Shaolin Temple
The birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu, located in the mountains near the Yellow River valley.
History & Background
Shaolin Temple, founded in 495 AD, is the birthplace of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu. Located in the Songshan Mountains near the Yellow River valley, the temple trained warrior monks who protected the Tang emperor. Today it remains an active monastery and the global center of Shaolin martial arts, with thousands of students training daily.
What to See & Do
- Main Buddha Hall with Ming dynasty statues
- Pagoda Forest with tombs of abbots
- Kung Fu performances by student monks
- Martial arts training halls
- Songshan Mountain hiking trails nearby
Visitor Tips
- Watch the scheduled Kung Fu performances
- Visit the Pagoda Forest for historical tombs
- Photography allowed outside but not inside halls
- Combine with a visit to Songshan Mountain
- Allow 2-3 hours for the temple
Visit Shaolin Temple with QTour
Our private tours include this attraction with an expert guide, private vehicle, and flexible itinerary.
QTour builds private itineraries around Shaolin Temple with a dedicated English-speaking guide and a private air-conditioned vehicle. Your guide arranges entrance tickets, skips the queues where possible and explains the history in your language — no fixed group schedule and no shopping stops. Every booking follows our one-booking-one-team policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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