Bird's eye view of Shaolin Yongzhi academy in the Songshan mountains

少林

Songshan Shaolin · Dengfeng · China

Shaolin Yongzhi Traditional Martial Arts School

Full-time Shaolin Kung Fu under Grandmaster Shi Yongzhi, about a 30 minute walk from the Shaolin Temple. You live on campus, train four or more hours a day from Monday to Friday, and we handle the paperwork in English.

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No application fee · a 15% deposit secures your place and is credited in full toward tuition

Why train here

A small school, taught the traditional way

The school is led by Grandmaster Shi Yongzhi and sits about a 30 minute walk from the Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Worldwide places international students there, so you have English support, secure online payment, and one team guiding you through the Invitation Letter, visa and travel preparation.

No. 01

Taught by the masters

You train under Grandmaster Shi Yongzhi and his senior masters, who are used to teaching international students. The order is the traditional one: basics first, then forms, weapons and conditioning, with close correction along the way.

No. 02

Beside the temple

The campus sits in the hills of Dengfeng, about a 30 minute walk from the Shaolin Temple. The surroundings are plain and quiet, and there is little to pull your attention away from practice.

No. 03

Small groups, a short season

The school is small, traditional, and closed for winter. It opens March 1 and closes December 15. Students are grouped by ability on arrival, so the corrections you get are your own.

Masters & lineage

Learn from Grandmaster Shi Yongzhi

Humility, perseverance, and inner strength. This is the true spirit of Shaolin.

Grandmaster Yongzhi leads the school and has spent his life teaching traditional Shaolin Kung Fu in Dengfeng. He is known for strict basics and patient correction, and he holds students to the same standard whether they stay two weeks or half a year.

Alongside him, a team of experienced masters and senior disciples takes the daily classes:

Corrections on structure, stance and how power is generated
Safe progressions for beginners and for long-term students
Guidance on meditation, daily discipline and the customs of the school

Classes are taught mainly in Chinese. The masters teach by demonstration and correction, which is how most students follow them from the first morning.

What you will learn

Training, five days a week

Training runs four or more hours a day, Monday to Friday, in separate blocks. Weekends are free. Students are grouped by ability on arrival, so beginners and experienced practitioners train at their own level.

What you train

Shaolin Kung Fu: stances, kicks, punches, footwork and forms
Conditioning for strength, endurance and resilience
Qigong and meditation
Weapons, beginning with staff and sword
Strength and mobility work to keep you training

Intermediate students add Sanda basics. Classes are taught mainly in Chinese, by masters experienced with international students.

Train at your level

All levels are welcome. The masters watch you train on the first day and place you in the group that fits.

Beginner: stances, basics, conditioning, close guidance.
Intermediate: forms, weapons, Sanda basics, applications.
Long stay: deeper forms, more weapons, a curriculum shaped around you.

Progress is measured in weeks, not days. A fortnight gives you the foundations and an honest picture of the work. A month or more lets the basics settle.

Daily rhythm

A day at the school

Training runs Monday to Friday. Weekends are free for rest, your own practice, or your own travel.

06:00Early morning training

07:00Breakfast

09:00Morning training block

12:00Lunch

15:00Afternoon training block

17:30Dinner

22:00Lights off. The dorm curfew is 10:00 p.m. on weekdays

* Blocks combine basics, forms, conditioning, qigong and applications by level. Times may shift with the season, the weather and the master's judgement.

Daily life

Simple living, plainly said

Life at the school is simple. You live on campus with the other students, eat what the kitchen cooks, and train around the same fixed hours every weekday. It is a traditional school, not a resort, and most people find that is the point.

A shared dormitory room, up to 3 students per room, separated by gender
Shared bathrooms, with the basics provided
Three meals a day, seven days a week
About a 30 minute walk to the Shaolin Temple
Training grounds, courtyards and quiet places to rest

If you would rather have a room of your own, a hotel room is available at the Shao Shi Shan Zhai Express Hotel close to campus, ¥120 per night (about $18). Rooms are generally available. This is a hotel room, not a single room at the school. The dorm Wi-Fi signal is weak, so the school recommends buying a local SIM card for data.

Three meals a day, cooked at the school and served seven days a week. The food is simple, local and filling: home-style Chinese dishes, enough to train on.

The school

Photos of Shaolin Yongzhi

The courtyard, the training grounds, and the daily life around them.

Group training session at Shaolin Yongzhi — Group training

Entrance to Shaolin Yongzhi Academy — School entrance

Bird's eye view of Shaolin Yongzhi School — The campus

Training ground at Shaolin Yongzhi School — Training ground

Students practicing Shaolin Kung Fu — Students in practice

Outdoor training area at Shaolin Yongzhi — Outdoor training area

Tuition & fees

Prices and how payment works

Prices are set officially in Chinese Yuan (RMB), with US Dollar figures given as estimates. One month is counted as 30 days and the minimum stay is 14 days. There is no maximum stay. Stays under one month are charged at ¥550 per day, and never more than the one month price, so any stay of 23 to 29 days costs ¥12,600, the same as a full month. The school is open March 1 to December 15 and closed for winter.

Short stay · 2 to 3 weeks

$1,137_{/2 wks}

¥7,700 total · ¥550 per day · minimum stay 14 days

The shortest stay the school accepts. Long enough to learn the basics properly and to see what full-time training asks of you. Three weeks is ¥11,550 (about $1,705).

Apply now

Standard stay

1 month full-time

$1,860_/mo

¥12,600 total · 15% deposit about $280

Thirty days of training, a shared room and three meals a day. Long enough for the basics to settle into the body. A 15% deposit secures the place and is credited in full toward tuition.

Reserve my place →

Longer stays

$1,687_/mo

¥11,400 per month on a 3 month stay

The longer you stay, the lower the monthly rate. There is no maximum stay, and deposits are available for 4 to 12 months.

Apply now

Duration	Rate	Total (est.)
2 weeks	¥550/day	¥7,700 · ~$1,137
3 weeks	¥550/day	¥11,550 · ~$1,705
1 month	¥12,600	¥12,600 · ~$1,860
2 months	¥12,000/mo	¥24,000 · ~$3,550
3 months	¥11,400/mo	¥34,200 · ~$5,060
4 to 12 months	on request	deposit available

Deposit and balance

There is no application fee. A 15% deposit, paid to Shaolin Worldwide through this website, secures your place and is credited in full toward your tuition. Paying it triggers the official Invitation Letter for your visa.

2 weeks: about $171
3 weeks: about $256
1 month: about $280
2 months: about $530
3 months: about $760
4 to 12 months: deposits available on the same terms

The school is closed in winter, so a single unbroken stay runs to about nine and a half months, and a 12 month booking spans the winter break. The deposit is non-refundable, but it can usually be moved to a later date within 6 months of your original arrival, subject to the school's approval. The remaining balance is due 14 days before arrival, by Alipay or WeChat Pay. It is not paid on arrival. If you leave early, unused days may be partially refunded at the Academy's sole discretion.

What is included

Full weekday training, 4 or more hours a day, Monday to Friday
A shared dormitory room, up to 3 per room, separated by gender
Three meals a day, seven days a week
The official Invitation Letter for your visa application

Not included: flights, visa fees, travel insurance (strongly advised), personal expenses and sightseeing.

Extras. Airport pickup, ¥500 per trip (about $74): it is not automatic, and must be requested in advance on the Travel Details Form, which is sent after your deposit is paid. Give your flight number and arrival time. The driver waits at the airport exit holding a white "Shaolin Yongzhi School" sign. Private hotel room at the Shao Shi Shan Zhai Express Hotel close to campus, ¥120 per night (about $18).

Enrollment process

How to enroll

Shaolin Worldwide places international students at the school. Booking through us gives you English support, secure online payment, and one team guiding you through the Invitation Letter, visa and travel preparation, from application to arrival.

Submit the application form

It is free, and there is no application fee. Tell us your dates, how long you want to stay and your experience. We confirm availability with the school.

Pay the 15% deposit

Paid to Shaolin Worldwide and credited in full toward your tuition. It secures your place and triggers the official Invitation Letter for your visa.

Complete the visa and travel forms

You receive the Invitation Letter and a travel guide. Request airport pickup here if you want it, with your flight number and arrival time.

Pay the balance, then travel

The balance is due 14 days before arrival, by Alipay or WeChat Pay. Arrive at the school before 9:00 p.m., while there are staff to check you in.

Start application → Email support

No application fee · 15% deposit credited toward tuition · balance due 14 days before arrival

Dengfeng, Henan · birthplace of Shaolin

Location & getting there

The school sits in the Shaolin Temple area of Dengfeng, about a 30 minute walk from the temple itself, with mountains, forests and old stone architecture around it.

Courtyard and mountains near Shaolin Yongzhi

SettingThe Shaolin Temple area of Dengfeng, Henan Province, where the martial art and Chan practice grew up together.
DistanceAbout a 30 minute walk to the Shaolin Temple, on mountain paths past rivers and old courtyards.
SeasonOpen March 1 to December 15 each year. Closed for winter.
Getting thereFly or take the train to Zhengzhou, then continue by train or car to the Shaolin area. A travel guide follows your deposit.
ArrivalArrive before 9:00 p.m. After that there are no staff to check you in, so plan flights with the journey from Zhengzhou in mind.
WeekendsFree. The school organises no trips, so students arrange their own. Overnight trips, for example to Zhengzhou, are allowed. The dorm curfew is 10:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

All of the answers below are confirmed by the school. If something is not here, email us and we will ask.

Do I need previous experience, or to be in good shape already?

No. All levels are welcome and many students arrive as beginners. The masters watch you train on the first day and place you in a group that matches your ability. Training is scaled to your condition and increased as your strength and mobility improve.

How long can I stay?

The minimum stay is 14 days. There is no maximum stay. The school is open March 1 to December 15 and closed for winter, so a single unbroken stay runs to about nine and a half months. A 12 month booking is possible, but it spans the winter break.

How is the tuition calculated?

One month is counted as 30 days. Stays under one month are charged at ¥550 per day, and never more than the one month price, so any stay of 23 to 29 days costs ¥12,600, the same as a full month. Longer stays are charged at a lower monthly rate: ¥12,000 per month for two months, ¥11,400 per month for three.

Is there an application fee?

No. The application form is free. The first payment is the 15% deposit, which is credited in full toward your tuition.

When is the remaining balance due?

The balance is due 14 days before arrival, by Alipay or WeChat Pay. It is not paid on arrival.

What happens to my deposit if my plans change?

The deposit is non-refundable. It can usually be moved to a later date within 6 months of your original arrival date, subject to the school's approval. If you leave early once training has started, unused days may be partially refunded at the Academy's sole discretion.

What is included in the fee, and what is not?

Included: full weekday training, a shared dormitory room, three meals a day seven days a week, and the official Invitation Letter. Not included: flights, visa fees, travel insurance (strongly advised), personal expenses and sightseeing. Airport pickup and a private hotel room are available as extras.

What visa do I need?

Most students apply for a short-term study visa (X2) or a tourist visa (L), depending on nationality and length of stay. The official Invitation Letter for the application is issued after your deposit is paid. Check the current requirements for your own country before you book flights.

What time do I need to arrive?

You must arrive at the school before 9:00 p.m. After that there are no staff to check you in. Plan your flights with the journey from Zhengzhou in mind, and leave yourself a margin.

How do I get to the school?

Fly or take the train to Zhengzhou, then continue by train or car to the Shaolin area. After your deposit is paid you receive a travel guide with the details.

Is airport pickup included?

No. Pickup is an extra, ¥500 per trip (about $74), and it is not automatic. Request it in advance on the Travel Details Form, which is sent after your deposit is paid, and give your flight number and arrival time. The driver waits at the airport exit holding a white "Shaolin Yongzhi School" sign.

Can I have a private room?

Yes, as a hotel room rather than a room at the school. The Shao Shi Shan Zhai Express Hotel is close to campus and costs ¥120 per night (about $18). Rooms are generally available. At the school itself, students share a dormitory room with up to two others, separated by gender.

Is there a curfew, and can I leave at weekends?

The dorm curfew is 10:00 p.m. on weekdays. There is no curfew at the hotel. Weekends are free and overnight trips, for example to Zhengzhou, are allowed.

Does the school organise weekend trips?

No. The school organises no trips. Students arrange their own travel at weekends.

What happens on my last day?

You can train in the morning and check out afterwards, leaving the same day.

Is there Wi-Fi?

The Wi-Fi signal in the dorm is weak. The school recommends buying a local SIM card for data.

Are there any health restrictions?

Yes. Students with underlying conditions, including hypertension and heart disease, may not train under the school's Code of Conduct, which every student signs on arrival. If you are unsure, speak to your doctor and tell us before you pay a deposit.

Can I work while I am in China?

You may not work in China during your stay. Remote work for a company outside China is fine.

What language are classes taught in?

Classes are taught mainly in Chinese. The masters are experienced with international students and teach by demonstration and correction, so the training itself is easy to follow.

Is the school suitable for women and solo travellers?

Yes. The campus is a structured environment with clear rules and a curfew, dormitory rooms are separated by gender, and many international students arrive alone.

Begin your training

Ready to train at Shaolin Yongzhi?

The school is small and the season is short, March 1 to December 15. Send the application form and we will confirm your dates with the school, then send the deposit link and guide you through the Invitation Letter, visa and travel.

Start application form → Email support

No application fee · 15% deposit credited toward tuition · open March 1 to December 15