The Shaolin Temple was built in 496A.D. and is regarded as the birthplace of Chinese Zen (Chen) Buddhism. Aside from the elegant stone and brick carvings in the Pagoda Forest nearby, the Shaolin Temple is also well-known for its martial arts (Shaolin Gongfu).
Pagoda Forest
Please visit the following sites for more information:
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/henan/luoyang/songshan_shaolin.htm
http://www.paulnoll.com/China/Tourism/tourist-Shaolin-scenes.html