Shaolin Temple is the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu. It is located at the Songshan Mountain Range, Dengfeng City, Henan Province in central China. According to historical documents, it was built for an Indian monk named Batuo, who came to China to spread Buddhism, over 1,500 years ago in 496 AD.
The Shao in Shaolin refers to Mt. Shaoshi, a mountain in the Songshan Mountain Range, while the lin means forest. Altogether, Shaolin Temple literally means temple in the woods of Mt. Shaoshi.
For most westerners, Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Shaolin Kung Fu, which they know from Kung Fu movies. Well, it is, but it is also famous for Zen Buddhism. Shaolin Temple was established as the center of Zen Buddhism.
Visits to the Shaolin Temple can be roughly divided into three parts – Kung Fu Show, Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest. About 10 minutes' walk after entering the Gate, you will come to the performance hall where you can have a taste of the charm of Shaolin Kung Fu. The Kung Fu show given by the performance team is brilliant, with demonstration of many classical Kung Fu skills.
After the show, you can take electric cars or walk 20 minutes to the Shaolin Temple. The temple is situated upon the mountainside, and you will climb your way up through the multiple halls to the top. On the way, you will see ancient buildings of great artistic value made during different dynasties.
Another few minutes' walk down the Shaolin Temple, there is the Pagoda Forest where there are nearly 250 stone and brick pagodas. Abbots of the Shaolin Temple were buried here since the Tang Dynasty (618 ～ 907 AD). The pagodas are in various sizes and shapes, with carvings and inscriptions. It is of great value in the study of Buddhism scriptures, buildings and Zen Buddhism. It is also very pleasant to wander through this quite wooded place.
To sum up, as the cradle of Shaolin Kung Fu, the Shaolin Temple is worth a visit for the authentic experience and better understanding of Shaolin Kung Fu and Zen Buddhism.
Opening hours
08：00 – 17：00, daily, all year round
How to get there
Take buses for Dengfeng at the city couch bus station opposite Zhengzhou Railway station, and then take a bus in Dengfeng city for the Shaolin temple, Zhongyue Temple, the observatory and other scenery spots. It takes about 3 hours from Dengfeng to Shaolin Temple. The coach buses from Luoyang to Dengfeng will pass the Shaolin road junction, which is only 2km from Shaolin Temple.
Tips
- Half day is minimum for the visit. If you like, you can also spend one day there, and have plenty of time to wander around the temple complex.
- In the complex there is a vegetarian restaurant run by the temple, which might be your best option for lunch.
Shaolin Kungfu
Shaolin Kung Fu is well known at home and abroad. The original purpose of Shaolin Kung Fu was to keep healthy, treat illnesses, for self-defense and to safeguard ancient temples. It boasts diversified patterns, plain forms, and emphasizes inner peace and external strength. It essence is to be able to store strength and allow it let it to be released in multiplications if the conserved energy.
Shaolin Kung Fu is comprised of shadowboxing, armed combat, free combat, hitting vital points, and grappling. Shaolin Kung fu became popular in Sui and Tang Dynasties, and soon grew stronger by absorbing the techniques from many schools. It became the largest school of martial arts in China with branches all over the country.
