"Shaolin camp," "training camp" and "retreat" get used interchangeably online, and they are not the same product. One is a fixed group itinerary with everything arranged. One is an open enrolment school you join for as long as you like. The price difference between them is large, and picking the wrong one is the most common mistake we see. This is the honest comparison.
Three formats, three very different commitments
A retreat is a fixed date, fixed length group trip with accommodation, meals, sightseeing and transfers bundled in, typically 7 to 12 days. A camp is a structured short programme, often for groups. An open enrolment school lets you arrive when you like and stay from a day to a year, from $60 a day. Retreats cost more per day and remove all the planning. Schools cost less per day and expect you to organise yourself.
Camp vs retreat vs school: what actually differs
| Retreat | Camp | Open enrolment school | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 10 to 12 days | About 7 days | 1 day to 12 months+ |
| Dates | Fixed, book ahead | Fixed, arranged per group | You choose |
| Who is there | An international group travelling together | Usually a private group, family or club | Rolling international cohort |
| Included | Training, hotel, all meals, culture, sightseeing, transfers | Training, lodging, meals, temple immersion | Training, dorm or room, three meals |
| Sightseeing | Built in | Built in | Your own time, usually Sundays |
| Typical cost | $2,500 for 12 days | Quoted per group | $60 to $100 a day |
| Best if | You want it all handled and have a fortnight | You are bringing people with you | You want depth, flexibility or a long stay |
Every option we work with
- 12-Day Kungfu Zen Retreat, Dengfeng. 21 April to 2 May 2027 at Shaolin Yongzhi, $2,500 all inclusive, $500 deposit. Around four hours of training a day, plus calligraphy, tea ceremony, meditation, a full day at the Shaolin Temple and a day trip to Luoyang. Airport transfers included. See the retreat.
- Shaolin Zhong Wu 7-Day Cultural and Kung Fu Camp. A purpose built week for groups only, families, clubs and school trips, roughly 1 km from the temple. Training plus temple immersion covering the grounds, Pagoda Forest, Dharma Cave and the Shaolin Pharmacy. Not bookable by individual travellers. See Shaolin Zhong Wu.
- Shaolin Tagou, open enrolment. From $60 a day or $1,150 a month, no minimum stay, at the world's largest Kung Fu school. Best for scale, a broad curriculum and long stays. See Shaolin Tagou.
- Shaolin Zhong Wu, open enrolment. From $100 a day, $700 a week or $1,500 a month. The most flexible way to try before committing. See the school.
- Shaolin Yongzhi, open enrolment. From about $1,240 for two weeks, which is the smallest option, open 1 March to 15 December. Small traditional academy about thirty minutes' walk from the temple, with no application fee, just a 15% deposit credited toward tuition. See Shaolin Yongzhi.
- Shorter and closer to home. If China is not realistic this year, our retreats hub lists current dates including intensives in London and Los Angeles.
Which one suits you
- First time in China, limited leave, want zero admin. Take the 12 day retreat. The premium over a school buys you translation, transfers, culture days and a group.
- Bringing a club, family or student group. The Zhong Wu 7 day camp exists for precisely this.
- You want maximum training per pound. Open enrolment at Tagou. At $60 a day including bed and board, nothing else comes close.
- You are not sure you will like it. Zhong Wu by the day, then extend. You are not locked in.
- You want a small school and personal correction. Yongzhi, two weeks minimum.
- You have months, not weeks. Go open enrolment and negotiate a long stay rate. Three months is where the real change happens.
If you want these four schools set side by side on curriculum, class sizes and who each one actually suits, that is the job of our honest guide to Shaolin schools in China.
What a camp day actually looks like
Expect structure, because that is the point. Mornings usually start around 6 or 7 with a run and Qi Gong before the heat. Then technical work: stances, basics, forms, kicks. Afternoons cover conditioning, applications and often Sanda, the Chinese kickboxing ruleset used for sparring. Evenings are quiet and early. Roughly four hours of training a day on a retreat, more at a full time school.
For the hour by hour version told by students who did it, read a day in the life of a Shaolin retreat.
One thing worth being clear about before you book: none of these formats make you a disciple of the Shaolin Temple, and the schools here are independent academies staffed by Shaolin trained masters rather than the monastery itself. We explain exactly where the line sits in can you train with Shaolin monks.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a Shaolin camp and a Shaolin retreat?
A retreat is a fixed date group trip, typically 10 to 12 days, with training, accommodation, all meals, cultural sessions, sightseeing and airport transfers bundled into one price. A camp is usually a shorter structured programme, around seven days, and is often arranged for a private group such as a family, club or school. An open enrolment school is neither: you choose your own dates and length, from a single day upward.
How much does a Shaolin training camp cost?
Our 12 day retreat is $2,500 all inclusive. Open enrolment schools run $60 to $100 a day, or roughly $1,150 to $1,860 a month, covering accommodation, three meals a day and all training. Group camps are quoted per group. Budget separately for flights into Zhengzhou and, at most schools, a one time application fee. Shaolin Yongzhi charges none, just a 15% deposit credited toward tuition.
Can beginners join a Shaolin training camp?
Yes. Every option here accepts complete beginners and scales intensity to the individual. No prior martial arts experience or Chinese language is needed, and instructors work with international students through English.
Are there Shaolin summer camps?
Open enrolment schools run year round, so summer is simply a matter of choosing your dates. Dengfeng summers are hot, which makes training harder but not impossible. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons. Fixed date retreats are published in advance on our retreats page.
Can I do a Shaolin camp alone?
Yes, and most people do. Retreats put you in an international group from the first day, and open enrolment schools have a rolling cohort of international students. Solo travellers tend to integrate fastest.
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