The Shaolin Temple

The Shaolin Temple, or Shaolin Monastery in the region of Songshan Mountain, 13 kilometers northwest to Dengfeng City, Henan Province. It is the birthplace for both the famous Martial Arts of Shaolin and the Chan sect of Chinese Buddhism and is reputed to be 'the Number One Temple under Heaven'. Shaolin Temple history can date back to Northern Wei Dynasty (386 - 534), and it played an important role on the development of the Buddhism in China. Shaolin Temple literally means “temple in the thick forests of Shaoshi Mountain”. It sets a background against a Wuru Peak, and enjoys a natural barrier by right of surrounded multipeaked mountains and beautiful sceneries. As Chinese Kungfu also originated from Shaolin Temple, it has been recognized as the origin of Chan Buddhism and the cradle of Kungfu.Shaolin Temple embraces many exciting attractions, such as the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tianwangdian), the Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave and the Martial Art Training Center. Visitors may follow the virtual guide to visit the temple. The visiting usually takes about 2-4 hours.