Renowned as a place of birth of Zen Buddhism and the spiritual house of Chinese martial arts, the Temple of Shaolin remains a pillar of the cultural and historical meaning in China. Immersed on the Shaoshi range of Mount Song in the province of Henan, the 1,500 -year -old monastery has transcended its religious roots to become a UNESCO World Heritage and a world -renowned tourist destination.
Over the years, the Temple of Shaolin has gained global fame not only as a sacred Buddhist sanctuary but as a symbol of Shaolin’s Kung Kung – a tradition of martial arts immortalized in countless films and shows. The 1982 film Temple of Shaolin Interpreted by Jet introduced them millions all over the world to the powerful disciplined life of the monks of Shaolin. A 2011 remake, with Jackie Chan, further consolidated the legendary status of the temple, showing the incredible strength and agility of the monks.
A flourishing hub of martial arts and tourism
Driven by this film fame, the Temple of Shaolin has become a hub for the training of martial arts and cultural tourism. According to ABC News in 2001, the surrounding village Shaolin hosted over 50 schools and 50,000 martial arts students, transforming it into an epicenter for education in Kung Fu.
Visitors can enjoy the living demonstrations of Kung Fu in the ground of the Temple or watch performance groups on tour all over the world. The souvenir-da nunchakus and staff to clothing and religious-access accessories are available on site and through the main e-commerce platforms.
The entrance to the overview of the Shaolin temple area currently costs 80 RMB (about $ 11), with additional costs for shuttle or cable car. According to China without censorship, the temple welcomes millions of tourists every year.
Scandal around the abbot Shi Yongxin
Since 1999, the temple has been led by Abbot Shi Yongxin, a controversial figure whose mandate has brought both modernization and criticism. Recently, it was Pocated under investigation for alleged bad conduct, including embezzlement, violation of the monastic codes and committing to long -term extramarital relationships, also according to reports, children the children.
Shi Yongxin had previously faced a repercussions for excessively marketing the Temple of Shaolin, transforming the sacred site into what some critics called a feat led by tourism. Despite this, the temple remains operating, continuing to host visitors and support its traditional activities.
In response to the current scandal, the Shaolin temple has reassured the public that the operations remain unchanged. The monastery promised transparency, affirming it Updates on the survey It will be shared in due course for interested visitors.
ZNEWS
