Mount Song

Mount Song is a significant mountain range in north central China. It is located in Henan Province along the southern bank of the Yellow River.

This range holds deep importance in Chinese literary and folk traditions. It is recognized as the central mountain of the Five Great Mountains of China. Since the late Zhou period, it has held this prestigious title. Ancient astronomical mythology even described Mount Song as the center of Heaven and Earth. Successive dynasties of the Chinese Empire respected this sacred status.

The range functions as a major climate barrier for the region. It sits on the Qin-Huai Line, which is a significant geographical divide. This line separates the northern and southern climates of China. To the north of the mountains, the climate is temperate and dry. To the south, the weather is subtropical and wet. These two regions are often called North China and South China. Mount Song specifically experiences the North China climate.

Geologically, the area was shaped by three massive events called orogenies. An orogeny is a process that forms mountains through crustal changes. The Songyang orogeny occurred 2.5 billion years ago. The Zhongyue orogeny followed 1.85 billion years ago. Finally, the Shaolin orogeny took place 570 million years ago. Because of these layers, the Songshan Geopark is called a textbook of geological history.

The mountains are physically divided into two distinct sections. A central area called the Shaoyang Valley separates them. The western section is known as Shaoshi Mountain. The eastern section is known as Taishi Mountain.

Shaoshi Mountain consists of parallel ridges that face south. The Taishi part extends toward the outskirts of Zhengzhou. While the mountains are steep and forested, the valley is well populated. The Shaolin Monastery is located on the south side of this valley.

There is great variety in the number of peaks within the range. Some records from PeakVisor list 44 peaks for the Denfeng area. Other reports claim the range contains 72 peaks. This number comes from the cosmology of Chan Buddhists. In their ancient myths, Shaoshi and Taishi each have 36 peaks. These sets represent Yin and Yang forces. They are said to cancel each other out at the monastery.

Specific peaks within the range reach impressive heights. The highest peak is Lian Tian Feng, which reaches 1,512 meters. It is also the most prominent peak in the range. Another important peak is Songshan, which stands at 1,487 meters.

This peak is the fourth highest but second in prominence. Other notable peaks include Qiong Bi Feng and Bai Dao Feng. These heights contribute to the dramatic landscape of the region.

The history of the area includes significant cultural shifts. During the Republic era, the Nationalist Party had complex views on heritage. They sometimes rejected old traditions as backward. However, they also used archaeological sites to strengthen national identity. This duality meant some buildings were destroyed while others were protected. For example, the Shaolin Temple was burned by a warlord in 1928. Later, the area became a focus for geotourism and geosports. Today, the mountains serve as a major vacation spot for many people.