BEIJING · HEBEI
Beijing’s great temples are for visiting rather than staying. For a stay with daily practice, take a high-speed train south into Hebei, where Bailin Chan Monastery keeps the teaching of the Chan master Zhaozhou, or go on to Shaolin.
The entrance archway of Yonghe Temple, Beijing Photo credits
Updated ·
From Beijing West, the fastest trains reach Shijiazhuang in 1 h 00 min and Xingtai East in 1 h 36 min. Bailin Chan Monastery near Shijiazhuang holds a winter retreat from 23 December 2026 to 28 January 2027. Shaolin schools at Xingtai and Shexian take foreigners; Shexian charges US$70 a day with room and meals. Book with each venue directly.
Ask us about a stay near Beijing| Place | Type | Getting there from Beijing | Price | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailin Chan Monastery (Zhaozhou) | Chan temple | High-speed trains from Beijing West to Shijiazhuang take 1 h 00 min to 2 h 41 min (105 trains on 10 November 2026). The temple is at 23 Shita East Road in Zhaoxian, south-east of Shijiazhuang; it publishes no directions for the last leg, so ask when you register. | No fee published. The winter retreat runs from 23 December 2026 to 28 January 2027 in whole seven-day blocks, for ages 18–65 with some meditation experience; online registration had not opened on 26 October 2026. | Not stated; a 2009 account says Western practitioners have joined retreats. Ask about language and documents when you register. |
| Place | Type | Getting there from Beijing | Price | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaolin Temple Cultural Center — Shexian | Shaolin kung fu, Baji, tai chi and Chan meditation school | The school suggests the high-speed train to Handan and picks you up there for free. Trains from Beijing West to Handan East take 1 h 37 min to 2 h 35 min (31 trains on 10 November 2026). The school is at Chishuiwan in Shexian and gives no journey time from Handan. | Under one week US$70 a day; one week US$400; one month US$850; plus a US$100 application fee. Training, a room shared by two and three meals included; single room US$15 a day extra. | Yes: the school says its master speaks English and courses are taught in English. |
| Shaolin Temple & Meihua Quan — Xingtai Centre | Meihua quan, Shaolin kung fu, tai chi and qigong school | The centre recommends the bullet train from Beijing West to Xingtai East: 1 h 36 min to 2 h 18 min (22 trains on 10 November 2026). Its driver collects you at Xingtai East for 100 RMB. | Training fee quoted on application, plus a US$200 application fee. Shared rooms and three meals a day; single room US$30 a day extra, VIP room US$42 a day extra. Its FAQ places training between March and November. | The centre takes foreign students; confirm your instructor’s teaching language. |
| Place | Type | Getting there from Beijing | Price | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaolin Temple Traditional Kungfu Training Center | Kung fu school in the Shaolin scenic area | Trains from Beijing West to Zhengzhou East take 2 h 11 min to 4 h 12 min (77 trains on 10 November 2026). The centre is 300 m east of Shaolin Temple and publishes no directions from Zhengzhou East; ask when you book. | No fixed prices: quotes depend on the room, the length of stay (from 1–3 days to a year) and the group size; meals are included in quotes. | Ask; the centre takes foreign students and sends visa invitation letters. |
| Shaolin Pastoral Kungfu School (Xuantian Temple) | Kung fu school at Xuantian Temple | The same trains to Zhengzhou East. The school is at Xuantian Temple, 3.5 km east of Shaolin Temple; free pickup comes with stays of three months or more. | One week US$700, one month US$1,250, three months US$3,750; a room with shower and air conditioning, meals and tuition included. | Not stated; ask before booking. |
A working Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Dongcheng District, good for a quiet half day. According to its own website, it opens 09:00–16:30 from 1 November to 31 March (last tickets 16:00) and 09:00–17:00 from 1 April to 31 October (last tickets 16:30). Tickets cost 25 CNY, or 12 CNY at half price. Passport holders can buy full-price tickets on its WeChat account; half-price tickets are sold at the ticket office. Checked 3 November 2026.
A Quanzhen Daoist temple in Xicheng District and the seat of the China Taoist Association. We have found no current official notice of its opening hours or ticket price, so check on the day. We have also found no official notice of overnight stays for visitors.
Most trains south leave from Beijing West; Beijing Fengtai has a few more. One direct train a day runs from Beijing West to Wudangshan West, taking 6 h 39 min. All train times are from 12306 for 10 November 2026. Compare more places to stay and practise in our guides:
We have not visited these places. Travel times are the timetable figures for the date shown; confirm dates, prices and admission with each host.