What the Pagoda Forest is
The Pagoda Forest, Talin in Chinese, is a burial ground for Buddhist monks west of the Shaolin Temple. The word pagoda can mislead if you expect towers with viewing platforms. These are memorial structures for the dead, standing close together among trees, and you walk between them rather than up them.
A provincial tourism page from 2020 gives the area as more than 14,000 square meters. That figure is old and is not a current survey. This is an independent guide with no link to the temple, the scenic area or any operator, and prices are listed as published in 2026.
What you see
Stone pagodas in different sizes, in the open air.
Rows of small stone pagodas
Some parts of the site show rows of small stone pagodas set close together. They look best from the paths between them, at eye level.
Old pagodas among trees
Older pagodas stand between trees on the slope. The setting is quiet compared with the temple courtyards.
A hillside setting
The pagodas stand against wooded slopes, and in autumn the hills around the site show warm colors. The best time page has the monthly climate figures for the region.
The site is a cemetery. Walk slowly, keep your voice down and do not climb on or lean against the structures.
Our picks: tickets with the Pagoda Forest
Two tickets that name the Pagoda Forest as included.
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.
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 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 tours and day trips
Guided trips from Zhengzhou and Luoyang that include the temple area and the Pagoda Forest, with live prices and availability.
World Heritage context
UNESCO lists the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in The Centre of Heaven and Earth, inscribed in 2010 under criteria (iii) and (vi). It is a serial site with eight component groups. The Pagoda Forest, the core temple complex and Chuzu Temple make up the Shaolin group.
That is a statement about this group of buildings, not about the whole town or the mountain landscape. Other groups, such as the Songyang Academy and the Zhongyue Temple, are separate stops and are covered on the Dengfeng page. The mountain setting is explained on the Mount Song page.
Repair work
A contract for the first phase of repair and protection works at the Pagoda Forest was published on 5 December 2025. The announcement does not mean the site is closed, and it does not say when the works end or how visitors are routed. Check at the gate whether any area is fenced off on your day.
Fitting it into a Shaolin day
The Pagoda Forest is one stop among several.
Tickets
The city lists the Shaolin ticket at CNY 80 (about $11) per adult. A June 2026 guide says it covers the temple, the Pagoda Forest, the daytime performance, Sanhuangzhai, Chuzu and Erzu. Discounts listed by one booking site apply only to Chinese citizens, so do not count on a foreigner discount.
Ticket details →Opening hours
Published hours differ. One listing gives 08:00–17:00 with last entry at 16:30. A June 2026 guide gives 06:30–18:00 from March to September and 07:00–17:30 from October to February. Check the posted hours at the gate.
Getting there →Next to it
The daytime performance takes place in the Martial Arts Hall east of the temple, in the opposite direction from the Pagoda Forest. The kung fu show page lists what to check about times.
Kung fu show →The Damo Cave
The Damo Cave lies at the Wuru peak. Tradition links it with the meditation of Bodhidharma, who is said to have sat for nine years in the cave. Treat this as religious tradition, not as a documented biography. The city lists the cave as a station on its routes, so ask on site about the current walking time and path condition before you set out.
For the story behind the name, see the history page, which keeps legend and documented events apart.
More to see
Pages that fit with the Pagoda Forest.
Shaolin Pagoda Forest: frequently asked questions
What is the Shaolin Pagoda Forest?
It is a burial ground for Buddhist monks west of the temple, called Talin in Chinese. The pagodas are memorials, not towers to climb.
Is the Pagoda Forest included in the ticket?
According to a June 2026 guide, the CNY 80 (about $11) ticket covers the temple and the Pagoda Forest, among other sites. Confirm at the gate.
Is the Pagoda Forest part of the World Heritage site?
Yes. It belongs to the Shaolin group of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng, together with the core temple complex and Chuzu Temple. Inscription was in 2010.
Is the Pagoda Forest being repaired?
A contract for the first phase of repair and protection works was published on 5 December 2025. It does not say that the site is closed. Check the situation on site.
Where is the Damo Cave?
At the Wuru peak. The city lists it as a station on its routes. Ask on site about the current path before you go.