The Shaolin Temple is so famous that almost everyone, both in China and abroad, knows of it. It is located at the foot of Mount Song in Dengfeng City, Henan Province. Mount Song is one of the Five Great Mountains, specifically the Central Mountain. The entire Mount Song Scenic Area is divided into three sections: Shaolin Temple, Songyang, and Zhongyue. Among these, only the Shaolin Temple is a 5A-rated scenic spot, while the other two are rated 4A.
Because it is situated deep within the lush forests of Shaoshi Mountain in the hinterland of Mount Song, it was named “Shaolin Temple” (Temple in the Young Forest). Founded in the 19th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (495 AD), over 1,500 years ago, it is the ancestral temple of the Chan (Zen) sect of Chinese Buddhism and currently belongs to the Caodong school. The Shaolin Temple is renowned for Shaolin Kung Fu, which has been diligently researched, created, and continuously developed by generations of Shaolin warrior monks. The temple plays an important role in mainland China’s external exchanges, attracting people from all walks of life—including domestic and international tourists, celebrities, political dignitaries, high-ranking monks, and Buddhist devotees—who come to visit, pay respects, go on pilgrimages, and engage in cultural exchange.
In addition, the “Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in ‘The Centre of Heaven and Earth’,” including the Permanent Residence Complex of the Shaolin Temple, the Pagoda Forest, and the Chuzu Nunnery, have been designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
The biggest current issue with the Mount Song Shaolin Temple scenic area is,both the official website and the WeChat public account haven’t been updated for months.There is practically nowhere to find official information… You can only see operating hours and entrance details when purchasing tickets on Ctrip.
Traffic control is enforced in the outer areas of the scenic zone during holidays. Since we visited during the Qingming Festival, there was no need to worry about this; we simply navigated directly to the New Visitor Center parking lot. The parking lot is extremely well-built and spacious, and countless volunteers were guiding visitors right from the entrance.
Afterward, we took the scenic shuttle bus to the entrance of the Shaolin Temple area. There is a massive fleet of shuttle buses, so there was absolutely no need to queue. During the Qingming Festival, both parking and shuttle buses were free; you just needed to scan a QR code and fill in some basic information.
nThe Qingming Festival falls in spring, and the flowers were in full bloom. Everywhere was lush and green, and the weather was pleasantly warm—it even felt more like spring here than in Shanghai.
The Shaolin Temple was founded in the 19th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (495 AD). At that time, Emperor Xiaowen, Yuan Hong, built the temple on Shaoshi Mountain in Songshan to accommodate the Indian monk Batuo, who had come to pay homage to the court. Batuo used the Shaolin Temple as a place to propagate the Dharma, accepting many disciples. His most prominent students included Huiguang, known as the “Great Master of Vinaya Studies,” and Sengchou, hailed as “the greatest Chan master east of the Congling Mountains.” In the first year of the Yongping era (506 AD), the eminent Indian monks Ratnamati and Bodhiruci successively arrived at the Shaolin Temple to establish translation centers, setting up a scripture translation hall at the Sarira Stupa on the West Terrace of the temple. Together with Huiguang, they spent three years translating the *Dasabhumika-sutra* by the Indian Bodhisattva Vasubandhu. Subsequently, Huiguang propagated teachings such as the *Dharmaguptaka Vinaya* at the Shaolin Temple. After development over several generations, the Dharmaguptaka school was eventually formed. Early Vinaya studies at the Shaolin Temple prioritized the *Dharmaguptaka*, guided by precepts and Vinaya discipline, and supplemented by sutras and treatises. In the third year of the Xiaochang era under Emperor Xiaoming of the Northern Wei Dynasty (527 AD), Bodhidharma, revered as the 28th Patriarch of the Western Heavens in Chan Buddhism, arrived at the Shaolin Temple. Building upon the foundation laid by Batuo, he gathered numerous followers and taught Chan meditation. The community gradually expanded, the number of monks increased daily, and the Shaolin Temple progressively grew into a grand monastery. After practicing at the Shaolin Temple for many years, Bodhidharma transmitted the Dharma to Huike in the third year of the Tianping era under Emperor Xiaojing of the Eastern Wei Dynasty. From then on, Chan studies took root and flourished at the Shaolin Temple, ultimately establishing its status as the ancestral home of the Chan sect.
Regarding the Permanent Residence Complex of the Shaolin Temple, the buildings along the central axis from south to north are: the Mountain Gate (Qing Dynasty), the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Modern), the Mahavira Hall (Modern), the Sutra Library (Dharma Hall, Modern), the Abbot’s Courtyard (Qing Dynasty), the Lixue Pavilion (Ming Dynasty), and the Thousand Buddha Hall (Ming Dynasty).
nThe entrance Mountain Gate was built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. Centered above the doorway hangs a plaque inscribed with the characters “Shaolin Temple” in gold lettering on a black background, calligraphed by Emperor Kangxi.
Visitors are not allowed inside the subsequent historical buildings and can only peek through the doors. There are many ancient trees and stone steles within the courtyard. If interested, you can hire a tour guide to explain the stories behind them.
Exiting the Permanent Residence Complex and continuing forward leads to the Pagoda Forest, the final resting place of virtuous and prestigious monks throughout the history of the Shaolin Temple. After these monks passed away, their ashes (or remains) were placed in underground chambers, and pagodas were erected above them. The size, height, and number of tiers of each pagoda were determined by the depth of the monk’s Buddhist scholarship, their prestige, and their accumulated merit during their lifetime, though there are also some stupas containing physical relics or robes and alms bowls. The Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple is the largest and most numerous existing cluster of pagodas among Buddhist sites in China.
There are over 240 surviving brick and stone tomb pagodas dating from the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, covering a total area of approximately 14,000 square meters. The Pagoda Forest is a treasure trove for the comprehensive study of ancient Chinese brick and stone architecture and carving art.
There are also free martial arts performances within the scenic area at the Shaolin Martial Arts Hall. With multiple shows daily, you can check the schedule when passing by upon entry and arrive about half an hour before your chosen showtime. If you want a good seat, such as in the front center, you may need to purchase early admission; otherwise, you will likely be relegated to side seats or sitting on the floor. Overall, the performance is quite good—as a complimentary show included with the scenic area ticket, it is rather exciting and even features interactive segments.
Not far from the exit after watching the show, there is a vegetarian restaurant called Yiwei Shanfang. The ambiance is excellent, and it claims to be state-run. The food is well-prepared and reasonably priced, making it a great option for lunch. Inside the temple, there is also the Shaolin Joyful Land Vegetarian Restaurant, which offers simpler and cheaper meals, as well as Shaolin-themed merchandise.
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