Shaolin Temple is located in Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China

The Songshan scenic area includes three sub-areas, and the management authority of Shaolin Temple only extends within its mountain gate. Founded in the 19th year of the Taihe era of the Northern Wei Dynasty (495 AD), it was built by Emperor Xiaowen to accommodate the Indian monk Batuo, who came to preach. It is named 'Shaolin Temple' because it is situated in the dense forests of the Shaoshi Mountain in the hinterland of Mount Song. The residential compound of Shaolin Temple covers an area of about 57,600 square meters. The current abbot is Shi Yongxin, the 47th generation of the Caodong school and the 33rd successor. Shaolin Temple is not only the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism but also the origin of Chinese Kung Fu, known as the 'ancestral court of Chan Buddhism and the holy land of Kung Fu,' and is acclaimed as 'the foremost temple under heaven.' It is famous worldwide for its Shaolin Kung Fu, developed and continuously evolved by generations of Shaolin monks, with the saying 'All martial arts under heaven originated from Shaolin, and Shaolin martial arts are the best under heaven.' It is a World Cultural Heritage site, a key national cultural relics protection unit, and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. In August 2010, the historical architectural complex including the Shaolin Temple residential compound, Chuzu'an, and the Pagoda Forest was listed as a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO.