Chinese Kung Fu Tour in Shaolin Temple
Immortal Bruce Lee, Incredible Jacky Chan, and Jet Li are the symbols of Chinese Kung Fu in the west. Want to experience firsthand the real-life art of Kungfu through your own eyes? Turn the fantasy of Hollywood movies into a real journey on your Chinese Kung Fu Tour and be the master of Chinese Kung Fu!
Chinese Kung Fu is a precious treasure that belongs to China and the whole world. We will take you to the cradle of Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu – the Shaolin Temple to enjoy rich humanities sights, antiquated natural sights, massive Shaolin Buddhist sculptures, and a Wushu Culture, as well as an elegant & 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 to the mysterious world of this ancient art to experience for yourself what has inspired the great action heroes of today’s movie blockbusters.
Shaolin Temple is located in the foothills of the Song Shan mountain range just fifteen minutes outside the town of Dengfeng, which is about two hours away from Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan. Buses run from Zhengzhou and Luoyang, another larger Henan city, 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 abroad to the United States by Chinese-American Kung-fu master Bruce Lee, whose agile movements in a series of his great movies swept American audiences off their feet. Thanks to the giant influence of the American movie industry, it soon swept across the world.
The entire globe was enchanted by the magic act, starting the upsurge of interest in Chinese Kung-fu. From then on, Chinese Kung-fu learners can be found everywhere. Now, Lee’s followers, Jacky Chan (Cheng Long) and Jet Lee (Li Lianjie) carry the baton pushing themselves to novel 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 place that is by all means, off the beaten path. For whatever reason you come, Shaolin Temple is worth a visit.
Shaolin Temple complex can be thought of as three major sights within the compound. You will enter through the main gateway where the tour buses park and you can purchase your entry tickets. This area has been refurbished to support hoards of tourists – souvenir vendors on both sides flank a large plaza.
Kung Fu Performance Hall: After you enter the complex, you will walk ten minutes or so to the Kung Fu performance hall. If you can manage to get there early in the morning, you’ll see students of all ages practicing outside in the grassy fields next to the walkway. Kung Fu is famous for its vigorous, powerful, simple, unadorned, and unpredictable style.
Its moves and tricks are short, simple, and succinct as well as versatile. While fighting, the masters would advance and retreat simultaneously. They need only a small space to execute their style of fistfight described as “fighting along 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 itself. Shaolin Temple is set on the mountainside. You’ll enter at the bottom and make your way up through the multiple halls to the top. The first hall you will encounter is Devajara Hall (Hall of the Heavenly Kings). It is characterized by double eaves flanked by a Bell Tower (this tower holds a great bronze bell) and a Drum Tower (this tower has an artistic drum).
The hall gates are guarded by two colored clay figures of Vajras. Inside the hall are statues of the four Heavenly Kings, each standing divinely while holding his distinctive weapon. Then you come to the main hall of the temple, Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian). The original was built in the Jin Dynasty but was destroyed in 1928. The present structure was restored from the original in 1986.
Enshrined in the middle of the hall are the statues of the Trinity Buddha – Sakyamuni, Amitabha (Emitofo), and Bhaisajyaguru (Yaoshifo, God of Medicine). Flanking the Trinity on both sides are eighteen Arhats. Go on and you will see the Sutra-Keeping Pavilion where Buddhist dignitaries lectured. A total of 5480 Buddhist sutras and rubbings are kept in the pavilion and the Hall of Abbot (Fangzhang Hall). This small hall is the best place for the abbots.
The Pagoda Forest: Another half-kilometer walk through a wooded path will bring you to the Pagoda Forest where there are nearly 250 stone and brick pagodas ranging 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 by all means, off the beaten path. For whatever reason you come, Shaolin Temple is worth a visit.
Day 1: Luoyang’s arrival
Today you will arrive in Luoyang. In the afternoon, you will visit the White Horse Temple. Located 12km east of the ancient capital city of Luoyang, facing the Luo River in the south and sitting back to the 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 Shaolin Temple by bus in this morning. You will stay at the local hotel for 3 days of Chinese Kung Fu study. Shaolin Temple is probably the most famous temple in China, not only because of its long history and its role in Chinese Buddhism, Shaolin Temple Pagoda but also because of its martial arts or Wushu Chan.
Day 3-5: Dengfeng
You will get the wonderful opportunity to take basic Chinese Kung Fu courses conducted by experienced local Kung Fu masters.
Day 6: Dengfeng – Luoyang
Transfer back to Luoyang, you will visit the Longmen Caves and Guanlin. Together with Mogao Caves, Yungang Caves, and Longmen Caves are known as the three great sculpture treasure houses of China.
Day 7: Luoyang departure
Today you will leave Luoyang with an unforgettable memory.
For more info about this wonderful Kung Fu tour or any China tours, please consult with China Connection Tours china-tour.cn.
