Shi Miao Hai · Shaolin Kung Fu Academy
Train at the school · Songshan, Dengfeng

Apply & train with Shi Miao Hai.

A streamlined application process. Read through, then send your form — we will reply within a few days.

i. Where you stay On-site accommodation

You stay in our small school with a little courtyard, surrounded by nature. Shared dormitories with bunk beds, Chinese-style mattress, pillow and blanket, convertible air conditioning. Separate rooms and bathrooms for female students.
Our school is not associated with shaolin temple.

Wi-Fi
Internet connection on site
Washing Machine
On site
Snack Shop
Near the basketball field
Coworking Space
Reading & quiet area
15 min to City
Taxi ~¥15–20
Three Meals
Cooked daily, included
ii. A typical day at the school Mon — Sat

The rhythm is regular and clear. Three training sessions and three meals a day, six days a week. Schedules shift slightly with the season and the weather.

Training sessions
6:00 — 7:00 amMorning training — power, basics, conditioning
9:00 — 11:00 amMid-morning — forms, weapons, technique
2:30 — 5:00 pmAfternoon — Sanda, partner work, refinement

When the whistle is blown, you have 10 minutes to get ready and line up at the school gate.

Meals
~ 7:00 amBreakfast
~ 11:00 amLunch
~ 6:00 pmDinner
Variations through the week
iii. Pricing — per week All prices in CNY (¥)

The price below is fully inclusive: three training sessions a day, three meals a day, accommodation in shared room, certificate of participation upon request, and government taxes. Stays are flexible — from one week to six months (26 weeks).
(for longer stays, please get in touch)

DurationTotal
1 week¥ 5 000
2 weeks¥ 7 000
3 weeks¥ 9 000
4 weeks¥ 11 000
5 weeks¥ 13 000
6 weeks¥ 15 000
7 weeks¥ 17 000
8 weeks¥ 19 000
9 weeks¥ 21 000
DurationTotal
10 weeks¥ 23 000
11 weeks¥ 25 000
12 weeks¥ 27 000
13 weeks¥ 29 000
14 weeks¥ 31 000
15 weeks¥ 33 000
16 weeks¥ 35 000
17 weeks¥ 37 000
18 weeks¥ 39 000
DurationTotal
19 weeks¥ 41 000
20 weeks¥ 43 000
21 weeks¥ 45 000
22 weeks¥ 47 000
23 weeks¥ 49 000
24 weeks¥ 51 000
25 weeks¥ 53 000
26 weeks¥ 55 000
Included

Three daily Kung Fu sessions · breakfast, lunch, dinner · accommodation · certificate of participation upon request · government taxes

Not included

Flights & train tickets · airport transfer · visa fees (varies by country)

Payment

A 30% reservation fee secures your place. The remainder is paid on arrival in China — cash in CNY, EUR, USD or GBP. AliPay and WeChat sometimes do not work for foreign accounts. ATMs in Dengfeng charge around 1.5% in fees and are usually the cheapest option.

v. Visa & formalities Important — read carefully

China requires a passport valid for at least six months with at least two blank pages, plus a visa appropriate for your stay length and nationality.

Stays of 30 nights or fewer — many nationalities qualify for visa-free entry to China under current policy. Please check with your local embassy or here

For longer stays, most students travel on a tourist (L) visa, applied for at your local Chinese embassy or consulate before you travel. This is the simplest route and the one we recommend for the majority of stays.

Student (X) visa — optional. If you would prefer to come on a student visa, that is also possible. Please note the required invitation letter is difficult to obtain and is a paid service:

If you'd like to take the student-visa route, get in touch and we'll guide you through it.

Apply early. Visa applications can be submitted up to five months before departure, and our space is limited. The earlier you register, the easier the rest becomes.

vi. How to apply — four steps

Applying to the school is straightforward. Here is the path from your first message to your first morning training session.

i

Inform yourself about the visa

Before anything else, look into the visa requirements for your nationality. For stays of 30 days or fewer, many travellers qualify for visa-free entry. For longer stays, most students travel on a tourist (L) visa; a student (X) visa is also possible but needs a paid invitation letter (see the visa section above). Visa formalities are your own responsibility — the school does not submit the application for you.

ii

Reserve your spot & fill in the application form

Once you know your dates, complete the application form and send it back to the email address printed at the top. Your place is secured with a 30% reservation fee; the remainder is paid on arrival in China. We use your form to prepare the school for you and to issue any documents you need.

iii

Finalise your visa documents

If you are taking the student (X) visa route, we can issue the required invitation letter once your reservation is confirmed — a paid service (€400 up to 3 months, €800 up to 6 months). On a tourist visa you won't need it. Submit your visa application to your local Chinese consulate and wait for approval before booking anything else.

iv

Book your flights

With your visa confirmed, book your flight to Zhengzhou (CGO) — the closest airport, about 90 minutes from the school. Send us your arrival details and we will share a packing list, transfer instructions, and a final briefing in the days before you fly.

vii. School rules

The school is our Kung Fu family. Please approach our school with respect to Chinese culture, your fellow students, the coaches and the Master.

viii. Frequently asked questions
i. Who can join the training camp?

The school is open to adults and teenagers over 12 who are passionate about martial arts and Chinese culture. No prior Kung Fu experience is required — beginners often have an advantage by starting fresh. The training adapts to different fitness levels, so age is not a barrier in itself. Motivation and willingness to learn matter most.

ii. What documents do I need?

You will need a passport valid for at least six months with at least two blank pages, and a visa appropriate for your stay. Most students travel visa-free (stays of 30 days or fewer) or on a tourist (L) visa. If you take the student (X) visa route, we can issue the required invitation letter as a paid service (€400 up to 3 months, €800 up to 6 months). For detailed visa information, the official Chinese visa portal is the best source.

iii. How early should I prepare?

As early as possible — space at the school is limited. Visa applications can be submitted up to five months before departure, so the earlier you register, the more breathing room you have for documents, flights, and final preparation.

iv. When can I arrive? Are there fixed start dates?

The school does not have fixed start or end dates — you can join whenever it suits you. The only exception is the winter break from December 20th to February 20th, when the school is closed.

v. I don't speak Chinese. How will I manage?

Language barriers are part of the adventure. Instructors and students communicate with gestures, demonstrations, and translation tools. Most of the technical instruction happens by example anyway — you copy, you correct, you copy again. The challenge of learning across languages tends to create some of the strongest bonds at the school.

vi. What should I pack?

The school provides your training outfit, Kung Fu shoes, and the basic essentials (bowl, chopsticks, bedding). What to bring yourself:

  • Comfortable sneakers for running and city days
  • Several training T-shirts
  • City clothes for weekends
  • Any personal medication you might need — many foreign products are not sold in China
  • Toiletries and toilet paper for the first few days (you can buy more in town)
  • A power adapter for Chinese plugs
vii. What is daily life at the school like?

The school runs as a Kung Fu family. You are not treated as a guest — you sweep your room, make your bed, eat with everyone, and may be asked to help carry the master's shopping. This is part of the practice. Discipline and respect matter: line up at the gate within ten minutes of the whistle; be back in the school by 8:30 pm; quiet in common areas after 9:30 pm; no smoking or drinking on school grounds. Repeated breaches can lead to expulsion.

viii. What can I expect to gain over time?
After 2 weeks

You will have a sense of Chinese culture, the basics of Kung Fu, and your first complete form. You will have started Sanda, acrobatics, and Weapon Taolu, and you will have climbed the ten thousand steps of Mount Song.

After 2 months

You will have completed your first weapon Taolu and built a solid foundation in Sanda striking and kicking. You may have done your first backflip. Running up the mountain for the eighth time will feel easier. Your stability, strength, and flexibility will increase noticeably, your breathing will calm, and your energy will move more freely.

After 6 months

You will be proficient in several forms. Waking at 5:30 am for power training will no longer feel difficult. Running Mount Song will become part of your rest day. Your explosiveness will have improved dramatically. Through training, meditation, and Qigong, your mind will be calmer, your awareness sharper. The basics will be second nature, and you can begin refining the smallest details — in your Kung Fu and elsewhere.

ix. How do I get from Zhengzhou Airport to the school?

Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO) is about 90 minutes from the school. Several options:

  • School pickup at baggage claim — our driver brings you straight to the school. The most convenient option, especially for late arrivals or if you do not yet have a working SIM card. Ask us to arrange it.
  • Taxi — booked through the DiDi app once you have data on your phone.
  • Bus from the long-distance bus station to Dengfeng, then a taxi to the school. The cheapest option but the slowest.
x. What if I get hurt or sick?

Your health and safety are the school's priority. Inform the instructors immediately if you are injured or unwell — even if you can still attend the lineup. The school has access to Chinese medicine doctors and hospitals for proper care. Bring personal medication for minor ailments, since some foreign products are not available in China. We strongly recommend travel and health insurance covering your full stay.

xi. How do I stay in touch with home?

Common services like Gmail, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook are blocked in China. Download a VPN before you fly — some big-name providers do not work, so try a smaller one such as LetsVPN. WeChat is essential in China — install it before arriving. It handles messaging, payments, translation, and contact with the school.

xii. What about food, water, and daily expenses?

Three meals a day are included — Chinese cooking, often vegetable-heavy with rice, noodles, and a rotation of local dishes. Do not drink tap water — the school provides large water jars to refill your bottle. A small shop on site sells snacks; the hotel building has a restaurant if you want a change. Plan a small weekly budget for snacks, toiletries, the occasional taxi, and city outings.

xiii. Can I leave the school during my stay?

Yes — on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, after class. A DiDi taxi to Dengfeng city centre costs around ¥15–20. For longer trips (a sightseeing weekend, a long weekend away), inform the master in advance and ask for permission. The school is a structured environment — keeping the master in the loop is part of how it works.

xiv. Refunds & cancellation

EU consumers have a 14-day right of withdrawal from the date of purchase, with full reimbursement. Outside that window, refunds are handled case by case. We are not responsible for visa denials, school admission decisions, travel restrictions, or force majeure. The full policy is on our refund & cancellation page.

Begin your application

Send your form. Reserve your place.

The application form takes about ten minutes to complete. We reply within a few days with availability, payment instructions, and visa documents. Your 30% reservation fee secures the dates.