Two kinds of performance
People who talk about the Shaolin kung fu show usually mean one of two things. The first is the daytime demonstration at the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts Hall, which stands about 700 m east of the temple according to a Ctrip listing. The second is the evening production Zen Music Shaolin in Daixiangou, which has its own route and its own ticket.
Both are performances for visitors. They are not temple ceremonies, and according to the listing the performers are mostly students of martial arts schools, not all of them ordained monks. This is an independent guide. It has no link to the temple, the scenic area, any school or any venue, and prices are listed as published in 2026.
The daytime demonstration
Where it takes place, what it costs and when to turn up.
Where
The show is held in the Martial Arts Hall, not in every hall of the temple. Do not expect fighting in the temple courtyards. The hall is a separate stop on your way around the scenic area.
How to get there →What it costs
A visitor guide updated in June 2026 lists the daytime performance as part of the CNY 80 (about $11) Shaolin ticket, together with the temple, the pagoda forest, Sanhuangzhai, Chuzu and Erzu. A provincial page from 2020 also described it as free for ticket holders. Ask at the gate whether this still applies.
Tickets →When
The hall is listed as open from 10:00 to 16:30. Single shows have been listed as half-hour slots, for example at 10:30, 11:30, 14:00 and 15:00, but start times can change. Check the timetable at the hall on the day and plan the rest of your visit around it.
The pagoda forest →Our picks: kung fu shows
A ticket with the show and shuttle, an evening performance and a ticket with show-time information.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Zen Shaolin Music Ceremony evening performance
A 65-minute evening show in five parts with shared seating and an introduction on site. It is a show ticket only, not a temple ticket; an English guide is not included.
Check availability →
Shaolin Temple ticket with shuttle and kung fu show
Covers the temple, main monastery, Thousand Buddha Hall, Pagoda Forest and the kung fu show, plus the shuttle inside the area both ways. Bring your passport or ID.
Check availability →
Shaolin Temple ticket with Pagoda Forest
Shaolin entry including the Pagoda Forest, with direct entry and a digital note on show times. The cable car to Sanhuangzhai and the Dharma Cave costs extra, and booking needs your full name and passport number.
Check availability →Shaolin Temple tours and day trips
Guided day trips from Zhengzhou and Luoyang, some with the temple and the performances, with live prices and availability.
The evening show: Zen Music Shaolin
The evening production takes place in Daixiangou, and the city lists a separate route there. A report describes the 2026 version as resumed in March 2026 for an anniversary. That shows the show runs in season. It does not show that it runs every night until the end of the year. A second evening production under a different name is marketed separately, so check which one you are buying.
The tickets are sold separately from the temple ticket. The table shows the prices one reseller listed in 2026. They are not an operator price list, so expect other sellers to differ.
Evening show ticket examples
One reseller, 2026. The first price column is the listed discount, the second the regular listed price.
| Seating area | Listed price | Regular listed price |
|---|---|---|
| B area | CNY 239 (about $33) | CNY 269 (about $37) |
| A area | CNY 279 (about $39) | CNY 299 (about $42) |
| VIP | CNY 399 (about $55) | CNY 499 (about $69) |
The same reseller lists children under 1.3 m as free without their own seat. It describes its discounted tickets as non-changeable and non-refundable, and it says shows can be cancelled because of weather or technical problems. These are the terms of that one seller, not rules for every seller.
The page also gives two sets of times: 20:00–21:05 with entry from 19:30, and 20:15–21:20 with entry from 19:45. Go by the time printed on your own ticket and arrive early.
Watching with respect
Shaolin is a Buddhist monastery with a Chan tradition, and the show is a staged performance. The two are different things. Staff and sticks, balance acts and group forms are made to be seen from a seat, while the monastery itself is a place of practice. Read the history of the monastery to see how the two fit together, and be quiet and polite when you walk through the temple halls afterwards.
If you want to learn kung fu rather than watch it, the martial arts schools page explains what the published courses look like.
Plan the rest of your day
The show is one part of a Shaolin visit.
Shaolin Temple tickets
The CNY 80 base ticket, what it covers and what costs extra.
The Pagoda Forest
The burial ground of Buddhist monks west of the temple.
Zhengzhou to Shaolin
The direct bus, taxis and how to reach the car park P3.
Martial arts schools
Published course formats near Dengfeng and the visa rules.
Public holidays are busy. In 2026 the city reported more visitors and extra temporary shuttle and parking arrangements for the May holiday, so expect crowds around 1–5 May and similar periods. The best time page has the monthly climate figures.
Shaolin kung fu show: frequently asked questions
Is the Shaolin kung fu show free?
A guide from June 2026 lists the daytime performance as included in the CNY 80 (about $11) Shaolin ticket. The evening show is a separate ticket, with examples of CNY 239 to 399 (about $33 to $55) from one reseller in 2026.
Where is the daytime show held?
In the Shaolin Temple Martial Arts Hall, about 700 m east of the temple according to a listing. It is not held in each hall of the temple.
Are the performers monks?
Mostly students of martial arts schools, according to the listing for the hall. Do not assume that every performer is an ordained monk.
What time does the show start?
The hall is listed as open from 10:00 to 16:30, and half-hour slots have been listed, for example at 10:30, 11:30, 14:00 and 15:00. The evening show is listed with starts at 20:00 or 20:15. Check the timetable and your ticket.
Can I get a refund for the evening show?
That depends on the seller. One reseller calls its discounted tickets non-changeable and non-refundable. Read the terms of the seller you use.
Is shaolin-temple.org the official site of the temple?
No. It is an independent travel guide with no link to the temple, the scenic area, any school or any show.