XI’AN · SHAANXI
Xi’an was the capital where Chinese Buddhism took shape, and the Zhongnan Mountains to its south have sheltered hermits for centuries. For a stay with daily practice, most travellers go on by high-speed train to Wudang or towards Shaolin.
The Zhongnan Mountains, south of Xi’an Photo credits
Updated ·
Xi’an is the rail gateway to Wudang and Shaolin. Trains reach Wudangshan West from Xi’an East in 1 h 34 min; Wudang Kung Fu Academy charges US$85 a day with room and meals included. Luoyang Longmen, for Shaolin, is 1 h 15 min away. Hai Hui Shan’s group pilgrimage tours Xi’an’s ancestral temples on 6–10 January 2027.
Ask us about a stay near Xi’an| Place | Type | Getting there from Xi’an | Price | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hai Hui Shan China Pilgrimage 2027: Xi’an and Dunhuang | Guided Buddhist pilgrimage, run by a Melbourne foundation linked to Zhenningjing Temple | Route 3 runs 6–17 January 2027. The group arrives at Xi’an North on 6 January, visits Daci’en, Daxingshan, Qinglong, Famen, Xiangji, Xingjiao, Huayan and Caotang temples on 7–10 January, then travels on to Dunhuang. Nights are in hotels. | Twin room AUD 2,460 (RMB 11,880), or AUD 2,350 (RMB 11,280) if booked by 11 November 2026; single room AUD 2,800 (RMB 13,380). Hotels, transport, entry fees and three vegetarian meals a day are included; registration closes on 10 December 2026. | The organiser publishes the programme in English and Mandarin; ask how temple visits are interpreted. |
| Place | Type | Getting there from Xi’an | Price | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wudang Kung Fu Academy — Yuanhe Temple | Tai chi, kung fu and qigong school | Trains from Xi’an East to Wudangshan West take 1 h 34 min to 1 h 43 min (7 trains on 10 November 2026); 4 of them also stop at Xi’an North, from where the trip takes 2 h 03 min to 2 h 10 min. The academy is at Yuanhe Temple inside the Wudang scenic park; airport pickup costs US$35. | Under one month US$85 a day in a double room or US$95 in a single; over one month US$1,290 a month (double) or US$1,490 (single). Room, three meals and classes included. | Not stated; a translator lives at the academy. |
| Wudang Taoist Wellness Academy | Daoist tai chi and qigong academy | The same trains to Wudangshan West. The academy is in Zixiao village in the Wudang scenic area; its 2027 retreats include a round-trip transfer from Wudangshan Airport. | Ten-day English retreats on 18–28 May and 7–17 September 2027: EUR 1,800 (CNY 15,000) sharing or EUR 2,000 (CNY 17,000) in a single room, with meals and local transport. Study stays from CNY 6,000 a week, on a FAQ marked “to be updated”. | Yes: the retreats are in English, and the master speaks Mandarin and English. |
| Place | Type | Getting there from Xi’an | Price | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaolin Temple Traditional Kungfu Training Center | Kung fu school in the Shaolin scenic area | Trains from Xi’an North take 1 h 15 min to 1 h 47 min to Luoyang Longmen (73 trains on 10 November 2026) or 1 h 48 min to 2 h 32 min to Zhengzhou East (82 trains). The centre is 300 m east of Shaolin Temple and publishes no directions from either station; 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 via Luoyang Longmen or 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. |
The Tang-dynasty temple in Yanta District where Xuanzang translated the scriptures he brought back from India, beneath the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Good for a quiet half day. We have found no official notice of its regular opening hours or ticket price, so check on the day.
Louguantai, in Zhouzhi County at the foot of the Zhongnan Mountains, is one of the oldest Daoist sites in China; tradition holds that Laozi gave the Daodejing here. We have found no official notice of overnight stays for visitors there or in the Zhongnan hermitages, nor of official opening hours.
Xi’an has two high-speed stations for these trips: Xi’an East for most Wudang trains, and Xi’an North for Luoyang, Zhengzhou and the rest. All train times are from 12306 for 10 November 2026. Compare the schools 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.