The school fee is only part of the picture. If you plan a stay at a Kung Fu school in China, you also need to budget for your journey, possibly a visa, insurance and a few extras. In this guide you’ll find what these costs are, example budgets from one month to one year, and honest tips on how to pay less.
Shaolin Temple or Kung Fu school?
Many people search for the cost of “training at the Shaolin Temple” or “training with Shaolin monks”. The Shaolin Temple in Henan is a working monastery and a busy tourist site. Foreign students who want to train for weeks or months usually do so at a Kung Fu school in Henan Province.
Our school is one of them. Our headmaster Shi Yanlin is a 32nd-generation Shaolin monk and has been teaching international students since 1998, when he started at the Shaolin Temple.
The school fee: what it covers
At our school, one month costs $690 with VIP prices, and the longer you stay, the less you pay per month, down to $460. The price includes training six days a week in all styles, your room with private bathroom, three meals a day and the pick-up in Zhengzhou. There is no deposit, and you only pay once you have arrived.
You can find the full price list, short stays from one week and a price calculator on our Kung Fu school prices page. With the calculator, you can work out the school fee for your exact dates, room and options in a few seconds.
Training, room and meals are all part of the school fee.
Costs on top of the school fee
Travel to Zhengzhou
You fly or take the train to Zhengzhou. The price depends on where you start, the season and how early you book. From Zhengzhou, the pick-up is free. The drive takes about 1.5 hours from the train stations and about 2 hours from the airport. Read more in how to get here.
Visa
Until 31 December 2026, citizens of many countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days, and you can train with us during that time. Whether the rule continues in 2027 had not been announced as of November 2026.
For longer stays, we send you a free invitation letter for an X2 study visa. You pay the embassy fee, which depends on your nationality, plus the service fee of the visa centre where there is one. All current rules are on our visa page.
Visa extension in China
If you extend your stay in China, the local office in Jiaozuo charges a fee. For European citizens this is 500 yuan for one month plus 100 yuan for each additional month. You pay the fee to the school, and the school takes care of all the paperwork, including the trip to the office and back.
Insurance, uniform and everyday costs
- Travel insurance: we recommend insurance from your home country.
- School uniform (optional): 100 yuan in summer, 130 yuan in winter.
- Transfer back to the airport: $70.
- Trips: voluntary, for example to the Shaolin Temple. We tell you the cost before each trip.
- Personal spending: drinks, snacks and everyday items from the school shop on campus.
Optional extras such as a single room or half-day Chinese lessons are listed on the prices page.
Example budgets
This is what you pay at the school, using the cheapest option for each length of stay. For other lengths of stay, a single room or Chinese lessons, the price calculator gives you the exact amount. Add your travel, insurance and, depending on your stay, the visa or visa extension.
| Stay | At the school |
|---|---|
| 1 month | $730 (standard price) |
| 3 months | $1,940 (VIP, incl. $50 fee) |
| 6 months | $3,710 (VIP, incl. $50 fee) |
| 12 months | $5,930 (VIP, incl. $50 fee) |
For 12 months, that is less than $500 per month for training, room and all meals.
“The value for money is incredible. I paid less for a month of training than I would for a week in Europe – plus, the quality and environment was much better!”
Ben, United Kingdom · Read his report
Is VIP worth it?
VIP is a one-time fee of $50 that lowers your monthly price for this stay and all future stays. Returning students are VIP automatically. For a first stay, the numbers look like this:
- Up to one month: the standard price is $10 cheaper.
- 2 months: VIP saves you $30.
- 3 months: VIP saves you $70.
- 6 months: VIP saves you $190.
- 12 months: VIP saves you $310.
So VIP pays off from two months, or if you already know you want to come back. The price calculator shows you both prices side by side.
How to pay less
- Stay longer. The monthly price drops from $690 to $460.
- Pay for your whole stay in advance. Paying month by month is possible, but then each month costs the one-month price. Six months paid monthly cost $4,140 at VIP prices, paid in advance only $3,660.
- Come back. Returning students are VIP for free.
- Stay in the double room. It is included, a single room costs extra.
- Check the visa rules early. For a short stay, visa-free entry may be enough.
Leaving early? You get the difference back or keep it as credit for a later stay, whichever you prefer.
What to compare between schools
Prices of Kung Fu schools in China are hard to compare at first sight. These questions help:
- Are room, all meals and pick-up included, or charged separately?
- Does the room have its own bathroom and air conditioning?
- Do you have to pay an application fee or a deposit before you arrive?
- How big are the groups, and do the teachers speak English?
- What happens to your money if you leave early?
At our school, Kung Fu groups have about 5 to 16 students, a few more in summer, and our Shifus speak English. You can see a normal day on our training schedule and all styles on the pages for Shaolin Kung Fu, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Sanda.
Ready to start your training?
No deposit and no application fee. You only pay after you arrive at the school.
- Start any week
- Invitation letter for your visa
- Free pickup in Zhengzhou
FAQ
At our school, the school fee for one month is $730 at standard prices, including training, room, meals and pick-up. On top come your journey to Zhengzhou, travel insurance and, depending on your nationality and length of stay, a visa. You can calculate the school fee for your stay on our prices page.
No. You book your own trip to Zhengzhou. The pick-up from Zhengzhou airport or train station is free.
Until 31 December 2026, many nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 30 days. For longer stays, you pay the embassy fee for an X2 visa. The invitation letter from the school is free.
For European citizens, the office in Jiaozuo charges 500 yuan for one month plus 100 yuan for each additional month. The school handles the paperwork for you.
No. Trips are voluntary, and we tell you the cost before each trip.