Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng, Zhengzhou

Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple (少林寺塔林) is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level and an important component of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage property “Historic Monuments of Dengfeng in ‘The Centre of Heaven and Earth’.” Located about 300 meters west of the permanent monastery complex of Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, it is the burial ground of eminent Shaolin monks from successive dynasties and the largest surviving group of ancient pagodas in China. Covering more than 14,000 square meters, the site preserves over 200 brick and stone funerary pagodas dating from the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty and is often described as an “open-air museum of ancient pagoda art.” It can easily be visited together with the Shaolin Temple Permanent Courtyard and Sanhuangzhai.

Best Time to Visit

Season

April to October is suitable for visiting, when the ancient cypress trees around the pagoda forest are lush and green. Spring and autumn offer soft natural light that is particularly suitable for appreciating the carvings and architectural details of the pagodas. Summer visitors should prepare for strong sunshine, while winter brings fewer tourists and a quieter, more contemplative atmosphere.

Best Time of Day

The Pagoda Forest follows the general opening hours of the Shaolin Scenic Area, usually 07:30–17:30, with last admission at 17:00. It is recommended to visit after exploring the main Shaolin Temple monastery complex. Morning light is particularly suitable for viewing the carvings on the pagodas, while tour groups can become concentrated during public holidays, so visiting outside peak periods is preferable.

Transportation

By Car: Navigate to the Shaolin Temple Scenic Area Visitor Center and leave your vehicle in the scenic-area parking lot. From the main monastery complex, walk west for several minutes to reach the Pagoda Forest.

By Public Transportation: After arriving in Dengfeng, take a local bus or taxi to the Shaolin Scenic Area.

Getting Around the Scenic Area: The Pagoda Forest is explored entirely on foot over relatively flat stone-paved paths, making the visit easy and comfortable. Scenic-area sightseeing vehicles stop near the entrance to the main monastery complex, but there is no separate shuttle specifically serving the Pagoda Forest.

Core Attractions

🗼 Pagoda of Chan Master Fawan

The Pagoda of Chan Master Fawan (法玩禅师塔) is the oldest surviving Tang-dynasty pagoda in the Pagoda Forest. Built in the seventh year of the Zhenyuan reign of the Tang Dynasty, it is a pavilion-style brick pagoda decorated with surviving relief carvings of flying apsaras and guardian figures. It is an important example of Tang-dynasty Buddhist architecture and stone-carving art.

🧱 Yugong Pagoda

The Yugong Pagoda (裕公塔), also known as the Fuyu Pagoda, is the funerary pagoda of the eminent Yuan-dynasty monk Fuyu. This hexagonal multi-eaved brick pagoda commemorates a major figure in the revival of Shaolin Temple. Fuyu is regarded as an important restorer of the monastery and was the only Shaolin monk to be posthumously granted the noble title of Duke by the imperial court. Its refined carvings and distinctive structure make it one of the most recognizable pagodas in the forest.

🪨 Pagoda of Monk Tanran

The Pagoda of Monk Tanran (坦然和尚塔) is a distinctive stone pagoda decorated with elaborate reliefs of the Eight Auspicious Symbols, mythical animals, and other traditional motifs. Its detailed stonework demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship used in Shaolin funerary architecture.

🗿 Pagoda of Chan Master Suxi

The Pagoda of Chan Master Suxi (素喜禅师塔) is one of the more recent funerary pagodas in the complex. Its carvings include unusual modern subjects such as automobiles, clearly reflecting the era in which it was constructed and showing how the artistic language of the Pagoda Forest continued to evolve over time.

🌲 Ancient Pagoda Groups

Hundreds of funerary pagodas from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties are distributed throughout the site. Most pagodas have an odd number of tiers, while their size, height, number of stories, and decorative complexity traditionally reflected the achievements, religious status, and reputation of the monk commemorated. Walking among the dense collection of pagodas offers a vivid sense of the more than one-thousand-year continuity of Shaolin Buddhist tradition.

Recommended visiting time: Allow approximately 1–1.5 hours. A recommended sightseeing sequence is Shaolin Temple Permanent Courtyard → Pagoda Forest, followed by a visit to Sanhuangzhai.

Accommodation and Food

Accommodation: There is no accommodation inside the Pagoda Forest. Travelers are advised to stay in central Dengfeng, where a wider range of hotels and guesthouses is available.

Food: Local options include Shaolin vegetarian cuisine and Dengfeng sesame flatbread. Shops around the Pagoda Forest are limited, so visitors should bring their own drinking water.

Travel Tips

Admission: The Pagoda Forest does not require a separate ticket and is included in the main admission ticket for the Shaolin Scenic Area. Students and senior visitors may receive discounts with valid identification, while visitors aged 70 and above are exempt from the main entrance fee. Current ticket policies and prices are subject to on-site information.

Respect the Memorial Site: The pagodas are funerary monuments dedicated to generations of eminent Shaolin monks, so visitors should maintain a quiet and respectful manner. The ancient structures are valuable cultural relics, and climbing, shaking, carving, or touching structural components of the pagodas is strictly prohibited.

Photography and Interpretation: Photography is permitted, but flash photography should not be used. Hiring an official guide is recommended for visitors who want to understand the historical background, architectural styles, and individual stories associated with the different pagodas.

Outdoor Preparation: Ancient cypress trees provide abundant shade, but mosquitoes and other insects can be common in summer, so insect protection is recommended. The pathways are paved with stone slabs, making comfortable walking shoes advisable.

Protect the Cultural Heritage: Please take all rubbish away with you and help preserve the historic pagodas, ancient trees, and cultural environment of the Shaolin Temple Pagoda Forest.