks.

  • Dengfeng Mustard Greens (登封芥丝): Spicy, crispy pickles that pair perfectly with rice dishes.

Sample 2-Day Weekend Itinerary

Saturday: Culture & Hiking

  • Morning: Visit the historic temple grounds and watch a dynamic Shaolin Kung Fu performance.

  • Afternoon: Hike the Three Emperors’ Village trail to see historic defensive architecture and study various ancient Shaolin Kung Fu techniques immortalized in regional stone carvings.

  • Evening: Enjoy a hot bowl of Dao Xiao Mian noodles and wind down at Lane Pure Coffee.

Sunday: Nature & Relaxation

  • Morning: Explore Zhaozhi Garden and check out the Fuyaoyue Museum.

  • Lunch: Enjoy an authentic farm-to-table lunch at Shanman·Shanye Shiji.

  • Afternoon: Take a light hike to Luya Waterfall or complete your weekly shopping at Dayu City.

  • Evening: Stroll through the Guangming Road Night Market to taste local street food.

Tips for Overseas Students

  • Transport: Rent an electric scooter (¥30/day) for easy travel between school and town. Taxis are ~¥15-20 for trips within Dengfeng.
  • Language: Download Google Translate (offline Chinese pack) or use Pleco (dictionary app).
  • Respect: When visiting temples and gardens, dress modestly (shoulders/knees covered).
  • This guide balances adventure, culture, food, and relaxation-perfect for making the most of your weekends while training at Xiaolong Kungfu Academy.
Traditional earthen village houses on a lush hillside, reflecting the heritage of the northern wei dynasty.
Tranquil village view in the songyang scenic area, located near the historic songyue temple pagoda.
A grand architectural complex overlooking the vast, lush, and rolling green peaks of taishi mountain under a clouded blue sky.
a popular hiking place while exploring songshan