Train at Shaolin Tagou, the World's Largest Kung Fu School
Thirty five thousand students train on one campus at the foot of Mount Song. Shaolin Worldwide is the school's international enrollment partner, from your acceptance letter to your visa.
The largest Kung Fu school in the birthplace of the art
Shaolin Tagou Martial Arts School, 少林塔沟武术学校, sits in Dengfeng at the foot of Mount Song, a short drive from the original Shaolin Temple. Its campus covers 550,000 square metres, with 19 gymnasiums and more than 400 teachers.
Founded by Master Liu Baoshan with a small group of students, on the mountain where Shaolin Kung Fu began.
Thousands of Tagou students perform at the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony, watched by more than four billion people.
Over 20,800 international students from more than 50 countries have trained here. The school is approved by China's Ministry of Education to enroll them.
Scale, record, and a real international community
Nowhere else is this big
35,000 students on one campus, and the training grounds to match. Beginners train beside people who have given their lives to the art, which changes how quickly you learn.
A competition record no school matches
131 individual world titles and 4,916 medals across more than 500 competitions. Twenty one consecutive provincial Sanda team titles. This is where China's elite is made.
You will not be the only foreigner
Students from over 50 countries live, eat, and train together, with English speaking support throughout. Complete beginners are welcome, at any age.
Taught the way the school trains its own champions
Stay a day, stay a year. The masters meet you where you are and move you forward.
You are placed by level on arrival, then trained in three sessions a day, five days a week. Everything is included in one price: your training, your room, and three meals.
- Traditional Shaolin Kung Fu, forms, basics, and weapons
- Sanda, Chinese free combat, and Tai Chi
- Qi Gong, Xing Yi Quan, Ba Gua Zhang, Ba Ji Quan, Taekwondo
- Optional Mandarin, calligraphy, and Buddhist studies
Structure is the method
Five hours of training across three sessions, Monday to Friday. Weekends are yours.
* Times shift a little by season and by program level.
The same halls, the same masters, every day
A room, three meals, and nothing to arrange
International students live in the Shaolin Wushu International Training Center, renovated to three star hotel standard in 2015. Accommodation and food are included in tuition, with no nightly fees and no extras.
- Your roomShared double with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, wardrobe, desk, and a private bathroom. A single room is available for $200 USD a month more.
- Hot waterTwelve hours a day, from 8pm through to 8am.
- MealsThree warm meals a day, seven days a week, in the shared dining hall. Tell us about dietary needs before you arrive.
- Rest daysWeekends are free. The Shaolin Temple, Mount Song, the glass cliff bridge, and the old city walls are all within reach.
Numbers earned in competition
More individual world championship titles than any other Kung Fu school.
Across more than 500 domestic and international competitions.
Consecutive provincial Sanda team championships.
Six months at Tagou changed how I train. Shaolin Worldwide had my visa letter and enrollment sorted before I landed.Marcus T. · Germany · 6 months
I arrived a complete beginner. Two weeks later I was training beside students from twenty countries, learning forms I never thought I could do.Sarah L. · United Kingdom · 3 months
I have trained at schools in four countries. Tagou is on another level. Come for at least three months.Alejandro R. · Brazil · 4 months
One price, everything included
Tuition is set by the school in RMB. The figures below are the exact school prices with US dollar estimates alongside.
- LocationDayu Road West Section, beside National Highway 207, Dengfeng, Zhengzhou, Henan Province. Fly into Zhengzhou (CGO), around 80km away.
- TrainingShaolin Kung Fu, Sanda, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Xing Yi, Ba Gua, Ba Ji, Taekwondo. All levels, from complete beginner.
- DurationFrom a single day to a full year. Enrollment is open year round, and you choose your own start date.
- IncludedTraining, shared accommodation, and three meals a day, every day.
- Not includedFlights, visa fees, school insurance (215 to 1,000 RMB by duration, paid on arrival), and personal spending.
A $100 USD application fee covers school liaison, your official acceptance letter, and visa guidance. The balance of tuition is paid to the school in RMB when you arrive. A private single room is $200 USD a month more.
Every duration, at the school's exact prices
| Duration | Rate | Total (RMB) | Total (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily | 360 RMB/day | 360 RMB | ~$60 |
| 1 month | 6,900 RMB/mo | 6,900 RMB | ~$1,150 |
| 2 months | 6,900 RMB/mo | 13,800 RMB | ~$2,300 |
| 3 months | 6,900 RMB/mo | 20,700 RMB | ~$3,450 |
| 6 months | 6,900 RMB/mo | 41,400 RMB | ~$6,900 |
| 9 months | 6,900 RMB/mo | 62,100 RMB | ~$10,350 |
| 12 months | 6,900 RMB/mo | 82,800 RMB | ~$13,800 |
Any duration in between is charged at the same flat monthly rate. USD figures are estimates at the prevailing rate.
School insurance, paid on arrival in RMB
| Stay | Insurance (RMB) | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | 215 RMB | ~$30 |
| 2 months | 310 RMB | ~$43 |
| 3 months | 405 RMB | ~$56 |
| 4 to 6 months | 500 RMB | ~$69 |
| 7 months | 715 RMB | ~$99 |
| 8 months | 810 RMB | ~$112 |
| 9 months | 905 RMB | ~$126 |
| 10 to 12 months | 1,000 RMB | ~$139 |
Insurance is required for every international student and is paid directly to the school.
What to bring
- Passport and Chinese visa, student (X) or tourist (L). We provide the acceptance letter.
- Training clothes, athletic shoes, and shower sandals.
- RMB in cash for tuition, insurance, and spending.
- Personal medication, basic first aid, and a reusable water bottle.
- Warm layers for cool mornings and a light rain jacket.
- WeChat or Alipay, which you will use for almost everything in China.
Four steps, and we handle the paperwork
Shaolin Worldwide is the school's international enrollment partner. You get English support, secure payment, and one team guiding your acceptance letter, visa, and travel from application to arrival.
Submit your application
Tell us your dates, how long you want to stay, and your experience. The form is at the bottom of this page.
Pay the fee and deposit
A $100 application fee opens your enrollment, then a 20% tuition deposit holds your start date.
Get your letter and visa
We liaise with the school and issue your official acceptance letter. Apply at your nearest embassy, and allow four to eight weeks.
Fly to Zhengzhou and train
Travel on to Dengfeng, settle into your room, and pay the balance of tuition and insurance in RMB.
Questions people ask first
Do I need any Kung Fu experience?
Can adults train here, or is it mostly children?
What visa do I need?
How much does it cost in total?
Is there a minimum stay?
Do I need to speak Chinese?
How safe is it for women and for people travelling alone?
What does the $100 application fee cover?
Train at the largest Kung Fu school in the world
Places are held in the order applications arrive. Send yours and we will confirm availability with the school, then send your payment links and visa guidance.