For this tour, you have two options and can choose to start from Luoyang or Zhengzhou.
Stepping over the grey stone threshold of Shaolin Temple, it feels like crossing a barrier of time. The halls with grey-tiled roofs stretch along the slopes of Mount Song; their vermilion pillars have been smoothed and mellowed by the passage of years. Bronze bells under the eaves tinkle gently in the wind, mingling with the faint shouts in the distance — the lingering echoes of the warrior monks’ ongoing morning training.
Inside the Mahavira Hall, curling incense smoke wreathes around the portraits of eminent monks from past dynasties. Outside the hall, the ground of the martial arts training ground is etched with indentations of varying depths, worn into it by countless footsteps over hundreds of years. Each mark holds a legend of Shaolin martial arts.
Following the stone-paved path to the Forest of Stupas, you will see more than a hundred brick and stone stupas standing quietly there. Scattered in varying heights, they are carved with the dharma names and life stories of revered monks through the ages. Sunlight filters through the gaps between the stupas, casting dappled light and shadow on the ground. It is as if you can glimpse the figures of those eminent monks meditating, sitting in Zen, and imparting martial arts skills in the past. This place is not only a repository of Shaolin spirit, but also the cradle of martial arts heritage. Every stupa whispers the millennium-old wisdom of the unity of Chan and martial arts.
When you arrive at the Shaolin Martial Arts Hall, the thrilling Shaolin martial arts performances on show will leave you cheering and applauding enthusiastically.
Then you will follow a martial arts master to learn martial arts. Beginners don’t have to feel nervous—Shaolin Kung Fu places great emphasis on building a solid foundation.
The Kung Fu instructor will first demonstrate the horse stance: stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, bend your knees and sink your body down, keep your back straight, and let your hands rest naturally at your waist sides. “Do not let your knees extend beyond your toes. Keep your centre of gravity steady, like a deeply rooted pine tree.” This will allow you to spend an enjoyable hour learning Kung Fu with ease.
A delicious vegetarian lunch is included in the package, and after the tour, you will return to Zhengzhou or Luoyang.