Martial arts schools around Shaolin
Most Shaolin kung fu training happens at private martial arts schools in and around Dengfeng. They are separate organizations from the temple and from the scenic area you pay to enter. Nothing on this page says that a school is run or approved by the temple.
This guide is independent. It does not recommend, rank or rate any school. It gives the published numbers, one example of a course listing with its prices, and a list of questions that help you compare offers yourself.
What to know about the numbers
The official count is useful, but it is not today's list.
The count is from 2024
The 20 schools, 76,000 students and 5,200 staff come from a city reply dated 28 June 2024. It is not a count of every school and short-stay camp operating in 2026, so expect more or fewer providers today.
Students you see on stage
A travel listing for the Martial Arts Hall, about 700 m (0.4 mi) east of the temple, describes the daytime performers as mostly students of martial arts schools. They are not all ordained monks. The show is a performance for visitors. See the kung fu show guide for the venue.
Names with "Shaolin" in them
Many schools use the temple's name. That describes how a school presents itself. It is not proof of a link to the temple, so read what a school claims in writing and treat it as the school's own statement.
Our picks: a kung fu day programme
A one-day kung fu and Zen programme with admission, as a short first taste before you look at schools.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. 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.
Shaolin Temple tours and day trips
Guided trips to the temple, the Pagoda Forest and Mount Song, with live prices and availability.
One published course format
A single provider's own listing, as published in October 2026. It shows what one offer includes, not a market price range.
| Stay | Shared double room | Single room |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 month, per day | $70 | $75 |
| 1 month | $1,270 | $1,320 |
The provider is the Mount Song Shaolin Temple Wushu Training Center in Dengfeng. It describes short courses without fixed start dates, for stays of days, weeks or months, with a choice of styles such as Shaolin, Tai Chi or Sanda. The listed price includes training, use of equipment, Wi-Fi and three meals a day. Mandarin lessons are optional. Pickup from Zhengzhou airport or station is extra at $65.
The same page says in its text that rooms are private, while its price columns list shared double rooms. Ask which room you get, and get the answer in writing. The provider's description of itself is not an independent check, and this page does not endorse it.
Visas and training
The visa-free rule has a clear limit.
The Chinese embassy in Germany explained in November 2025 that visa-free entry covers short study trips and summer or winter camps of up to 30 days. It does not cover "study" in the formal sense, work or journalism. For German passport holders the visa-free rule allows stays of up to 30 days and runs until 31 December 2026. Other nationalities have their own rules.
A kung fu course does not automatically qualify for a longer stay. If you plan to stay beyond the visa-free period, get a visa that fits your purpose before you travel, and ask the school what documents it can provide. The general rules are on the China travel tips page.
Questions to ask a school before you commit
Answers differ from school to school, so ask each one.
Daily schedule
Training hours are not uniform across schools. Ask for a written daily timetable, rest days and the number of students per instructor.
Age and health
Ask about minimum age, health requirements and what happens after an injury. Ask what the insurance covers and whether you need your own.
Language
Ask whether instruction is in English or another language you speak, and who translates during training.
What the price includes
Check lodging type, meals, laundry, equipment, transfers and any extra fee. Compare per-day and per-month prices.
Refunds and visas
Ask about the refund rules if you leave early and what visa advice the school gives. A school cannot guarantee a visa.
Claims about the temple
If a school says it is linked to the temple, ask what exactly that means. Do not assume a course includes monastic life or ordination.
Plan the rest of your trip
Related guides.
Kung fu show
Where the daytime performance takes place and how to check times.
Zhengzhou to Shaolin
Direct bus, airport bus and taxi from Zhengzhou.
Where to stay
Dengfeng as a base, and how school lodging differs from a hotel.
Shaolin history
The temple, Chan Buddhism and the legends around kung fu.
Martial arts schools: frequently asked questions
How many martial arts schools are there near Shaolin?
A Dengfeng authority reply from June 2024 named 20 martial arts schools, with more than 76,000 students. It is not a count of all schools and camps in 2026.
Are these schools part of the Shaolin Temple?
They are separate organizations. A school may use the temple's name, but that is not proof of an official link. Ask the school to explain any claim in writing.
How much does a short course cost?
One provider lists $70 per day in a shared double room and $75 in a single room for stays under a month, and $1,270 or $1,320 for a month. Other schools price differently, so compare what is included.
Can I train on the visa-free entry?
The embassy explanation allows short study trips and camps of up to 30 days under the visa-free rule. Formal study, work and longer stays need a matching visa. Check your own nationality's rules first.
Can I become a monk through a course?
Do not assume it. Ask the school what its course includes, and treat any promise about ordination or monastic life with caution.