Three ways to reach Shaolin
Most visitors start in Zhengzhou or Luoyang, and the temple lies in the Dengfeng area on Mount Song. There are three basic options: the public direct bus from Zhengzhou, a taxi or ride-hailing car, or a guided or private trip that handles transport for you. A bus ticket and a tour package are not the same thing, and a tour is not automatically cheaper or better.
This page does not name tour operators and gives no tour prices, because the price depends on the exact offer and date. It lists the published costs of the single parts, so that you can judge an offer. The temple ticket, the electric cart and the cable cars are priced on the tickets page.
Ways to get to Shaolin compared
Costs as published in 2025 and 2026. Confirm times and fares before you travel.
| Option | Starts from | Time and cost | Check before you go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct bus | Zhengzhou Central Bus Station | About 2 hours, CNY 30 (about $4) | Published departures 07:30, 08:00, 08:30 and 09:40; return trips from P3 at 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 and 17:30 |
| Airport bus to Dengfeng | Zhengzhou airport (CGO), terminal 2 | About 2 hours 20 minutes in total; CNY 55 (about $8) on one site, CNY 50 (about $7) estimated on another | Fares and departure times differ by site, and you still need to continue from Dengfeng to Shaolin |
| Bus from Dengfeng | Dengfeng West Bus Station | Check the current fare and line number | The route follows the G207 road |
| Taxi or ride-hailing | Anywhere | No fixed prices published | Use marked taxis with a meter and ask for a receipt; a return ride is not guaranteed |
| From Luoyang | Luoyang | Road via the G207 or the Zheng-Shao-Luo expressway | Check the current bus details before you rely on a route |
| Guided or private trip | Hotel or station, depending on the offer | Depends on the offer | See the checklist below |
The direct bus is sold through a WeChat account and a Didi mini program, according to the announcement of the route. The timetable dates from the June 2025 announcement, so confirm it before you travel. For the full route planning, see getting there.
Our picks: Shaolin tours
Day trips with pickup from Zhengzhou or Luoyang.
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 and Zhongyue Temple day trip with transfer
Private transfer, an English-speaking guide, the main entries and a one-way electric bus in the Shaolin area. Meals and tips are extra.
Check availability →
Day trip to Shaolin with a kung fu class
Hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, temple entry and one or two hours of kung fu, depending on the option. Lunch and tips are extra, and booking needs each traveller's passport details.
Check availability →
Private guided transfer to Shaolin from Zhengzhou
Private car, guide, water and hotel pickup in Zhengzhou. Temple entry and the electric bus depend on the option; the basic option leaves out entry, electric bus and lunch.
Check availability →Shaolin Temple tours from Zhengzhou and Luoyang
Day trips, private transfers, entry tickets and Shaolin and Longmen combinations, with live prices and availability.
What to check in a tour offer
The wording differs more than the prices do.
Is the temple ticket included?
Some offers include entry and some only the transport. The adult ticket is CNY 80 (about $11) on the city price list, so you can see what you would pay on your own.
Tickets and hours →Transport inside the scenic area
The electric cart costs CNY 15 (about $2) one way and is optional. Check whether the offer covers it. Do not assume it is part of the basic ticket.
Cable cars and Sanhuangzhai
The Shaolin cable car is listed at CNY 70 (about $10) one way and CNY 100 (about $14) return, and the mountain route has had closures. An offer that mentions Sanhuangzhai should say what is covered and what happens if it is closed.
Mount Song →The kung fu show
The daytime performance is in a hall about 700 m east of the temple. The evening show is a separate ticket. Check which one an offer means, and whether it guarantees a time.
Kung fu show →Pickup, language and names
Check the pickup place and time, the guide's language and the cancellation terms. Tickets are tied to real names, so booking names must match your passport, and you should carry the original passport, not a copy.
Shaolin and Longmen in one trip
Tour operators combine Shaolin with the Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang. They give the distance as about 55 km and 1.5 hours or about 60 km and 90 minutes. The two figures may refer to different end points, and neither is a timetable.
Longmen has its own day ticket at CNY 90 (about $12) with half price at CNY 45 (about $6). The ticket covers the West Hill and East Hill grottoes, the Xiangshan Temple and the Baiyuan Garden. The grottoes are open from 08:00 to 18:00 from 1 March to 31 October and from 08:00 to 17:00 from 1 November to the end of February. A combined day is long, so for a relaxed visit treat Longmen as its own day. More on the Longmen Grottoes page.
Plan the rest of your trip
Where the transport fits.
Shaolin tours: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guided tour to visit the Shaolin Temple?
No. The temple has a public direct bus from Zhengzhou and a ticket sold by the city. A tour handles transport and often a guide, which can help if you do not speak Chinese. Check what the offer covers before you pay.
Is there a train to the Shaolin Temple?
No through train to the temple is listed. Plan on a bus, a taxi or a tour for the last part, and see the rail connections on the getting there page.
How much does a Shaolin tour cost?
That depends on the offer, the date, the group and what is included. The published cost of the parts is CNY 30 (about $4) for the direct bus and CNY 80 (about $11) for the temple ticket, but a tour price covers more than that.
Can I take a direct bus from Zhengzhou East station?
Sources disagree. One guide says there is no direct bus from Zhengzhou East, while an official city source refers to direct links through several hubs. The Central Bus Station route is the one that was announced, so confirm any other route first.
Can I add the Longmen Grottoes to a Shaolin tour?
Many operators combine them, but it makes a long day. Longmen lies near Luoyang, not at Shaolin. See the Longmen Grottoes page.