Shaolin temple in Henan province near the town of Dengfeng is the best choice. Since most of the kung fu schools in Shaolin itself were closed down at the behest of a local abbot, Dengfeng has become the main centre for Shaolin training in China. Of the 40 or so schools in Dengfeng, Tagou is the biggest with 10,000 students. All the schools are different, so it’s impossible to recommend just one. If you’re interested, do some research to find out which will be best for you. Foreigners can expect to pay between ¥600 and ¥5,000 per month to train at a kungfu school in Dengfeng. They can also expect an almighty shock to the system: pre-dawn sirens as wake-up calls, heavy, relentless training all day with breaks only for food and sleep, and basic living conditions. It ain’t a walk in the park, that’s for sure.

The Shaolin temple at Songshan in Jilin Province north of Beijing is an alternative to Shaolin itself. The Siping City Shaolin Martial Arts Center offers training in meditation techniques including qigong and tai chi, as well as traditional Shaolin kung fu taught by experienced masters. Tuition costs US$300 per month, with an additional US$270 per month for accommodation and food.

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