Shaolin Temple: History, Sites and Visit Planning
Visit Shaolin Temple: its history, the Pagoda Forest, Chuzu Temple, martial-arts shows and what the UNESCO Dengfeng property includes.
Contents
Shaolin Temple stands at the foot of Mount Song near Dengfeng in Henan. It was first built in 495 and is the cradle of the Chan sect of Chinese Buddhism and a birthplace of Chinese kung fu.[1] Plan on the main temple, the Pagoda Forest, Chuzu Temple and, if one is on that day, a martial-arts demonstration.
Part of a World Heritage property
Eight clusters of buildings and sites stand at the foot of Mount Songshan, spread over a 40-square-kilometre circle near Dengfeng.[2] They form the UNESCO property Historic Monuments of Dengfeng, listed in 2010. The Shaolin Temple compound counts as one of them and includes the resident compounds, the Pagoda Forest and Chuzu Temple. The other monuments, such as the Zhougong Sundial Platform and Songyue Temple Pagoda, lie elsewhere in the area.[1]
Things to Do
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Choose the parts that match your interests
- Main temple: the heart of the visit. Come for Shaolin’s religious and architectural history and its link to Chan Buddhism and kung fu.
- Pagoda Forest: Buddhist tomb pagodas west of the temple, covering more than 14,000 square metres. It is the largest pagoda group in China by size and number.[3]
- Chuzu Temple: part of the Shaolin compound and a quieter stop for anyone interested in the Chan tradition.[1]
Martial-arts demonstrations
Martial-arts performances are a fixture at Shaolin, and in 2020 they were free for visitors holding a ticket.[3] Ask at the ticket office for the day’s show times and the venue when you arrive, and build the rest of the day around them.
Hours and tickets
In 2020 the temple opened from 07:00 to 18:00 and the ticket cost 80 yuan. Children aged 6 or under, or below 1.2 metres, got in free, and minors aged 6 to 18, people aged 60 to 69 and full-time university students paid half price. The scenic area is rated AAAAA, and late March to early November is the best season to visit. Prices and hours can change, so check the current figures at the ticket office or on the booking page before you go. Follow Buddhist etiquette inside the temple.[3]
For onward planning, see our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] State Council Information Office of China, China Keywords: Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Center of Heaven and Earth”. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [2] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth”. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
- [3] The People’s Government of Henan Province, page credits govt.chinadaily.com.cn: Songshan Mountain and Shaolin Temple, Dengfeng, dated visitor listing. Retrieved October 21, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The UNESCO property Historic Monuments of Dengfeng comprises eight clusters of buildings and sites across a 40-square-kilometre area near Mount Songshan. The Shaolin Temple compound, with the resident compounds, Pagoda Forest and Chuzu Temple, is one of them.
It was first built in 495, is the cradle of the Chan sect of Chinese Buddhism and a birthplace of Chinese kung fu.
Start with the main temple. The Pagoda Forest west of it and Chuzu Temple are part of the same compound and worth adding if you are interested in Shaolin’s history.
Buddhist tomb pagodas west of Shaolin Temple on more than 14,000 square metres, the largest pagoda group in China by size and number.
Martial-arts performances are part of a visit to Shaolin, and in 2020 they were free for ticket-holders. Ask for the show times when you arrive.
In 2020 the temple opened from 07:00 to 18:00 and the ticket cost 80 yuan, with free entry for young children and half price for minors, people aged 60 to 69 and students. Check the current figures at the ticket office before you go.
Late March to early November is the ideal sightseeing season.
