Songshan Mountain 
Songshan, 50km/31mi southeast of Luoyang and 15km/9mi northwest of the district capital Dengfeng, is one of the five sacred Buddhist mountains in China that, as a state religion, was venerated on the order of the emperor by offering up gifts to heaven. The others are Taishan (Prov. Shandong), Heengshan (Prov. Hunan), Hengshan (Prov. Shanxi) and Huashan (Prov. Shaanxi). Many old architectural monuments stand on the slopes and in the vicinity of the 1440m/4725ft high Songshan, which is also often familiarly called Centre Mountain.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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Related Attractions
Dengfeng Observatory
Dengfeng Observatory, which is situated 14km/8.5mi from Dengfeng at the southeastern foot of Songshan, was built in 1276 and is the oldest observatory in China. The stone and tile building is 13m/43ft high and is equipped with a 31m/102ft long stone sundial.
This is where the famous astronomer and mathematician Guo Shoujing worked. In 1199, after many long observations and exact calculations, he was able to prove how long the earth takes to orbit the sun and was in fact only out by a mere 26 seconds.
This is where the famous astronomer and mathematician Guo Shoujing worked. In 1199, after many long observations and exact calculations, he was able to prove how long the earth takes to orbit the sun and was in fact only out by a mere 26 seconds.
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Songyang Academy
Songyang Academy, situated at the foot of the Junyi Peak, the highest point on Songshan, was formed in the 11th C out of the Songyang Temple of 484 and counts as one of the four most important places of education in old China. The two cypresses in the courtyard are supposed to be the oldest in the whole of China.
