Dengfeng is the practical base for Shaolin Monastery, connected by buses from Zhengzhou (90 minutes) and Luoyang (1 hour). From Dengfeng, minibuses and taxis cover the 13 kilometres to the scenic area entrance. The nearest high-speed rail stations are at Zhengzhou and Luoyang; neither city has a direct rail link to Dengfeng, so arriving by high-speed train means a connecting bus. From Luoyang, tour buses run directly to Shaolin in peak season. The entry fee covers the whole scenic area including monastery, Pagoda Forest, and cable car base; the cable car to Mount Song's upper slopes costs extra.