Shaolin Temple (Shaolin Monastery) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Shaolin Temple. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Luoyang: Longmen and Shaolin Private Day Tour from Xian by HSR Train

• Zhengzhou Private Day Tour to Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes

• Longmen Grottoes Entry Ticket with Optional Guide or Transfer

• From Xi'an to Luoyang: Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple Day Tour by Bullet Train

• Private Tour to Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin From Xi'an by Train

Entry to the Shaolin Temple costs ¥80 per person, plus an additional ¥25 bus fare. Given the remoteness of the site, many travelers opt to visit on a tour that also covers the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Longmen Grottoes: Expect to pay at least US$350 per person for a private trip from Xian by bullet train.

Yes, the Shaolin Temple is well worth visiting. Despite the scandal that has clouded the order in recent years, it remains the cradle of Shaolin kung fu, a martial art that's taken the world by storm. Its mountainside location is spectacularly beautiful, and the kung fu shows are epic. Joining a tour does more than just help you hop the language barrier that's so prevalent in this part of China: It can link in other nearby attractions, such as the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes.

Per one customer who booked the From Xi'an to Luoyang: Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple Day Tour by Bullet Train, "Rocky, our companion on this excursion, provided exceptional support and immense amounts of information about the sites. The Longmen Grottoes or caves are some of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art in the world ... At the Shaolin Temple, we watched a kung-fu demonstration by the Songyang Academy students displaying amazing martial arts. We had an absolutely incredible day ... we would [definitely] book this excursion again."

The Shaolin Temple is known for two things: It’s the home of Shaolin kung fu and where Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen Buddhism, spent many years. Today, however, almost everyone visits to see the Shaolin Monks in action on their home turf.

Yes, tourists can visit the Shaolin Temple—male and female, foreign and local alike. The monks even put on regular kung fu performances for their tourist audience. The temple is in Dengfeng, between Luoyang and Zhengzhou, so most travelers visit from one of the two cities.

The Shaolin Temple operates a kung fu school next to the temple, known as the Song Mountain Kung Fu School. Foreigners can apply to study here under masters who have taught at the temple, but it’s almost impossible for a foreigner to become a Shaolin monk and practice there.

No, the Shaolin Temple does not have a formal dress code. However, it is a working monastery, so respectful dress is appropriate. All genders should wear clothes that cover shoulders, chest, belly, and upper legs—and comfortable shoes as there’s a lot of walking involved.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Shaolin Temple. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Northwest China:

• Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum

• Xi'an City Wall

• South Gate

• Big Wild Goose Pagoda

• Shaanxi History Museum

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Northwest China.