The center of heaven and earth

The UNESCO's World Heritage Committee decided on August 1, at its 34th meeting in Brasilia, to add the historic monuments of Dengfeng in central China's Henan province to the World Cultural Heritage List.

The historic monuments of Dengfeng in "The Center of Heaven and Earth," which include the ancient architectural complex at Mount Songshan and the site of the Xia-dynasty capital, are situated in and around Mount Songshan in Henan.

Mount Songshang is considered to be the central sacred mountain of China. At the foot of this 1500 metre high mountain, close to the city of Dengfeng in Henan province and spread over a 40 square-kilometre circle, stand eight clusters of buildings and sites, including three Han Que gates , remains of the oldest religious edifices in China—Zhong yue temples, the Zhougong Sundial Platform and the Dengfeng Observatory. Constructed over the course of nine dynasties, these buildings are reflections of different ways of perceiving the centre of heaven and earth and the power of the mountain as a centre for religious devotion. Other sites registered include the Songyang Academy (484 AD), the 1,500-year-old Pagoda of Songyue Temple as well as the country's oldest existing ritual structures; three pairs of towers (Taishi, Shaoshi, and Qimu) built during the Han Dynasty (206 BC- 220 AD).

The historical monuments of Dengfeng include some of the best examples of ancient Chinese buildings devoted to ritual, science, technology and education.

Dengfeng was considered the center of ancient China, and therefore it served as the capital and cultural center of many dynasties. Disciples of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism based here to advance their religious cultures. Because of this historical background and architectural significance of Dengfeng, it is called 'the center of Heaven and Earth.”

Zhongyue Temple

The Zhongyue Temple, listed by the State Council as a key national temple of Taoism, is located on Songshan Mountains in Dengfeng County, Henan Province. Songshan Mountains is a famous beautiful scenic spot. Many religious sites have been constructed here since ancient times. The famous Shaolin Temple is located here. In addition, there are many Taoist buildings, among which the Zhongyue Temple is extremely well preserved.

The Zhongyue Temple is situated at the foot of Huanggai Peak, which is at the southern side of Taishi Mountain of Songshan Mountains. It was first established in the 3rd century BC. After Empress Wu Zetian came here for worship in 688, the Zhongyue Temple began to flourish. The temple had been repaired many times and had 900 rooms of various buildings by 1013, but subsequently declined to a certain extent.