Shaolin Temple & Longmen Grottoes Day Tour with Kung Fu Show

Watch monks perform kung fu, then walk among 240 stone pagodas and thousands of carved Buddhas

A private day tour from Zhengzhou to Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes combines a live martial arts performance, exploration of China's largest pagoda forest, and a UNESCO World Heritage site carved into limestone cliffs, with an English-speaking guide, lunch and round-trip hotel transfer included. The tour runs 8 to 10 hours. You can extend it by paying the guide and driver 30 USD per extra hour.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Shaolin Temple1h · entry included
2. Longmen Grottoes2h · entry included

Visit Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes

• Pick up from Zhengzhou hotel
• Drive 1.5 hours to Shaolin Temple
• Watch Shaolin kung fu performance
• Explore Shaolin Temple complex
• Visit pagoda forest behind temple
• Enjoy authentic local lunch
• Drive 1 hour to Longmen Grottoes
• Explore Longmen Grottoes and Fengxian Temple
• Return to Zhengzhou hotel

The experience

Your guide and private driver pick you up from your Zhengzhou hotel in the morning and drive 1.5 hours to Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese kung fu and Zen Buddhism over 1,500 years ago. You'll watch a live performance first: monks executing precise fists, agile kicks and weapon routines that show the seamless blend of physical strength and philosophy the temple is built around. After the show, you walk through the ancient temple complex itself, past halls with vivid traditional murals and sacred artifacts.

The pagoda forest behind the temple holds over 240 stone pagodas from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618–1911): the largest such collection in China. Your guide walks you among them, explaining how each pagoda's size and carvings reflect the monk buried there and the era he lived in. After this section, you'll have lunch with local dishes before the afternoon drive to Longmen Grottoes.

Longmen Grottoes sits along the Yi River and holds thousands of Buddhist statues carved into steep limestone cliffs over more than 1,400 years. Your guide focuses on sites like Fengxian Temple, home to the 17.14-meter-high Vairocana Buddha, and walks you through the Tang Dynasty construction, the intricate carving techniques, and how styles evolved across dynasties. The drive back to your hotel concludes the tour.

What’s included

• Private vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off from Zhengzhou.
• professional English-speaking guide throughout the day.
• entrance fees to Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes.
• live kung fu performance.
• lunch with local dishes and vegetarian option on request.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30, 08:00 and 08:30

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Discover Beijing Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want both the martial arts heritage and the ancient Buddhist art in a single day: the private vehicle and guide let you move at a steady pace between the two sites without arranging transport yourself, and the kung fu performance is included rather than an add-on.

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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.

How long does the tour actually take, and can I add more time if I want?

The tour runs 8 to 10 hours total. If you want to extend it, you pay your guide and driver 30 USD for each additional hour.

What exactly happens at Shaolin Temple? Do I just watch the kung fu show?

You watch a live martial arts performance first, then walk through the ancient temple complex itself, where you'll see halls with traditional murals and sacred artifacts. Your guide explains the temple's 1,500-year history as the cradle of kung fu and Zen Buddhism.

What is the pagoda forest, and how much time do I spend there?

The pagoda forest holds over 240 stone pagodas built between the 7th and 19th centuries: final resting places of eminent Shaolin monks. Your guide walks you among them and explains how each pagoda's size and carvings reflect the monk's status and era.

Is Longmen Grottoes really a UNESCO site, and what will I see there?

Yes, Longmen Grottoes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with over 1,400 years of history. You'll see thousands of Buddhist statues carved into steep limestone cliffs along the Yi River, with your guide focusing on iconic sites like Fengxian Temple and the 17.14-meter-high Vairocana Buddha.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to bring?

The tour includes private transport with hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking guide, entrance fees to both sites, lunch with a vegetarian option available, and bottled water. Bring a current valid passport.