Dengfeng, Henan · Est. 2023

Train where Shaolin was born

1 km from the Shaolin Temple. Live, eat and train with authentic 34th generation warrior monks under Shi Yan Chen. Full-time training, or the 7 day wellness and meditation retreat, open to groups and to solo travellers.

Apply & pay deposit → View tuition

1 km from Shaolin Temple 34th generation monks All-inclusive campus Airport pickup available

$100 application · 20% deposit · balance on arrival

1 km from the Shaolin Temple 师 34th generation warrior monks 130+ beds on campus 禅 All levels welcome

Why train here

The real Shaolin experience

Not a tourist show. You live inside the training culture, guided by authentic lineage holders in the mountains that created it.

01

Authentic lineage

Train daily with Shaolin warrior monks. Practice rituals, Songshan culture, and visit historic sites including the Pagoda Forest and Dharma Cave.

02

All-inclusive campus

Shared accommodation, 3 meals per day, training halls, hot showers, Wi-Fi and washing machines, set in a forested mountain valley.

03

Flexible commitment

Try a few days at $100/day, a week from $700, monthly at $1,500, or prepay longer terms for the best rates: 12 months all-inclusive from $670/month.

The teaching team

Who you train under

Shaolin Temple warrior monks and national level coaches, most of them selected into the Temple's Warrior Monk Troupe, all of them teaching on the mat every day.

Founder

Wei Fu Qiang

魏富强 · dharma name Shi Yan Chen

Born into a martial arts family and founder of Shaolin Zhong Wu. He has taught and performed in 32 countries, was commissioned to establish Shaolin cultural centres in Singapore and Australia, and led the Shaolin monk performance team at the 2018 China Africa summit in the Great Hall of the People.

Shaolin Duanpin 8th Duan Chinese Wushu 6th Duan National First Class Coach National First Class Wushu Referee National First Class Social Sports Instructor

Chief Referee of the Shaolin Kung Fu online examination competition, named Outstanding Coach at the 12th International Shaolin Wushu Festival, and Head Coach of the Shaolin Africa programme under China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Teaches Shaolin Kung Fu, Qigong, Qin Na and fist forms.

Full background

Dharma name Yan Chen, founder of Shaolin Zhong Wu, born into a martial arts family
Chief Referee for the Shaolin Kung Fu Online Examination Competition
National First Class Coach, National First Class Wushu Referee and National First Class Social Sports Instructor
Chinese Wushu 6th Duan and Shaolin Duanpin System 8th Duan
Proficient in Shaolin Kung Fu, Qigong, Qin Na and Shaolin Quan
2008 to 2009: commissioned to establish Shaolin cultural centres in Singapore and Australia
Has travelled to 32 countries for performances and cultural exchanges
2018: led the Shaolin monk performance team at the Forum on China Africa Cooperation summit in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing
Named Outstanding Coach at the 12th International Shaolin Wushu Festival
Head Coach of the Shaolin Africa programme under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China

Guan Shi Shan

管石山 Head coach

A Shaolin martial monk who has trained since childhood and was selected into the Shaolin Temple Warrior Monk Brigade in 2013. He runs the daily training floor at Zhong Wu.

Full background

First and second places in Shaolin staff, Shaolin broadsword and Shaolin Hong Quan at the Wushu Festival, the Ticai Cup, national championships and international competitions
2016: invited to perform at the Buddha's Birthday celebration at Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong
2017: cultural tour and performances in Cyprus
2017: travelled with the Shaolin monk delegation and Vice Premier Liu Yandong to South Africa for the China and South Africa Hand in Hand gala

Shi Yan Xuan

释延炫 Shaolin warrior monk

Selected into the Shaolin Temple Warrior Monk Group in 2004, and one of the monks who carried Shaolin Kung Fu onto the international stage through theatre and film.

Full background

2006: demonstrated Shaolin Kung Fu at the Temple during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin
2007: demonstrated for former Singaporean President S. R. Nathan at the Temple
2008: led a Shaolin group in a stage production created with British artist Antony Gormley and choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui
2011: worked with Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui on a stage work drawn from the Astro Boy manga
2019: his film work for CGTN on the Shaolin three section staff was recognised at the 25th Asian Television Awards

Shi Yan Yong

释延颙 Shaolin martial monk

Trained at Jingzhong Martial Arts School in Henan from 2012 to 2022, then selected into the Shaolin Temple Martial Monk Troupe, where he studied under Master Yongxia Xin.

Full background

First and second places in Shaolin staff, Shaolin broadsword and Shaolin boxing in competition and Temple examinations
2023 to 2024: travelled with the Martial Monk Group to Australia, Singapore, Italy, South Korea and Canada for exchanges
Interviewed and filmed for CCTV programmes on Shaolin culture and Kung Fu

Shi Yan Yan

释延兖 Shaolin martial monk

Trained at Henan Friendship School from 2016 to 2022 and selected into the Shaolin Temple Martial Monk Troupe in 2022, studying systematically under a senior monk.

Full background

Travelled with his mentor to the United States, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Singapore, Italy and New Zealand for cultural exchanges
Interviewed and filmed for CCTV programmes on Shaolin traditional culture and Kung Fu

Students holding handstands against the wall of the training ground

A normal afternoon

The wall is the honest teacher

Conditioning is where the week is actually won. Handstands against the wall, stone locks, sandbags, the wooden dummy. Nobody talks their way through it.

Signature 7-day programme

Open to groups and individuals

Shaolin Zhongwu Wellness Meditation Retreat

Seven days and six nights on one fixed programme: Qigong every morning, Kung Fu and wellness training through the afternoons, and study tours to the Shaolin Temple, Songyang Academy, the observatory and Zhongyue Temple. Built for families, corporate teams, martial arts clubs, school groups and travelling companions, and open to solo travellers too, who simply join the group for the week. The group rate applies from five people upward.

$1,000per person, groups of 5+

$1,100per person, booking solo

Reserve your place → See full itinerary

Booking solo? A 20% deposit of $220 holds your week, and the balance is paid on arrival. Pay your camp deposit.

Want to train longer, or arrive on your own dates? See our full-time training plans, from $100/day to monthly and long-term stays.

What the week includes

Kung Fu, Qigong and wellness training with the monks, plus the cultural classes
Shared accommodation and 3 meals a day, 7 days a week
Training uniform and shoes
Insurance for the programme
Tickets for every scenic site in the itinerary, the venue and the bus
Rail station pickup and drop off, arranged in batches around your train times
Hot showers, Wi-Fi, washing machines, training equipment
Graduation certificate, belt and badge set (RMB 200)

7 day itinerary

Day by day

Seven days and six nights at the base, built around wellness, conditioning and experience rather than hard competition. Training intensity is graded to your own fitness.

Time	A normal day
06:00	Wake up and tidy your quarters
06:00 to 07:00	Qigong: Baduanjin and Yijinjing
07:20	Breakfast
09:00 to 11:20	Morning class or study tour
11:30 to 14:30	Lunch and noon rest
15:00 to 17:30	Afternoon class or training
17:30 to 18:30	Dinner
18:30 to 20:30	Evening activity
20:30 to 21:00	Wash up, roll call, lights out

These times are a rhythm, not a clock. The day shifts with the weather, train times, the masters' arrangements and how the group is holding up, and it can move as a whole. The noon rest is protected wherever possible. There is no enforced lights out in the evening, though we suggest resting before 22:00.

Day 1

Arrival and settling in

Arrival Station pickups in batches or arrive under your own steam, check in, rooms assigned, uniform issued
Midday Lunch and noon rest
Evening Dinner, then tidy your quarters and a briefing on the week
Night Free rest

Flexible: there is no fixed arrival time. Early arrivals can rest first, and anyone who lands late picks up the briefing the next day.

Day 2

First taste of Zen martial arts

Morning Qigong, then breakfast
Morning Shaolin Temple: the Mountain Gate and the Changzhu Yuan main compound
Afternoon Chuzu An, the First Patriarch Hermitage of Damo, with a talk on Zen martial culture
Afternoon Shaolin foundation training: stances, basic drills and your first form
Evening Tea ceremony meditation class: utensils, brewing, tasting and the etiquette of serving

Flexible: departure moves with the weather and the arrangements on the day.

Day 3

Civil and martial together

Morning Qigong, then breakfast
Morning Songyang Academy study tour
Afternoon Introduction to the Shaolin Thirteen Fists, low intensity, built around breathing and suppleness rather than competition
Evening Calligraphy

Flexible: departure is set against the weather and how busy the site is.

Day 4

Knowledge and action

Morning Qigong, then breakfast
Morning Observatory and astronomy study tour, tied to the Shaolin idea of heaven and humanity as one
Afternoon Advanced Shaolin wellness Qigong: Thirteen Fists, Five Elements Fist and standing post
Evening Chinese medicine course: Shaolin Zen martial medicine, meridians and acupoints, constitution identification

Flexible: the afternoon is grouped by fitness and you are free to practise or to watch. Noon rest runs over an hour.

Day 5

Etiquette and the five elements

Morning Qigong: Baduanjin, Yijinjing and more, then breakfast
Morning Shaolin archery: stance, grip on the bow, aiming, then group practice
Afternoon Zhongyue Temple, an initiation into traditional etiquette including the fist and palm salute and the master and student salute
Evening Dinner and rest

Flexible: archery is outdoors, so it moves with the weather, and the temple visit follows the arrangements on the day.

Day 6

Stillness and focus

Morning Qigong, then breakfast
Morning Copying the sutra to settle the mind: the martial precepts and vows
Afternoon Mindfulness sitting practice: breath control, focus, and relief from anxiety and fatigue
Afternoon Shaolin wellness Qigong, graded to your own fitness
Evening The Zen Shaolin music ceremony, with the culture behind it explained

Flexible: the order of the day can shift with the weather and with how the group is holding up.

Day 7

Graduation and the journey home

Morning Qigong, then breakfast
Morning Graduation: a demonstration of what you have learned, student sharing, certificates and gifts, group photo
Midday Lunch and packing
Afternoon Drop off at the high speed rail station in batches, or travel on under your own arrangements

Flexible: the morning Qigong may be shortened or dropped to suit your train. There is no single departure time.

* 7 day retreat: $1,000 per person for groups of five or more, $1,100 per person booking solo. A 20% deposit holds your place ($220 booking solo) and the balance is paid on arrival. The $100 application fee is separate and non-refundable. Airport pickup from Zhengzhou is separate and can be arranged for an additional fee.

Around the base

Explore the rich heritage around our base

We sit in the heart of Shaolin country, surrounded by some of the most significant historical and natural landmarks in China. These places give you a way into Chinese culture, history and spiritual life, and our staff can help arrange transport and guided visits in your free time.

Shaolin Temple

少林寺

A short distance from the base, the Shaolin Temple is the birthplace of Chan Buddhism and of Shaolin Kung Fu. Founded more than 1,500 years ago, this UNESCO World Heritage site is where martial practice and meditation were first joined into one path. You can walk the old halls, watch authentic Kung Fu demonstrations and stand where the legendary monks trained.

From baseAbout 10 minutes by car
Opening hours8:00 to 17:00, for reference

* Opening hours are a guide and shift with the season. Ask the office and we will confirm before you travel.

The school

See the campus

Iron palm conditioning — Iron palm training

Kids training in courtyard — Shaolin kids in courtyard

Outdoor training court with master — Outdoor court with master

Room and board

Where you sleep and eat

Shared rooms on campus, hot showers, and three meals a day in the dining hall. Simple, clean and built for training, not for holidays. Prefer your own space? A private room is available for $150 a month on top of tuition. Ask for one when you apply.

Shared dorm room with wooden bunk beds at Shaolin Zhong Wu — Shared rooms

Dorm room with bunk beds, desk and storage — Desk and storage

Bright dorm room with a window looking onto the mountains — Mountain light

Bathroom with a hot shower inside the dormitory — Hot showers

33 dorm rooms, 130+ beds Private room +$150/month Wi-Fi and washing machines Dining hall seats 150+

Three meals a day

Fed for the training, not for the photo

Rice, noodles, steamed buns and vegetables, with chicken, beef and pork through the week, and plenty of it. Meals are included every day, seven days out of seven.

Students eating together in the Shaolin Zhong Wu dining hall — The dining hall

A bowl of noodles with vegetables served at the school — Noodles

Steamed bun with a bowl of vegetables and broth — Steamed buns

Breakfast tray with youtiao, greens and soup — Chinese doughnut sticks and vegetables

Rice with stir fried vegetables in the dining hall — Rice, vegetables and beef

Beyond the training hall

Culture is part of the curriculum

Tea ceremony, meditation, archery and Chinese language practice alongside the daily training. This is what separates a school from a gym.

Students sitting with a monk around the tea table at Shaolin Zhong Wu — Tea with the masters

A tea ceremony class in progress with young students — Tea ceremony class

Tea set laid out for the Gong Fu tea ceremony — Tea set

Students meditating in the Chan hall — Chan meditation

A student learning traditional archery with a coach — Traditional archery

Full-time training

Daily training schedule

Five training sessions a day, opening before breakfast and closing in the late afternoon, with a long midday rest, a Chinese and calligraphy class after it, and three meals. Over five hours on the mat, every weekday. Structure builds discipline alongside skill.

Time	Activity
5:50	Get up
6:00 to 7:00	Shaolin Kung Fu
7:20	Breakfast
9:00 to 10:00	Shaolin Kung Fu
10:20 to 11:20	Shaolin Kung Fu
11:30	Lunch
12:10 to 14:00	Nap
14:10 to 14:50	Chinese and calligraphy
15:00 to 16:00	Shaolin Kung Fu
16:20 to 17:30	Shaolin Kung Fu
17:40	Dinner
21:00	Sleep

* Sample schedule. May adjust by season and level.

The training week

What you train, day by day

Monday to Friday on the mat. Every morning opens with Qigong, then the week cycles through legs, fist forms, Chin Na, conditioning, Sanda, groundwork and strength, closing on Friday with flexibility and review.

Time of day	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Morning	Qigong气功	Qigong气功	Qigong气功	Qigong气功	Qigong气功
Forenoon	Leg Training腿法训练	Chin Na & Self-Defense擒拿、一招功	Leg Training腿法训练	Strength TrainingStone locks, sandbags, wooden dummy力量训练 · 石锁、沙包、木人桩	Bow and Arrow Stance Training弓箭
Forenoon	Fist Forms拳法训练	Combination Training组合训练	Fist Forms拳法训练		Fist Forms拳法训练
Afternoon	Conditioning功法训练	Groundwork Training地躺训练	Conditioning功法训练	Groundwork Training地躺训练	Flexibility TrainingStretching, splits柔韧训练 · 压腿、拉筋
Afternoon	Sanda散打	Acrobatic Training腾空训练	Sanda散打	Acrobatic Training腾空训练	Review复习

Qigong: Eight Brocades (Ba Duan Jin), Muscle-Tendon Change Classic (Yi Jin Jing), Tai Chi, standing posture.

Leg Training: front kicks, outside crescent kicks and related drills.

Conditioning: horseback stance single-arm movements, single-leg punching.

Fist Forms: Seven-Star Fist, Thirteen Fist and others as you progress.

Review: revision of the week, which also folds in other classes as it goes, such as meditation and traditional Chinese medicine.

* The weekly plan shifts with the season, the weather on the mountain and the level of the group. Treat it as the shape of a normal week rather than a fixed timetable.

Tuition & fees

Transparent pricing

All-inclusive: shared accommodation, 3 meals/day, training, cultural classes and equipment. No hidden fees. A private room is an optional upgrade at $150 per month, and airport pickup is available separately for an additional fee.

Short-term · days & weeks

$700_/wk

2 wks $1,000 · 3 wks $1,300 · under 1 wk $100/day

Flexible short stays, perfect for first-timers who want a genuine taste of Shaolin training before committing to a full month.

Apply now

Duration	Rate	Total
Under 1 week	$100/day	·
1 week	·	$700
2 weeks	·	$1,000
3 weeks	·	$1,300
1 month	$1,500	$1,500
2 months	$1,450	$2,900
3 months	$1,400	$4,200
4 months	$1,350	$5,400
5 months	$1,300	$6,500
6 months	$1,240	$7,440
7 months	$1,170	$8,190
8 months	$1,090	$8,720
9 months	$1,000	$9,000
10 months	$900	$9,000
11 months	$790	$8,690
12 months	$670	$8,040

Four steps to Songshan

A $100 application fee reserves your spot, a 20% tuition deposit confirms your dates, and the balance is paid on arrival. Start with the form, we handle the rest.

1

Application

2

Fee

3

Deposit

4

Confirm

01

Start here

Fill out your application form

Two minutes. Tell us your dates, how long you want to train and your experience level, so we can verify your place with the school and prepare for your arrival.

Fill out the form →

Students with a Shaolin master at Zhong Wu

02

One-time fee

Pay your application fee

$100, non-refundable. Reserves your spot and covers your enrollment with the school. Airport pickup from Zhengzhou East is available for an additional fee.

Pay application fee →

Iron palm conditioning at the training ground

03

Choose duration

Choose your duration and pay the deposit

Select how long you want to train. A 20% deposit of your total tuition secures your slot, and the remaining balance is paid on arrival.

7-day camp: $1,100 booking solo, a $220 deposit secures your week
Short stays: $100/day · 1 week $700 · 2 weeks $1,000 · 3 weeks $1,300
Monthly training: from $1,500/month, a 20% deposit secures your dates
Long-term: prepay up to 12 months at $670/month ($8,040 total)

Choose duration and pay deposit →

04

You're in

Checkout and confirmation

Once your application fee and deposit are paid, you'll receive a confirmation email and your official acceptance letter for the visa.

Warrior monks performing at the Shaolin Temple

Application fee is non-refundable · questions? support@shaolinww.com

South slope of Mount Taishi · Dengfeng, Henan

Where you'll train

EstablishedSeptember 1, 2023. Purpose-built for Shaolin martial culture.
Distance~1 km from Shaolin Temple, inside the Greater Songshan scenic area.
Campus~26 mu (≈4.3 acres) current; planned expansion to ~50 mu (≈8.2 acres).
Capacity33 dorm rooms / 130+ beds. Dining hall seats 150+ at once.
FacilitiesMultiple training halls & classrooms, mountain surroundings, hot showers, Wi-Fi, washing machines.
ArrivalAirport pickup from Zhengzhou East is available for an additional fee. Send us your arrival time and we will arrange it.

Zhong Wu students and monks with staffs in front of the Shaolin Temple gate

Preparation

What to bring

Passport & visa (if required); travel insurance

Training clothing, athletic shoes, shower sandals

Reusable water bottle; small towel; sunscreen

All your own toiletries: soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper. The school supplies none of it

Personal medication; basic first-aid items

Light rain jacket; warm layer for cool mornings

Cash / WeChat / Alipay for personal expenses

Get training-ready

10-minute full-body prep

Get your body ready to train kung fu in China. Follow along with this 10-minute full-body warm-up to build the mobility and conditioning that make your first days of training easier.

Common questions

Before you apply

What does the $100 application fee include?

A one-time, non-refundable fee paid before arrival. It reserves your spot and covers your enrollment and coordination with the school. Airport pickup is not included, it can be arranged separately for an additional fee.

Can I have a private room?

Yes. Standard tuition covers a shared room with two to four students. A private room is available for an additional $150 per month, paid to the school. Request it when you apply and we confirm availability with the school before you arrive.

Is airport pickup included?

No, airport pickup is not included in the application fee or in tuition. We can arrange a car from Zhengzhou East or the airport for an additional fee, usually around 200 to 300 RMB one way. Send us your arrival time once your travel is booked and we will confirm it. The return drop-off is charged separately, so budget for both legs.

Can I join the 7-day camp on my own?

Yes. The 7 day Shaolin Zhongwu Wellness Meditation Retreat used to be group only, and it is now open to solo travellers as well. It runs as one fixed itinerary, so booking alone means joining the group for the week. Pricing is $1,000 per person for groups of five or more and $1,100 per person booking solo. A 20% deposit holds your place, which is $220 booking solo, and the balance is paid on arrival. If you would rather set your own dates and stay longer, the daily, weekly and monthly training plans start at $100/day or $700/week.

Can I try for a few days before committing?

Yes. Train for several days after arrival before deciding your total stay. The daily rate is $100/day (stays under 1 week). Weekly rates: 1 week $700 · 2 weeks $1,000 · 3 weeks $1,300. Switch to a monthly or prepaid plan at any time.

How do payments work?

Pay the $100 application fee and a 20% tuition deposit online to confirm your place. The remaining balance is due on arrival. Prepaid multi-month plans are paid in full to access discounted rates.

Is instruction in English?

Training is led by Shaolin warrior monks. Basic English is available; bilingual staff assist throughout. Cultural classes may include translation.

What age and fitness level is this for?

Programs suit motivated beginners through experienced practitioners. Please inform us of any injuries or medical conditions, and training intensity can be adjusted accordingly.

Begin your journey

Ready to train at Shaolin?

Secure your place with a $100 application and 20% deposit. Your spot and your first step into authentic Shaolin training, confirmed.

Apply & pay deposit → See the four steps

$100 fee non-refundable · airport pickup available for an additional fee

Train where Shaolin was born

The real Shaolin experience

Authentic lineage

All-inclusive campus

Flexible commitment

Who you train under

Wei Fu Qiang

Guan Shi Shan

Shi Yan Xuan

Shi Yan Yong

Shi Yan Yan

The wall is the honest teacher

Shaolin Zhongwu Wellness Meditation Retreat

What the week includes

Day by day

Arrival and settling in

First taste of Zen martial arts

Civil and martial together

Knowledge and action

Etiquette and the five elements

Stillness and focus

Graduation and the journey home

Explore the rich heritage around our base

Shaolin Temple

Songshan Mountain

Songyang Academy

Zhongyue Temple

See the campus

Where you sleep and eat

Fed for the training, not for the photo

Culture is part of the curriculum

Daily training schedule

What you train, day by day

Transparent pricing

Four steps to Songshan

Fill out your application form

Pay your application fee

Choose your duration and pay the deposit

Checkout and confirmation

Where you'll train

What to bring

10-minute full-body prep

Before you apply

Ready to train at Shaolin?