You've watched the videos, you've thought about it for years, and now you're seriously asking: could I actually go to China and train Kung Fu? The answer is yes — with zero experience, at almost any age, starting from your very first day. This is the complete beginner's walkthrough: who can go, how to choose a school, what it costs, how the application and visa work, and what your life will actually look like once you're there.

Can a complete beginner really train at a Shaolin school?

Yes — and not in a watered-down, tourist way. The big Shaolin schools in Henan run dedicated international programs built precisely for people arriving with no martial arts background. Every master on those campuses started from zero once; the entire teaching system is designed to build a foundation from nothing. You'll train alongside other international students at your level, with English-speaking instructors, while sharing the campus and atmosphere of the main school.

Step 1 — Choose your school

This is the biggest decision, and it's less about "best" and more about fit. The short version:

• Shaolin Tagou — the world's largest Kung Fu school (35,000 students). Maximum scale, intensity and the most recognised name. Also the most price-competitive.
• Shaolin Yongzhi — small and personal. Your master knows your name and adjusts the training to you.
• Shaolin Zhong Wu — closest school to the original Shaolin Temple, with a strict training-camp structure.
• Wudang Jingwu — the widest curriculum, spanning external Shaolin arts and the internal, meditative side.

We compared all four in depth — atmosphere, accommodation, who each suits — in our guide to the best Shaolin Kung Fu schools in China for foreigners.

Step 2 — Know the budget

Step 3 — Apply (it's simpler than you think)

1. Choose your school and fill in its registration form on Shaolin Worldwide — about ten minutes.
2. Pay the one-time application fee ($100 at most schools; $215 at Yongzhi).
3. Once approved, pay a 20% deposit to lock in your start date.
4. Receive your official acceptance letter — this is the document your Chinese visa application needs.
5. Pay the remaining balance directly to the school in RMB cash when you arrive.

Shaolin Worldwide handles everything between those steps: school liaison, the acceptance letter, pre-departure guidance and airport transfer coordination.

Step 4 — Sort the visa

You'll need a Chinese visa, and your acceptance letter from the school (which we provide) is the key supporting document. As a general rule, shorter training stays are done on a standard tourist (L) visa, while longer stays use a student-type visa — exact requirements and fees vary by nationality, so check with the Chinese embassy or visa centre in your country before booking flights. China has also been steadily easing entry rules for many nationalities, so this step is smoother than most people expect. We walk every student through it during pre-departure guidance.

Step 5 — Get there

Fly into Zhengzhou (CGO) — it's the gateway airport for Dengfeng and the Shaolin area, roughly £400–£700 return from Europe or $600–$1,000 from the US. From there, your airport transfer to the school is coordinated for you. You'll be on campus, checked into your room, within a couple of hours of landing.

What life at the school actually looks like

Expect structure — that's the point. Training runs multiple sessions a day, five to six days a week: morning conditioning and flexibility, technical sessions on stances, forms and kicks, and depending on your school, Sanda (Chinese kickboxing), weapons, Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Between sessions you eat in the canteen with the other students, rest, stretch, and recover. Evenings are quiet. Sundays are typically free to explore — the Shaolin Temple itself, the Pagoda Forest, the town.

What to bring

• Training gear: loose, breathable training clothes and at least two pairs of comfortable training shoes — you'll wear through them.
• The practical layer: passport photos, travel insurance documents, any personal medication, and a power adapter.
• A VPN, installed before you fly. Google, WhatsApp and Instagram are blocked in China without one.
• Less than you think. Laundry is easy, essentials are cheap locally, and your days are too full to need much.

How long should you go for?

One month is the minimum for a meaningful experience — enough to build real basics and feel the transformation begin. Three months is where the deep change happens: flexibility, conditioning, and forms that actually look like Kung Fu. Six months to a year and you come back a different person. If you can't commit to a month yet, a shorter retreat is the perfect first taste.

Frequently asked questions

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Still weighing it up? Get in touch — we'll answer your questions honestly and help you pick the right school and length of stay.