Shaolin Temple (少林寺) stands at the foot of Mount Song in Dengfeng, Henan, and most visitors come from Luoyang or Zhengzhou. Founded in the Northern Wei dynasty more than 1,500 years ago, it is known as the home of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China and of Shaolin kung fu. One RMB 80 ticket covers the temple, the Pagoda Forest and the kung fu show at the martial arts hall. The scenic area is open 08:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30. The temple’s core compound is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for Dengfeng, inscribed in 2010.
What is Shaolin Temple?
UNESCO calls Mount Song the central sacred mountain of China, and its listing covers eight clusters of buildings around Dengfeng, among them the core compound of Shaolin Temple. Tradition holds that the Indian monk Bodhidharma came here in the 6th century and taught the meditation practice that became Chan. The temple’s martial fame dates from the early Tang dynasty, when its monks are said to have come to the aid of the future emperor Li Shimin. What you visit today is a working monastery inside a national 5A scenic area, with the monks’ graveyard, the Pagoda Forest, a short walk to the west.
What changed in 2025
In July 2025 Shi Yongxin, abbot since 1999, was placed under investigation, and on 29 July Shi Yinle, abbot of the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, was named in his place. For visitors little has changed. The scenic area stayed open and the RMB 80 ticket is still listed. The operator announced on 27 July 2025 that all tickets would move to online booking from 31 July, then withdrew the notice the next day and said its existing ticket channels were unchanged.
What to see
| Sight | What it is | Time and ticket |
|---|---|---|
| The temple | The main monastery, laid out on one central axis from the mountain gate | About an hour; on the RMB 80 ticket |
| Pagoda Forest | The burial ground of the temple’s abbots and eminent monks, about 400 m west of the temple; Henan’s government calls it the largest group of pagodas in China by size and number | On the RMB 80 ticket |
| Kung fu show | A 30-minute performance at the Shaolin martial arts hall, about 700 m east of the temple | Included; the day’s show times are posted on site |
| Chuzu Temple and Dharma Cave | A Song-dynasty hall built to honour Bodhidharma, and the cave where he is said to have sat facing the wall for nine years | On foot from the temple |
| Sanhuangzhai | The mountain section, with a walkway built along the cliff. The cable car starts about 5 minutes’ walk from the Pagoda Forest, and the entrance is about 30 minutes’ walk from the top station | Allow 3–4 hours; ticket with return cable car RMB 180 |
Tickets and opening hours
- Full ticket: RMB 80, the price in the operator’s ticketing information reported in July 2025 and still listed on Qunar in October 2026.
- Kung fu show: included. Henan’s government page says martial arts performances are free for visitors with tickets.
- Combined tickets reported in July 2025: with the return cable car RMB 180; with zone A of the Kung Fu World Show RMB 238. The evening Zen Music Shaolin Grand Ceremony is a separate show.
- Hours: 08:00–17:00, last entry 16:30, on the Ctrip listing in October 2026.
- Foreign visitors: the listed free and half-price concessions apply to Chinese citizens only, so plan on the full price. Bring your passport; the withdrawn 2025 notice would have sent foreign visitors to a service window for a document check.
- Official channels named by the operator: the 嵩山旅游 WeChat account and the 漫游嵩山 mini-program. Ticket office: 0371-62745000.
How long, and where to stay
- Half a day: the temple, the Pagoda Forest, Chuzu Temple and the kung fu show. This is what most visitors from Luoyang or Zhengzhou do.
- A full day: add the cable car and Sanhuangzhai in the afternoon.
- Check the show times when you arrive and plan the temple around them.
- Staying over: the inns beside the scenic area are basic. Dengfeng city is the better base and is convenient for Songyang Academy and the other Mount Song sites.
Shaolin Temple questions
Where is Shaolin Temple?
At the foot of Mount Song in Dengfeng, a county-level city under Zhengzhou in Henan Province, central China.
How much is the Shaolin Temple ticket?
RMB 80 for the full ticket, which covers the temple, the Pagoda Forest and the kung fu show. With the return cable car to Sanhuangzhai it is RMB 180.
Is the kung fu show included, and when is it?
Yes, it is included. Shows last 30 minutes at the martial arts hall about 700 m east of the temple, and the day’s times are posted on site.
Can foreigners visit Shaolin Temple?
Yes. Bring your passport and plan on the full RMB 80 price, because the listed concessions apply to Chinese citizens only.
Is Shaolin Temple open after the 2025 change of abbot?
Yes. Shi Yinle became abbot on 29 July 2025, and the scenic area stayed open. In October 2026 it is listed as open 08:00–17:00.
How long do I need at Shaolin Temple?
Half a day for the temple, the Pagoda Forest and the show. A full day if you add the cable car and Sanhuangzhai.
Sources(8)
- Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth” (inscribed 2010)UNESCO World Heritage Centre
- Songshan Mountain and Shaolin Temple, Dengfeng: founding, Pagoda Forest, ticket and free performancesPeople’s Government of Henan Province, from China Daily
- Shaolin Temple names new abbot (30 July 2025)People’s Government of Henan Province, from China Daily
- Shaolin scenic area withdraws its online-only booking notice; ticket prices (28 July 2025)Jiemian News
- Songshan Shaolin scenic area listing: hours, show, routes and concessionsTrip.com Group (Ctrip)
- Shaolin scenic area ticket prices listed in October 2026Qunar
- Hero photo: Shaolin Temple (10200955683), Gary Todd (CC0), cropped and resized by HomegroundWikimedia Commons
- Pagoda Forest photo: 少林寺塔林 - panoramio (1), 江上清风1961 (CC BY 3.0), resized by HomegroundWikimedia Commons
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