Shaolin Temple Kung Fu lesson from Zhengzhou: 1-on-1 training

Shaolin masters teach you their stances on the training ground where disciples practice daily.

A private day trip from Zhengzhou to Shaolin Temple includes hotel pickup, a guided tour of the temple halls and the 230-pagoda Pagoda Forest, a live Kung Fu performance by Shaolin disciples, and a hands-on Kung Fu lesson taught one-on-one by a Shaolin master. You choose 1 or 2 hours of training. Lunch and all entrance fees are included. The guide speaks English or Chinese.

Step-by-step itinerary

Shaolin Temple tour and Kung Fu lesson

• Pick up from Zhengzhou hotel
• Drive to Shaolin Temple with guide briefing
• Watch Shaolin Kung Fu performance
• Visit Hall of Heavenly Kings and Main Hall
• Explore Pagoda Forest
• Attend hands-on Kung Fu lesson
• Enjoy local lunch
• Return to Zhengzhou hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Zhengzhou hotel and a 1.5-hour drive to Shaolin Temple. Your guide uses the journey to lay out the temple's 1,500-year history: how Buddhism and martial arts merged here, and why Shaolin Kung Fu became legendary across China. By the time you arrive, you'll have context for what you're about to see and do.

Once at the temple, you watch a live performance by Shaolin disciples: fist techniques, weapon skills, flexible Qigong displays, and the hard qigong that has been passed down for centuries. Then your guide takes you through the Hall of Heavenly Kings to see the Buddha statues and ancient carvings, and into the Main Hall to feel the sacred atmosphere and see the murals that record Shaolin's history. Next comes the Pagoda Forest: over 1,000 years old, with roughly 230 pagodas of different shapes and sizes built across the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties. Each one is a tombstone for a Shaolin abbot or eminent monk. Walking among them, you get a rare look at how Shaolin Buddhism developed and how ancient Chinese pagoda architecture evolved.

The core of the day is your one-on-one Kung Fu lesson with a Shaolin master on the quiet training ground inside the temple. You learn basic stances, fist techniques and simple moves: the real discipline and philosophy behind Shaolin Kung Fu, not a performance. The master corrects your movements patiently, and you leave with a memory most travelers never get. You choose whether to train for 1 hour or 2 hours at checkout. Lunch (vegetarian or a common local meal) is included, and your driver brings you back to your hotel afterward.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from Zhengzhou.
• private vehicle transport.
• professional guide in English or Chinese.
• entrance fees to Shaolin Temple and the Pagoda Forest.
• live Kung Fu performance by Shaolin disciples.
• one-on-one Kung Fu lesson with a Shaolin master (1 or 2 hours, your choice).
• lunch with vegetarian or local meal option.

Options for this experience

2 options

Kung Fu lesson lasting 1 hourGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 07:30, 08:30, 09:30 and 10:30Your guide, who speaks English, will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby at 8:30 am. This option includes a one-hour kung fu lesson with the master at the Shaolin Temple, and pickup is included.

Kung Fu lesson lasting 2 hoursGuide in English, Chinese or Chinese · 07:30, 08:30, 09:30 and 10:30Your English-speaking guide will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby at 8:30 am. This option includes a two-hour kung fu lesson with the master at the Shaolin Temple, and pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:30, 09:30 and 10:30

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Discover Beijing Tours

Is this one for you?Book the 1-hour lesson if you want to learn the basics and still have time to explore the temple halls and Pagoda Forest without rushing. Choose 2 hours if you want deeper training and are willing to spend less time on the guided tour of the grounds.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Chinese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is the Pagoda Forest and what will I see there?

The Pagoda Forest is a 1,000-year-old cemetery of roughly 230 pagodas built across five dynasties (Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing), each one marking the tomb of a Shaolin abbot or eminent monk. Walking among them, you see how Shaolin Buddhism developed and observe the evolution of ancient Chinese pagoda architecture firsthand.

Will I actually learn Kung Fu, or is it just a demonstration?

You learn hands-on from a Shaolin master in a one-on-one lesson on the temple training ground. The master teaches you basic stances, fist techniques and simple moves, corrects your movements, and explains the discipline and philosophy behind Shaolin Kung Fu, not a performance, but real training.

How long is the drive from Zhengzhou, and what happens during it?

The drive takes about 1.5 hours. Your guide uses this time to explain Shaolin Temple's 1,500-year history, how Buddhism and martial arts merged there, and why Shaolin Kung Fu became world-renowned, so you arrive with a foundation for understanding what you'll see.

Can I choose how long my Kung Fu lesson lasts?

Yes, you choose 1 hour or 2 hours of training when you book. Both options are taught by a Shaolin master with one-on-one guidance on the temple training ground.

What meal options are included?

Lunch is included and you can choose between a vegetarian meal or a common local meal. Let the operator know your preference at booking.