Here's the answer up front, because most articles bury it: full-time training at a real Shaolin school in China costs $1,150 to $1,860 per month, all-inclusive: that's accommodation, three meals a day, and all your training. Long-term commitments bring it down as low as $670/month. Below is the complete breakdown: every school's actual prices, every extra cost people forget, and two real all-in examples.
$1,150 to $1,860 / month, all-inclusive
Tuition, room and all meals in one price. The only extras are a one-time application fee, arrival insurance, flights, and pocket money. A full one-month trip from Europe runs around £2,200 all-in; three months about £3,900, less than many people spend on a single month of rent in London.
School-by-school pricing (2026)
These are the current rates at the four schools we place international students at. All prices are all-inclusive: training, accommodation and three meals a day. For the full comparison of what each school is like, read Best Shaolin Kung Fu Schools in China for Foreigners.
| School | Short stays | Monthly | Long-term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaolin Tagou | $60/day under a month | $1,150/month | 3 mo $3,450 · 6 mo $6,900 · 12 mo $13,800 |
| Shaolin Yongzhi | Not offered | ~$1,860 one month | from ~$1,775/month for longer stays |
| Shaolin Zhong Wu | $100/day | from $1,500/month | as low as $670/month on a 12-month prepay |
| Wudang Jingwu | Contact us for current rates, it varies by program and duration | ||
Shaolin Tagou is the most price-competitive at $1,150/month, and the longer you commit, the cheaper each month gets everywhere. The standout long-term deal is Shaolin Zhong Wu's 12-month prepay at $670/month: under half the standard rate.
The extras nobody budgets for
Tuition is the big number, but four smaller costs sit around it:
- Application fee (one-time): $100 at most schools; $215 at Yongzhi. Paid when you apply through Shaolin Worldwide.
- School insurance (on arrival, in RMB): around ¥215 (~$30) for a month, up to ¥1,000 (~$140) for a year.
- Flights into Zhengzhou: roughly £400 to £700 from Europe, $600 to $1,000 from the US. Zhengzhou (CGO) is the airport for Dengfeng and the Shaolin area; we coordinate your airport transfer from there.
- Personal spending: about $100 to $150/month covers snacks, phone data, laundry, the occasional trip into town. Life at the school is genuinely all-inclusive, so it's hard to spend much more.
You'll also need a Chinese visa. We provide the official acceptance letter your application needs, and fees vary by nationality.
Two real all-in examples
≈ £2,200 all-in
Flights (~£550) + application fee ($100) + one month tuition ($1,150, all-inclusive) + insurance (~$30) + spending money (~$150). Everything (where you sleep, what you eat, and 5 to 6 days a week of full-time training) is inside that number.
≈ £3,900 all-in
The same flights and fees, but tuition drops to $3,450 for the full three months. Per week, this is where training in China becomes remarkably cheap, and three months is where the real physical transformation happens.
How paying actually works
- Choose your school and fill in the registration form on Shaolin Worldwide, about ten minutes.
- Pay the one-time application fee ($100 at most schools; $215 at Yongzhi).
- Once approved, pay a 20% deposit to lock in your start date.
- Pay the remaining balance directly to the school in RMB cash when you arrive. No hidden fees in between.
How to keep the cost down
- Commit longer. Every school discounts longer stays; Zhong Wu's 12-month prepay at $670/month is the single biggest saving available.
- Fly smart. Booking Zhengzhou flights 2 to 3 months out, midweek, typically lands you at the bottom of the £400 to £700 range.
- Don't over-pack spending money. With food and lodging covered, most students genuinely can't spend more than ~$150/month at the school.
Frequently asked questions
What's included in the monthly price?
Accommodation, three meals a day, and all training: typically multiple sessions a day, five to six days a week. It's a genuinely all-inclusive price, which is why the extras list above is so short.
Is training Kung Fu in China cheaper than training at home?
Almost always. $1,150 to $1,860/month buys you full-time daily instruction, food and lodging. Compare that with Western martial arts gym fees plus rent plus food for the same period. Most students find China is a fraction of the cost per training hour.
Do I pay everything up front?
No. You pay the application fee when you apply, a 20% deposit once you're approved, and the balance in RMB cash when you arrive at the school.
Which school is cheapest?
Shaolin Tagou has the lowest standard monthly rate ($1,150/month). For long stays, Shaolin Zhong Wu's 12-month prepay at $670/month is the cheapest option overall.
Are there hidden costs?
No. That's the point of this breakdown. Application fee, arrival insurance, flights and pocket money are the complete list. The schools quote all-inclusive prices and stick to them.
Ready to go?
Pick your school and start the application. We handle the school liaison, your visa acceptance letter, pre-departure guidance and airport transfer coordination:
World's largest Kung Fu school · from $1,150/month→ Apply to Shaolin Yongzhi
Intimate school · from ~$1,775/month→ Apply to Shaolin Zhong Wu
Near the Shaolin Temple · from $1,500/month→ Apply to Wudang Jingwu
Broadest curriculum · Shaolin lineage→
Not sure which school fits your budget and goals? Get in touch and we'll walk you through it.
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