Editing Shaolin Monastery (section)

===Access to the site===
The Shaolin Temple Scenic Spot is located approximately in the middle of [[Mount Song]], an E–W trending massif on the right bank of the [[Yellow River]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Song Shan Travel Guide | publisher=Travel Dojo | url=https://www.traveldojo.com/song-shan/ | access-date=30 December 2022 | archive-date=31 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231012626/https://www.traveldojo.com/song-shan/ | url-status=live }}</ref> The massif is terminated by [[Luoyang]] on the west side and [[Zhengzhou]] on the east. The straight-line distance from Luoyang to Shaolin is about {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=on}}; from Zhengzhou, about {{convert|73|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>Google Maps on this article's coordinates, "Measure distance" tool.</ref> Either city is a popular starting point for a bus or automobile tour to the site.<ref>{{cite web | title=How to Visit Shaolin Temple (Tips, Photos & Map) | publisher=China Travel Tips – Tour-Beijing.com | url=https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/henan-travel/luoayng-travel/luoyang-travel-tips/how-to-visit-shaolin-temple | access-date=30 December 2022 | archive-date=31 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231021056/https://www.tour-beijing.com/blog/henan-travel/luoayng-travel/luoyang-travel-tips/how-to-visit-shaolin-temple | url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn-lr|As of early 2023, those two types of vehicle as well as bicycles and motorcycles, are the only ways to get to the Scenic Spot. High-speed trains cover most of the distance, but a vehicle ride is required to get from the stations to North Gate. For a detailed list of the resources as well as pictures of the stations, see {{cite web | title=How to Get to & around Dengfeng Shaolin Temple 2023 | publisher=China Discovery | url=https://www.chinadiscovery.com/dengfeng-tours/transportation.html}}}}

[[Mount Song]] is divided by an extensive valley on its south-central side, where much of [[Dengfeng]] is located. The mountains around the valley, forming an upside-down U, have been defined as the Songshan Scenic Area.<ref>{{cite journal | first=Xiaohui | last=He | display-authors=etal | title=Evaluation of ecological environment of Songshan scenic area based on GF-1 data | journal=Materials Science and Engineering | number=392 | year=2018 | volume=392 | page=2| doi=10.1088/1757-899X/392/4/042029 | bibcode=2018MS&E..392d2029H | s2cid=134971664 | doi-access=free }} Figure 1.</ref> The pass over the U is located directly north of the valley. On the western side is the Shaolin Scenic Spot, accessed by [[China National Highway 207]] (G207), which winds over the pass from the direction of Luoyang and runs past the scenic spot, before descending into the valley and joining other roads leading to Zhengzou. The north entrance of the scenic spot adjoins G207.<ref>{{cite web | title=Shaolin Temple, Dengfeng Maps 2023: Updated, Detailed | publisher=China Discovery | url=https://www.chinadiscovery.com/dengfeng-tours/maps.html | access-date=31 December 2022 | archive-date=31 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221231035400/https://www.chinadiscovery.com/dengfeng-tours/maps.html | url-status=live }} Map: Shaolin Temple Tourist Map.</ref>

[[File:少林寺景区停车场 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|left|The major public parking lot, just south of the bus stop]]

The North Gate is an entirely new complex built to facilitate the arrival and departure of visitors along the main point of entry, Highway G207. The local highway representing G207 in this case is East Ring Road, Dengfeng.<ref>Bing road map under the coordinates of Dengfeng.</ref> The Shaolin bus stop is at the minimum of the southward-curving highway,<ref name=printable>{{harvnb|Khabarosk|loc=Printable version of the map of the area around the Shaolin Temple}}</ref> at {{coord|34.51641|112.94883| format=dms|display=inline}}.