Here's the answer up front, because most articles bury it: full-time training at a real Shaolin school in China costs $1,150β$1,860 per month, all-inclusive β 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.
$1,150β$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 runs around Β£2,200 all-in; three months about Β£3,900 β 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 β 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 Β· 6 mo $6,900 Β· 12 mo $13,800 |
| Shaolin Yongzhi | β | ~$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 β 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 β under half the standard rate.
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; $215 at Yongzhi. Paid when you apply through Shaolin Worldwide.
- School insurance (on arrival, in RMB): around Β₯215 (~$30) for a month, up to Β₯1,000 (~$140) for a year.
- Flights into Zhengzhou: roughly Β£400βΒ£700 from Europe, $600β$1,000 from the US. Zhengzhou (CGO) is the airport for Dengfeng and the Shaolin area; we coordinate your airport transfer from there.
- Personal spending: about $100β150/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.
You'll also need a Chinese visa β we provide the official acceptance letter your application needs, and fees vary by nationality.
Two real all-in examples
β Β£2,200 all-in
Flights (~Β£550) + application fee ($100) + one month tuition ($1,150, all-inclusive) + insurance (~$30) + spending money (~$150). Everything β where you sleep, what you eat, and 5β6 days a week of full-time training β is inside that number.
β Β£3,900 all-in
The same flights and fees, but tuition drops to $3,450 for the full three months. Per week, this is where training in China becomes remarkably cheap β 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 β about ten minutes.
- Pay the one-time application fee ($100 at most schools; $215 at Yongzhi).
- 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 2β3 months out, midweek, typically lands you at the bottom of the Β£400βΒ£700 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.
Frequently asked questions
What's included in the monthly price?
Accommodation, three meals a day, and all training β 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. $1,150β$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 β 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 β 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.
Ready to go?
Pick your school and start the application β we handle the school liaison, your visa acceptance letter, pre-departure guidance and airport transfer coordination:
World's largest Kung Fu school Β· from $1,150/monthβ Apply to Shaolin Yongzhi
Intimate school Β· from ~$1,775/monthβ Apply to Shaolin Zhong Wu
Near the Shaolin Temple Β· from $1,500/monthβ Apply to Wudang Jingwu
Broadest curriculum Β· Shaolin lineageβ
Not sure which school fits your budget and goals? Get in touch and we'll walk you through it.
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