The main range of Mount Song is divided into two branches: the eastern branch is Taishi Mountain, and the western branch is Shaoshi Mountain. Both mountains have a long history. At the foot of Taishi Mountain lies the Qimu Temple, in front of which is the Qimu Que, and behind the temple is the Qimu Stone. Qimu refers to Tushan’s daughter, the wife of Yu the Great and mother of Xia Qi. After Qimu turned to stone, her younger sister married Yu and they lived at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain, where there is the Shaoshi Temple, in front of which stands the Shaoshi Que (since ancient times, the first wife was referred to as 'shi' or 室, and the second as 'fang' or 房). Therefore, the mountain where Yu’s first wife lived is called Taishi Mountain, and the one where his second wife lived is called Shaoshi Mountain. Taishi and Shaoshi each have 36 peaks, every peak with a name, a story, towering majestically, and captivating in beauty. Many historical figures have visited Mount Song, leaving behind numerous poems and legends.
Ordinary tourists usually hike Mount Song via designated tourist trails. For outdoor enthusiasts (known as “驴族” or “donkey folks”), however, the hikes tend to be longer, more challenging, or involve routes that are both difficult and physically demanding—or simply ones they haven’t tried before. Through exploration, these adventurers have established several relatively “classic” Mount Song hiking routes. These routes are longer, more complex, and more difficult. Without a guide, hikers might get lost; some sections also require certain mountaineering skills and the use of ropes for safety. Here’s an introduction to them:
11 Routes on Taishi Mountain:
1. Yongtai Temple – Luya (or Balongtan)
2. Wanghe – Junji
3. Jiulongtan – Junji
4. Wangchaoling – Junji
5. Xiaoyao Valley – Junji
6. Balongtan – Junji
7. Zhongyue Temple – Junji
8. Yingxian Pavilion – Yingchou Cliff – Junji
9. Laolonggou – Junji
10. Yongtai Temple – Songyue Temple
11. Songyue Temple – Sanzu’an – Junji
9 Routes on Shaoshi Mountain:
1. Jiangjun Temple – Liantian Peak – Jade Emperor Grand Canyon
2. Jiangjun Temple – Liantian Peak – Lotus Temple
3. Jiangjun Temple – Liantian Peak – Cuihua Peak – Dazhai – Xiaozhai – Xifengkou – Dansha Peak – Shaolin Reservoir
4. Anyang Palace – Daxian Gorge – Loumen – Zixiao Peak – Jade Emperor Grand Canyon
5. Jade Emperor Gully – Zhengxi Gully – Dazhai – Xiaozhai – Shaolin Reservoir
6. Jade Emperor Gully – Water Curtain Cave – Dazhai – Xiaozhai – Shaolin Reservoir
8. Jade Emperor Gully – Water Curtain Cave – Dazhai & Xiaozhai – Erzu’an – Shaolin Temple
9. Weiyaugou – Jade Emperor Grand Canyon – Liantian Peak – Weiyaugou
The above routes can be adjusted for start and end points or combined into longer treks.
Taishi Section:
1. Yongtai Temple – Luya (or Balongtan)
This route essentially follows the mountain ridge, traversing Taishi Mountain from west to east. For outdoor enthusiasts, completing this trek is a meaningful achievement. Typically, hikers start via the steps behind Yongtai Temple, passing Guanxiang Peak, Wangdu Peak, Wolong Peak, retracing Daoquan, then Duxiu Peak, Yuren Peak, Yunü Peak, Huagai Peak, Junji Peak, and finally taking the Junji–Luya trail, passing Qiyun Peak, Yujing Peak, Qingtong Peak, Xuansui Peak, Jiming Peak, to reach Luya Waterfall. Alternatively, after Junji, one may take a smaller path to Chenzhen Peak and descend via Balongtan. This route is long, stretching approximately 30 kilometers from west to east. The section from Guanxiang Peak to Wangdu Peak and Wolong Peak includes a few relatively challenging spots, but other parts, though along the ridge, are not overly difficult. Completing this hike requires strong endurance. It can also be split into two parts: Yongtai Temple – Junji, and Balongtan – Junji.
Jade Emperor Grand Canyon
Take the tourist road from Dengfeng to Shaohuangzhai, turn west at the intersection near Lianhua Temple and walk about 500 meters, then start ascending the mountain via a small path through the woods. It takes around 45 minutes to an hour to reach General Temple, then continue upward, pass through One-Line Sky, descend into the valley, and ascend along Lingxiao Gorge (there is a plastic water pipe here—if you’re unsure of the route, just follow this pipe). There are several relatively difficult sections in the gorge that may require assistance from others or the use of ropes for safety. Once at the top of the gorge, you’ll connect to the Sanhuang Grand Canyon, where you can see a large rock inscribed with “Baizhu Peak.” From here, you can descend down the canyon to the Shaohuangzhai scenic area. Turn right and hike up the Sanhuang Grand Canyon; not long after, you’ll see a cliff face marked with “Qiongbi Peak.” Continue upward, and there is a section midway that requires climbing using both hands and feet.
Afterward, you’ll reach the mountain ridge, then continue northward along the ridge all the way to the summit of Liantian Peak. When descending, go down the northern side of Liantian Peak, where you’ll see a large rock inscribed with the three big characters “Liantian Peak.” Then keep descending—there is one particularly challenging spot. After reaching the bottom of the gorge, continue ascending up the opposite canyon directly across from you. Once at the top of the opposite ridge, turn right to reach the area near Zixiao Peak. When there’s no more path forward, descend down the left-hand gorge, eventually reaching the bottom of Yuhuang Gully, passing through Shuiliandong (Water Curtain Cave), and exiting via Yuhuang Temple. The challenging parts of this route are one or two spots in Lingxiao Gorge, as well as Shuiliandong and the cliff below it.
II. General Temple — Liantian Peak — Lianhua Temple
The first part is the same as the first route. After descending Liantian Peak, instead of continuing up the opposite peak, follow the right-hand gorge downward, passing BaiDao Cave and Liangong Platform, then descend the gorge above General Temple, and head down to the Lianhua Temple parking lot (or turn right to take the route you came up from General Temple to descend). During the descent on this route, there are several dangerous sections that must be passed with care, as a slight misstep could result in falling off a cliff. However, it’s generally more startling than actually dangerous. For those accustomed to such trails, it shouldn’t feel too difficult, but for first-timers, it can be quite alarming.
III. General Temple — Liantian Peak — Cuihua Peak — Dazhai — Xiaozhai — Xifengkou — Dansha Peak — Shaolin Reservoir
The first part in Xingyang, Henan, is the same as the first route. After descending Liantian Peak, ascend the opposite peak, then turn left to hike up Cuihua Peak, descend Jiyubei (a narrow ridge), cross Xidu Cliff, reach the unnamed peak, and ascend to the top of Dazhai. Turn right (you can also turn left, but the route is slightly longer) to the small temple at the entrance of Dazhai. Descend from the Dazhai entrance, then ascend to the entrance of Zhengxigou, turn left to climb Xiaozhai, pass through Xifengkou, cross Dansha Peak, and arrive at the dam of the Shaolin Reservoir. The challenging parts of this route are Jiyubei and Xidu Cliff, which are quite perilous and require cautious navigation. When descending, you can also choose to head north from the Dazhai entrance, continuously downhill until you reach the road west of Shaolin Temple. This descent route is relatively shorter but steeper. In rainy or snowy weather, it becomes extremely slippery and treacherous. Moreover, it’s a continuous steep slope through the forest, making the hike quite unpleasant.
IV. Anyang Palace — Daxian Gorge — Loumen — Zixiao Peak — Yuhuang Grand Canyon
This is the route up to Zixiao Peak. Enter Daxian Gorge from Anyang Palace, then turn right midway up the right slope, then ascend from “Loumen,” continue up the gorge all the way to the top, follow the ridge leftward, pass “Changchongpa” (Snake Crawl), climb “Louboding” (Collar Neck), and reach the summit of Zixiao Peak. Then descend from the other side, enter the valley on the opposite side of Zixiao Peak, and descend to Yuhuang Grand Canyon. Pass through Shuiliandong, and exit via Yuhuang Temple. The difficult sections of this route are “Loumen,” “Lou脖子” (Collar Neck), and Shuiliandong. After passing through Loumen, on “Lou脖子,” and while descending Zixiao Peak, the slopes are steep, and the ground is muddy, becoming extremely slippery when wet.
V. Yuhuang Gully — Zhengxigou — Dazhai — Xiaozhai — Shaolin Reservoir
The latter part of this route is mostly leisurely, but the challenging section is in the first half, primarily the “Zhengxigou” section after entering Yuhuang Gully. More specifically, it’s the stretch from after the manganese mine cave to the top of Xiaozhai. There are several rock walls, one section of near-vertical ascent, and a spot where you have to navigate around the edge of a cliff. The most dangerous part is after passing through a cave—the gully floor becomes increasingly narrow, covered entirely in loose rocks, and any misstep could send stones tumbling down. Due to the narrowness and difficulty of the path, those behind have almost no room to avoid them.
VI. Yuhuang Gully — Shuiliandong — Dazhai — Xiaozhai — Shaolin Reservoir
This route falls somewhere between leisurely and strenuous, with the main difficulty being near Shuiliandong. Other than that, it’s not particularly challenging.
VII. Shaohuangzhai — Tizigou — Wuru Peak — Shaolin Temple Exit
This route isn’t very difficult, but it’s rather long, placing it between leisurely and strenuous. It basically covers the western and northern parts of Shaoshi Mountain.
VIII. Yuhuang Gully — Shuiliandong — Dazhai — Xiaozhai — Erzu An — Shaolin Temple
Ultimately, the routes around Shaoshi Mountain are mainly centered around Liantian Peak, Zixiao Peak, Dazhai, Yuhuang Grand Canyon, and Daxian Gorge, all of which are fairly challenging.