Shaolin Monastery 嵩山少林寺
Dengfeng, China UNESCO World Heritage Site
Shaolin Monastery is a Chan Buddhist vihāra in Dengfeng and is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This Chinese AAAAA-rated tourist attraction features Chinese architecture and is the 11th most looked-up sight in China. It is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level and is part of the Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth”.
Planning a visit
The climate at the monastery changes with the seasons. July is the wettest month, with about 191 mm of rain and average highs of 28 °C. In contrast, December and January are the driest months, with about 11 mm of rain. January is also the coldest month, with average highs of 4 °C and lows of -6 °C. For warmer weather, April and May have average highs between 19 °C and 24 °C, while August remains warm with highs of 27 °C.
To reach the monastery, travelers can use Luoyang Beijiao Airport, which is 56 km away. The site is also 674 km from Beijing. The monastery is located near several other locations, such as Mount Song, which is 3.4 km away, and the Songyue Pagoda, 7.4 km away. Other nearby attractions include the White Horse Temple, located 39.1 km away, and the Longmen Grottoes, which is 43 km away. The monastery is open until 18:00, and the entrance fee is ¥100.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 29 °C. The wettest is July, with about 191 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 4 | 7 | 12 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 12 | 6 |
| Average low, °C | -6 | -4 | 1 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 9 | 2 | -4 |
| Rainfall, mm | 11 | 16 | 34 | 38 | 85 | 90 | 191 | 148 | 96 | 49 | 26 | 11 |
| Rainy days | 4 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 2 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
