Here's the answer up front, because most articles bury it: full-time training at a real Shaolin school in China costs $1,150 to $1,860 per month, all-inclusive: that's accommodation, three meals a day, and all your training. Long-term commitments bring it down as low as $670/month. Below is the complete breakdown: every school's actual prices, every extra cost people forget, and two real all-in examples. All figures on this page are in US dollars.
$1,150 to $1,860 / month, all-inclusive
Tuition, room and all meals in one price. The only extras are a one-time application fee, arrival insurance, flights, and pocket money. A full one-month trip from Europe, flights included, comes to roughly $2,150 all in; three months about $4,800, which is less than many people spend on a single month of rent in London.
School-by-school pricing (2026)
These are the current rates at the four schools we place international students at. All prices are all-inclusive: training, accommodation and three meals a day. For the full comparison of what each school is like, read Best Shaolin Kung Fu Schools in China for Foreigners.
| School | Short stays | Monthly | Long-term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaolin Tagou | $60/day under a month | $1,150/month | 3 mo $3,450 · 6 mo $6,900 · 12 mo $13,800 |
| Shaolin Yongzhi | Not offered | ~$1,860 one month | from ~$1,775/month for longer stays |
| Shaolin Zhong Wu | $100/day | from $1,500/month | as low as $670/month on a 12-month prepay |
| Wudang Jingwu | Contact us for current rates, it varies by program and duration | ||
Shaolin Tagou is the most price-competitive at $1,150/month, and the longer you commit, the cheaper each month gets everywhere. The standout long-term deal is Shaolin Zhong Wu's 12-month prepay at $670/month: under half the standard rate.
Worth knowing before you compare these numbers: an open enrolment school is only one of three formats. Fixed date retreats and group camps are priced completely differently, and they suit different people. We set all three side by side in Shaolin training camps for foreigners, every option compared.
The extras nobody budgets for
Tuition is the big number, but four smaller costs sit around it:
- Application fee (one-time): $100 at most schools; Shaolin Yongzhi charges none, just a 15% deposit credited toward tuition. Paid when you apply through Shaolin Worldwide.
- School insurance (on arrival, in RMB): around ¥215 (~$30) for a month, up to ¥1,000 (~$140) for a year.
- Flights into Zhengzhou: roughly $500 to $900 from Europe, $600 to $1,000 from the US. Zhengzhou (CGO) is the airport for Dengfeng and the Shaolin area; we coordinate your airport transfer from there. Fares swing a lot by season, and so does the training itself, which is covered in the best time of year to train Kung Fu in China.
- Personal spending: about $100 to $150/month covers snacks, phone data, laundry, the occasional trip into town. Life at the school is genuinely all-inclusive, so it's hard to spend much more.
One cost people accidentally add to this list is kit. You need far less than you think, and buying the wrong things before you fly is a common and avoidable expense. Our Shaolin packing list covers what to bring and what the school already provides.
You'll also need a Chinese visa. We provide the official acceptance letter your application needs, and fees vary by nationality.
See what the money actually buys
Numbers on a page only go so far. This was filmed at a school a kilometre from the Shaolin Temple, and it shows the rooms, the food, the training hall and the daily rhythm that the monthly fee actually covers.
What it's really like to learn Kung Fu in China, filmed 1km from the Shaolin Temple.
Two real all-in examples
≈ $2,150 all-in
Flights (~$700) + application fee ($100) + one month tuition ($1,150, all-inclusive) + insurance (~$30) + spending money (~$150). Everything (where you sleep, what you eat, and 5 to 6 days a week of full-time training) is inside that number.
≈ $4,800 all-in
The same flights (~$700) and application fee ($100), but tuition is $3,450 for the full three months, with insurance around $90 and roughly $450 of spending money across the stay. Per week, this is where training in China becomes remarkably cheap, and three months is where the real physical transformation happens.
How paying actually works
- Choose your school and fill in the registration form on Shaolin Worldwide, about ten minutes.
- Pay the one-time application fee ($100 at most schools). Shaolin Yongzhi charges no application fee, only a 15% deposit that is credited toward your tuition.
- Once approved, pay a 20% deposit to lock in your start date.
- Pay the remaining balance directly to the school in RMB cash when you arrive. No hidden fees in between.
How to keep the cost down
- Commit longer. Every school discounts longer stays; Zhong Wu's 12-month prepay at $670/month is the single biggest saving available.
- Fly smart. Booking Zhengzhou flights 2 to 3 months out, midweek, typically lands you at the bottom of the $500 to $900 range.
- Don't over-pack spending money. With food and lodging covered, most students genuinely can't spend more than ~$150/month at the school.
- Arrive already fit. The first two weeks are the hardest, and people who turn up conditioned waste less of what they paid for. Building the basics at home first costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What's included in the monthly price?
Accommodation, three meals a day, and all training: typically multiple sessions a day, five to six days a week. It's a genuinely all-inclusive price, which is why the extras list above is so short.
Is training Kung Fu in China cheaper than training at home?
Almost always. $1,150 to $1,860/month buys you full-time daily instruction, food and lodging. Compare that with Western martial arts gym fees plus rent plus food for the same period. Most students find China is a fraction of the cost per training hour.
Do I pay everything up front?
No. You pay the application fee when you apply, a 20% deposit once you're approved, and the balance in RMB cash when you arrive at the school.
Which school is cheapest?
Shaolin Tagou has the lowest standard monthly rate ($1,150/month). For long stays, Shaolin Zhong Wu's 12-month prepay at $670/month is the cheapest option overall.
Are there hidden costs?
No. That's the point of this breakdown. Application fee, arrival insurance, flights and pocket money are the complete list. The schools quote all-inclusive prices and stick to them.
Related reading
- Camp, retreat or open enrolment school? The three formats compared, and which one suits you.
- The best time of year to train in China, season by season, and how it moves your flight cost.
- What to pack, and what not to buy before you fly.
- The complete beginner's guide if you are starting from zero.
Ready to go?
Pick your school and start the application. We handle the school liaison, your visa acceptance letter, pre-departure guidance and airport transfer coordination:
World's largest Kung Fu school · from $1,150/month→ Apply to Shaolin Yongzhi
Intimate school · from ~$1,775/month→ Apply to Shaolin Zhong Wu
Near the Shaolin Temple · from $1,500/month→ Apply to Wudang Jingwu
Broadest curriculum · Shaolin lineage→
Not ready to book a flight yet? Building the foundations at home first is the cheapest possible start, and you arrive able to keep up. Begin with The Shaolin Foundations.
Not sure which school fits your budget and goals? Get in touch and we'll walk you through it.
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