Chinese Kung Fu Tour at Shaolin Temple
The immortal Bruce Lee, the incredible Jacky Chan and Jet Li, the symbols of Chinese kung fu in the West. He wants to experience first hand the real life art of Kungfu through his own eyes! Turn the fantasy of Hollywood movies into the real trip to your Chinese Kung Fu Tour and be the master of chinese kung fu!
Chinese Kung Fu is a precious treasure that belongs not only to China but to the whole world. We will take you to the cradle of Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu – Shaolin Temple for rich humanities view, antiquated natural view, massive Shaolin Buddhist sculptures and Wushu culture as well as elegant and rare geological natural wonder. You will see power and grace combined in a demonstration of the art of Shaolin Kung fu by a Shaolin Master. Be transported into the mysterious world of this ancient art to experience for yourself what has inspired today’s greatest blockbuster action heroes.
The Shaolin Temple is located at the foothills of the Song Shan mountain range, just fifteen minutes from the city of Dengfeng, which is about two hours from Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan. Buses run from Zhengzhou and Luoyang, another larger city in Henan, to Dengfeng. Alternatively, if you are staying in Zhengzhou or Luoyang, you can arrange a day tour from your hotel.
Most Westerners know Shaolin from martial arts movies – Shaolin Kung Fu was born here. In modern times, Chinese Kung-fu was first introduced to the United States by Chinese-American Kung-fu master Bruce Lee, whose agile moves in a series of his great films took American audiences by storm. Thanks to the enormous influence of the American film industry, it soon spread throughout the world. The whole world was enchanted by the magic act, which started the rise of interest in Chinese Kung-fu. From then on, Chinese Kung-fu trainees can be found everywhere. Now, Lee fans Jacky Chan (Cheng Long) and Jet Lee (Li Lianjie) rule the roost, pushing themselves to new heights.
But it is more famous in Asia as the birthplace of the Zen Buddhism movement. Visitors come to Shaolin to study Kung Fu, meditate in the ancient surroundings, or enjoy an ancient historical site that is, of course, off the beaten path. Whatever the reason you come, the Shaolin Temple is worth visiting.
The Shaolin Temple complex can be considered as three main places within the complex. You will enter through a main entrance where the tour buses park and you can buy your entrance tickets. This area has been renovated to accommodate hordes of tourists: there is a large square flanked by souvenir vendors on both sides.
Kung Fu Performance Hall: After entering the complex, you will walk about ten minutes to the Kung Fu Performance Hall. If you can get there early in the morning, you’ll see students of all ages practicing outside on the grassy fields by the walkway. Kung Fu is famous for its vigorous, powerful, simple, unadorned, and unpredictable style. His moves and tricks are short, simple, and succinct, as well as versatile. As they fought, the masters moved forward and back simultaneously. They only need a small space to execute their fist fighting style described as “fighting in a single straight line. It’s amazing!”
Shaolin Temple: After the performance, you can take electric cars or walk another fifteen to twenty minutes to the temple. The Shaolin Temple is located on the mountainside. You will enter at the bottom and climb through the multiple corridors to the top. The first hall you will come across is Devajara Hall (Hall of Heavenly Kings). It is characterized by a double eaves flanked from behind by a Bell Tower (this tower supports a large bronze bell) and a Drum Tower (this tower supports an artistic drum). The hall doors are guarded by two colored clay figures of Vajras. Inside the hall are statues of the four Heavenly Kings, each standing divinely while holding their signature weapon. You then arrive at the main hall of the temple, Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian). The original was built in the Jin Dynasty but destroyed in 1928. The current structure was restored from the original in 1986. In the center of the hall are the statues of the Trinity Buddha: Sakyamuni, Amitabha (Emitofo) and Bhaisajyaguru (Yaoshifo , God of Medicine). Flanking the Trinity on either side are eighteen Arhats. Continue on and you will see the Sutra Keeping Pavilion where Buddhist dignitaries gave lectures. A total of 5,480 Buddhist sutras and rubbings are kept in the pavilion and the Abbot’s Hall (Fangzhang Hall). This small hall is the resting place of the abbots.
The Pagoda Forest: Another half-kilometre walk through a forested path will take you to the Pagoda Forest, where there are about 250 stone and brick pagodas dating from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618- 1911).
You can come here to study Kung Fu, meditate in the ancient surroundings, or enjoy an ancient historical place that is, of course, off the beaten path. Whatever the reason you come, the Shaolin Temple is worth visiting.
Day 1: Arrive in Luoyang
Today you will arrive in Luoyang. In the afternoon, you will visit the Temple of the White Horse. Located 12 km east of the ancient capital city of Luoyang, facing the Luo River in the south and sitting behind Mang Hill in the north, is the White Horse Temple, the first Buddhist monastery in China.
Day 2: Luoyang – Dengfeng
Travel to the birthplace of Chinese Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple by bus this morning. You will stay at the local hotel for 3 days of Chinese Kung Fu study. The Shaolin Temple is probably the most famous temple in China, not only for its long history and its role in Chinese Buddhism, the Shaolin Temple Pagoda, but also for its martial arts or Wushu Chan.
Day 3-5: Dengfeng
You will have the wonderful opportunity to take basic Chinese Kung Fu courses taught by experienced local Kung Fu masters.
Day 6: Dengfeng – Luoyang
Transfer back to Luoyang, you will visit Longmen and Guanlin caves. Along with Mogao Caves, Yungang Caves, Longmen Caves are known as China’s three great sculpture treasure houses.
Day 7: Depart Luoyang
Today you will leave Luoyang with an unforgettable memory.
For more information about this wonderful Kung Fu tour, or any china tourscheck with China Connection Tours china-tour.cn.