Shaolin Temple

少林寺

The ancestral temple of the Chan (Zen) school, founded in 495 during the Northern Wei, and the birthplace of Chinese kung fu. The pagoda forest, the main compound, and martial arts performances are the highlights.

Shaolin Temple is at the foot of the north slope of Shaoshi Mountain in Mount Song, in Dengfeng City. It was founded in 495 during the Northern Wei dynasty. It became the ancestral temple of Chan Buddhism because Bodhidharma meditated facing a wall here, and it is famous worldwide for its Shaolin warrior monks. In 2010, it was included in the World Heritage List as part of the Historic Buildings of 'The Center of Heaven and Earth.' The scenic area has three parts. The Changzhu Courtyard includes the Shanmen gate, Tianwang Hall, Mahavira Hall, the Scripture Pavilion, the Snow Standing Pavilion, and the Thousand Buddha Hall. Inside the Thousand Buddha Hall, the 'footprints' worn into the floor are traces of monks' training. The Pagoda Forest holds more than 240 memorial pagodas of past eminent monks. It is the largest ancient pagoda grove in China and a must-see. Other sites include Bodhidharma Cave, Chuzu Hall, and Erzu Hall. The martial arts hall holds several free kung fu performances a day (about 30 minutes, once an hour in peak season). Check the performance schedule after entering before planning your route. Admission is 80 yuan, which covers the Shaolin scenic area, including the Changzhu Courtyard, the Pagoda Forest, Sanhuang Village, and Songyang Academy. Tickets can be bought through the 'Songshan Shaolin' official WeChat account or on Ctrip. A golf cart inside the park costs about 25 yuan round trip. The Pagoda Forest is about a 10-minute walk from the Changzhu Courtyard. To reach Sanhuang Village, take the Shaolin cable car near the Pagoda Forest (about 100 yuan round trip). Getting there: From Zhengzhou Passenger Center or Zhengzhou East Railway Station, take a bus to Dengfeng, then transfer to Bus 8 or take a taxi for about 20 minutes to the scenic area. By car, it's about 1.5 hours from Zhengzhou and about 1.5 hours from Luoyang. Plan 3 to 4 hours for the visit, or a full day if you add Sanhuang Village. Note: Follow the rules on incense and photography in the Changzhu Courtyard. The martial arts school performances and souvenirs nearby are expensive. Avoid holiday peak periods.

Shaolin Temple

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