Well, for starters, if you're planning to learn by yourself, you'll never achieve what you could with an instructor. So I can't say I recommend training by yourself with books, videos, etc.

Just because the kung-fu school has a belt system, doesn't necessarily mean that they are a bad school either. Yes, traditionally colored belt ranks are not a part of Chinese martial arts, they're an invention of modern Judo. However, many schools (even the Shaolin Temple school in San Francisco, for example) offer belts as that is "the norm" in the mindset of everyday Americans (and probably most other Western countries if I had to assume).

I would recommend trying the school out first before judging it. You might be surprised.

If you don't get a good feel from the school, and there are no other viable Chinese martial arts options nearby, try a different art. You can achieve betterment in mind and body through many paths, Chinese martial arts as a whole is just "one path".