Shaolin Temple: tickets, hours and how to visit
The birthplace of Chan Buddhism and kung fu. Halls, then the Pagoda Forest of 240 stone pagodas.
Shaolin Temple at a glance
The birthplace of Chan Buddhism and kung fu. Halls, then the Pagoda Forest of 240 stone pagodas. Plan on 4 hours for the temple and pagoda forest here, plus half an hour either side for entry, security and parking.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tickets | CNY 80 covering the temple, Pagoda Forest and First Founder's Hall. Kung fu shows included. Cable car to Sanhuangzhai CNY 100 extra. |
| Opening hours | 08:00–17:00 (peak to 17:30). Kung fu shows at 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00. |
| Time needed | 4 hours for the temple and Pagoda Forest; a full day with Sanhuangzhai. |
| City | Dengfeng, China |
What to see
Three things carry this sight. If you are short on time, do them in this order.
- The Pagoda Forest240 brick and stone pagodas, 300 m west of the temple, the most photographed thing here
- The kung fu show30 minutes, real students, go to the 10:30 rather than the 11:30 which is packed
- Sanhuangzhaithe mountain behind by cable car, where the actual scenery is
Tickets and booking
How the ticket works, and what foreigners usually get wrong.
Before you buy
- Price. CNY 80 covering the temple, Pagoda Forest and First Founder's Hall. Kung fu shows included. Cable car to Sanhuangzhai CNY 100 extra.
- Booking. Everyone watches the show first and then walks to the temple, which means they hit the Pagoda Forest at midday with the tour groups. Do it in reverse: Pagoda Forest at 08:00 when it opens and is empty, temple after, show at 10:30.
- Payment. Most Chinese sights take WeChat Pay or Alipay only. Cash works at staffed windows but not at self-service machines; a licensed guide can pay on your behalf and settle with you at the end of the day.
Getting there and when to go
90 minutes south-west of Zhengzhou, 40 minutes from Dengfeng city. The high-speed station is Luoyang Longmen or Zhengzhou East, both about 90 minutes by car.
08:00–17:00 (peak to 17:30). Kung fu shows at 09:30, 10:30, 11:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00.. The first hour after opening is the quietest — tour groups arrive around 09:30. Late afternoon gives better light but the main viewpoints start clearing people out, so shoot early if that is your priority.
Public transport reaches Shaolin Temple, but connections and waiting times add up. With luggage, older travellers, or two sights in one day, a car and driver removes the guesswork.
The one thing that goes wrong
Dengfeng local note
- Everyone watches the show first and then walks to the temple, which means they hit the Pagoda Forest at midday with the tour groups. Do it in reverse: Pagoda Forest at 08:00 when it opens and is empty, temple after, show at 10:30.
Pairing Shaolin Temple with
These are usually on the same day or the same trip.
Shaolin Temple: questions travellers ask
Temple or mountain first?
Is the kung fu show worth it?
Can I stay overnight?
How booking works — three steps, itinerary before price
No deposit to get a plan, and nothing is locked in before you agree.
Send the brief
Dates, party size, how you arrive and what you want to see around Shaolin Temple.
Get a route and a price
We order the stops by location and traffic, then quote per car per day with fuel, tolls and the driver included.
Confirm and travel
Only after you accept the route and the price do we assign the car and guide.
