Yu Kung Fu Academy | Authentic Shaolin Training on Lianqing Mountain

The Master · 师父

"Fear no hardship. Never back down."

Shi Yan Chao started training at seven and was accepted into the Shaolin Temple by ten, one of the few trained inside the temple itself. He was chosen to learn the 72 Shaolin secret skills, and specialises in Tongzigong, the straight sword, fire staff, scorpion fist and the monkey system.

As one of the youngest monks sent abroad with the Shaolin Temple performance team, he performed in Korea, Germany, Singapore and Russia before coming home to Tengzhou to teach. Today he teaches students from all over the world.

Shi Yan Chao 释延超34th-generation Shaolin monk · Headmaster

2017

The gate opensShifu Shi Yan Chao returns to Tengzhou and founds Yu Kung Fu.

2018

RecognisedStudents receive an official Shaolin Temple grading invitation.

2019

To the sourceThe school travels to the Shaolin Temple. Two students earn 4th Duan.

2020

Into the ringStudents specialise in Sanda, winning provincial titles and pro fights.

2023

RebuiltAfter a pause, the school reopens in a new home.

2024

On the roadThe group travels across China, training as it goes.

2025

The mountainInvited to train at the Buddhist temple on Lianqing Mountain. Home.

A day at the temple.

Six hours of training, Monday to Saturday

No two days are the same. The schedule changes with the season, the weather, and what you are working on. Here is what a typical day looks like.

See a typical day, hour by hour

05:30Wake. The temple bell, then the mountain air.晨钟

06:00Qigong and conditioning. Breath before strength. Required of every student.气功

08:30Forms training. Traditional Shaolin sequences, corrected one inch at a time.套路

11:30Lunch and rest. Three meals a day, cooked at the temple.午膳

14:30Sanda. Applied combat: striking, takedowns, sparring.散打

17:00Power and flexibility. The quiet work that makes the rest possible.功力

19:30Study or stillness. Theory, meditation, or your own practice.静坐

21:00Rest. Tomorrow is the same day. That is the point.安眠

武What you'll train.

Taught daily, in person

拳

Shaolin Forms

Shàolín Quán

Fifteen centuries of external and internal art. Stances, kicks, empty hand and weapon forms, and the famed 72 secret skills.

散打

Sanda

Sàndǎ · Free Fighting

Chinese kickboxing. Strikes, sweeps, takedowns and Shuai Jiao, pressure tested in sparring and amateur competition year round.

腾空

Jumps & Rolls

Téngkōng · Acrobatics

Kick ups, tornado and butterfly kicks, back flips, aerials and 720s. Explosive movement, built one step at a time.

柔

Power Stretching

Róu · Flexibility

Extreme Shaolin flexibility. Partner and PNF work for splits, high kicks and fast recovery.

力

Power Training

Lì · Strength

Bodyweight conditioning. Stair crawls, pagoda runs, horse stance holds and sandbags, scaled to any body.

太极

Tai Chi

Tàijí · Grand Ultimate

The internal art. Moving meditation and pushing hands for balance, breath and control under pressure.

气

Qigong & Meditation

Qìgōng · Energy Work

Soft Qigong for breath and health, hard Qigong to condition the body, and daily meditation to still the mind.

Your plan is your own.

Every schedule is built around you. Specialise full-time in Sanda, forms or acrobatics.

Start →

How long you stay.

Four programs, from one week to a year

入门

1 to 3 weeks

Initiation

Your first immersion in Shaolin training and daily temple life. Learn the routine and the basics.

筑基

1 to 4 months

Foundation

Build real foundations in movement and conditioning. Forms deepen and Sanda begins in earnest.

修炼

5 to 8 months

Cultivation

Deepen your skill through steady, focused training. Sparring sharpens; weapons and advanced forms open up.

蜕变

9 to 12 months

Transformation

Full immersion in temple life, where training becomes the way you live. Some students go on to compete.

住Where you'll live.

Room, board, and recovery

You don't come to Lianqing Mountain for a holiday. But good rest makes better training, so the rooms are comfortable: a hot shower, heating in winter, and a clean, quiet room with a door that closes. Sleep well, and train harder the next day.

卧

Twin rooms

Shared by two, each with a private bathroom and 24/7 hot water.

温

Every season

Air conditioning in summer, heating through the winter.

网

Connected

Reliable Wi-Fi for family calls and remote work or study.

洗

On-site laundry

Wash between sessions. Cleaning kept to a daily standard.

食

Three meals

Temple-cooked Chinese food, seasonal and made to fuel training.

山

The setting

A working Buddhist temple on the mountain. Forest, stone, a waterfall.

The temple gate山门

The dining hall食堂

A place to recover静

Two packages · one mountain

Kung fu is for everyone. So are our packages.

Same training, meals and care in both. The only difference is where you sleep.

The school rooms宿舍

The school rooms

Modern rooms in the school building, private bathroom, 24/7 hot water, air conditioning in summer and heating through the winter.

Starting from 4,000 RMB

Reserve your place →

The courtyard house精武堂

The courtyard house

A traditional Shaolin courtyard house on the temple grounds, behind the carved doors of the 精武堂 hall. Quieter, closer to the old way of living.

Starting from 3,500 RMB

Reserve your place →

700 RMB

about $107 USD · reserves either package

A single registration fee secures your place in either package. Tuition is confirmed by program length. Airport pickup from Tengzhou East can be arranged.

Reserve your place →

Both packages include

Expert training, six hours a day
On-site accommodation
Three temple meals a day
A personalised training plan
Help with your travel and visa documents

Not included

Uniform (bought on arrival)
International flights
Airport pickup
Personal items and laundry products
Food or transport outside the school

From students, in their words

What students say.

"The best year of my life. In under two weeks I landed a move I had chased for months. I am never leaving."

Tasman, Australia

1+ year

"Incredibly transformative. Strength, power, speed, flexibility. Shifu is patient and supporting. A small kung fu family. Xie Xie Shifu."

Hassan, Dubai

11 months

"From my first backflip to my first headstance. Kung fu is more than movements. I graded to Level 4 Duan Wei at the Shaolin Temple."

Renan, Mexico

2 years

"Master Yu takes the time to read each student. I returned home fitter and stronger, and the traditional food is absolutely delicious."

Victoria, Australia

age 38

"Such an incredible teacher. Individual training, the temple on top of the mountain, and ample time to study."

Naomi, England

1 month

"Small but nice, the training is individual, and the group is like a family. I will come back. Xièxie Shifu."

Daniel, Germany

2 weeks · returning

"Truly as advertised. A non-commercial approach and a personalised plan. They assisted me with all my travel."

Cat, Canada

beginner

"I wish I could stay longer. I learned about kung fu, Chinese culture and history from a warm, talented master."

Pritt, Norway

1 month

"Cracking food, warm showers, and a Master who really gets it."

Brad, Australia

Getting there · 滕州

How to get here.

Lianqing Mountain sits above Tengzhou in Shandong: forest, stone paths, a waterfall into a lake, and a working Buddhist temple. A short bus reaches the city on weekends.

Fly to Beijing or ShanghaiTwo of the best-connected airports in China.
High-speed train to Tengzhou East滕州东站. Fast, comfortable, and simple.
We collect youAirport pickup includes your train ticket, a first meal, and transport to the temple.

Before you come

Common questions.

Do I need any experience?

None at all. Beginners are welcome and every session adapts to your level.

What is included in the price?

Training, on-site accommodation and three meals a day.

What is the minimum stay?

One week. Most students stay a month or far longer.

Do I need a visa?

Yes, a study (X2) visa. We provide the supporting documents once you register.

Are rooms private or shared?

Usually shared by two, each with a private bathroom, hot water and AC or heating. Private rooms are available for an extra fee.

Is there internet?

Yes, Wi-Fi throughout the school for calls, study and remote work.

Which airport do I fly into?

Beijing or Shanghai, then a high-speed train to Tengzhou East. Airport pickup can be arranged.

What should I bring?

Training clothes, a towel and toiletries. Uniforms are bought on arrival.

How do I reserve a place?

Choose a program, pay the 700 RMB registration fee, and send your passport copy to info@yukungfu.com.

Do I need a VPN?

Yes. Set one up before you arrive in China. We recommend Astrill.

Come and train.

Applications are open year round, for every age and level. Tell us how long you can stay and we'll help you plan the rest.

一Choose a programFrom one week to a full year.

二Reserve your placePay the 700 RMB registration fee.

三Send your detailsPassport copy and arrival dates to info@yukungfu.com.

Apply on WhatsApp →

Learn, train and live kung fu in China.

Founded in 2017.
Nine years of training.

寺Life at the temple.

A day at the temple.