Already I was confused regarding the day. My iPad said Thursday but its calendar highlighted Wednesday. My laptop showed Wednesday, April 2nd. The reason for my disorientation was our schedule had been changed and I couldn’t follow remember what was next.
This is where we slept last night. Pretty swanky, but we saw no other guests.
© All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of RJ, a member of English 8.
From the hotel, we drove to the Shaolin School of Kung Fu. Our guide, Lisa, told us the attendees were 95% boys with 5% girls. We saw no girls. (She wore the same clothes as the day before: red track pants and quilted jacket. The forecast for the day: 20 degrees)
© All Rights Reserved by Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
© All Rights Reserved by Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
We went inside for a Kung Fu performance, which must have lasted a good half hour or more. I took a couple of videos but deleted them because they were blurry. The little guy in white, the youngest but rapidly advancing pupil, demonstrated clutching a bowl shaped object to his midriff by muscle control. To prove authenticity, a pole was inserted through a hole in the object (was it a bell?) then lifted and carried around as he hung firmly attached, belly-up.
© All Rights Reserved by Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4-s8TBB6dw (4.49 min) A peak at Kung Fu training.
Quick Facts:
- Home of Shaolin School of Kung Fu
- Established 495 A.D.
- 10,000 students
- Ages 3 to 18 (complete education here, equivalent to finishing high-school)
- 95% boys / 5% girls
- Half-day school / half-day Kung Fu training
- This is a private school (parents pay for room, board, and tuition)
- One month holiday in February during Chinese New Year
- Parents can come to visit on weekends
- Costs (10,000 Yuan) under $2,000 U.S. per year
- Attending this school is good for finding a job later
- Can open own Kung Fu school in other countries instead of finding a job
- Famous personalities from this school: Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan
Pagoda Forest / Shaolin Temple
A short distance away we visited the Pagoda Forest. Rain drizzled as we walked around. Young girls giggled and stared and begged to have their picture taken with the foreigners.
© All Rights Reserved by Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagoda_Forest_at_Shaolin_Temple
This is what the tombs look like.
© All Rights Reserved by Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
© All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of RJ, a member of English 8.
Quick Facts:
- Graveyard with 248 tombs for important monks
- Depending on life’s accomplishments = size of tomb
- Depending on number of supporters (donations) = size of tomb
- Tombs built during an eminent monk’s lifetime, not after death, and added to till he died
Some highlights at the Temple
© All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of RJ, a member of English 8. (The well is picture below)
© All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of RJ, a member of English 8. (This is the preserved well.)
Protectors of the Temple
© All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of RJ, a member of English 8.
© All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of RJ, a member of English 8.
An Altar
© All Rights Reserved. Used by permission of RJ, a member of English 8.
Next on September 5, Xian: Day 7, Part 2
For more related posts, click on China tab at top of page
How the Cookie Crumbles 
August 29, 2014 at 6:44 pm
The cemetery is wonderful. Isn’t it strange all cultures have some fierce protectors of their temples?
xxx
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August 29, 2014 at 8:57 pm
Nice to see you, Red. Interesting indeed.
Talking about cemeteries. Something about them is coming up again here, which I find quite interesting.
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August 29, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Smiling what wonderful pictures and I love the running narrative. This must have been the trip of a lifetime. Thanks for including me in your journey. Take care, Bill
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August 29, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Indeed, Bill, it WAS the trip of a lifetime. I hadn’t traveled in almost 20 years because I thought I’d done all I wanted to. I had other fish to fry. Then this trip came along and I couldn’t say no. 😀 😀
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August 29, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Swanky hotel but odd that you saw no other guests. Interesting graveyard. Reminds me of the graveyards in New Orleans that are at sea level and they build upward. Those are scary faced protectors of the Temple. Looks like this was a very interesting time. 🙂
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August 29, 2014 at 9:01 pm
Yes it was interesting and my brain was soggy with information. I’m glad I took the trip though. Did silly things because I had no idea how sleep deprived I was. 😀
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August 29, 2014 at 7:34 pm
Oh man, that protector looks scary. As for the school—“Established 495 A.D”—that’s amazing. To think it could have such longevity.
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August 29, 2014 at 9:02 pm
Initially it was to teach the monks to protect themselves from predators in the forest with regular household utensils (broom anyone?)
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August 29, 2014 at 7:37 pm
You certainly got to see various cities and people in China. Did you ever feel just overwhelmed by the culture, and its history, so different from your own?
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August 29, 2014 at 9:04 pm
I experience information overLOAD. My brain cells didn’t breath or rotate after the first five days. 😀 😀 😀
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August 30, 2014 at 7:08 am
I might have gone into overload shock after five hours, lol. I doubt I’d ever make a visit of my own, but I’m certainly enjoying the virtual one on your ticket, Tess. Thank you!
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August 30, 2014 at 11:09 am
You are so welcome, Joanna. Each time I write up a segment, I surprise myself. “Did we really do that? Was I really there?” 🙂
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August 31, 2014 at 7:59 am
I feel like that too, about my trip to Rome many moons ago, and Disney, too, about 48 moons after that. Wonderful feeling, isn’t it?
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August 31, 2014 at 9:58 am
It is–even small details. Memories. 🙂
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August 29, 2014 at 7:38 pm
So fascinating Tess. The tombs are incredible as if they are small temples. That was quite the hotel you were staying at!
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August 29, 2014 at 9:05 pm
Yes, it was but it seemed empty. I believe this was the one where more was spent on ‘decoration’ than what the building cost. 🙂
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August 29, 2014 at 10:22 pm
It looks very extravagant!
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August 30, 2014 at 10:39 am
Extravagant. Exactly. 🙂
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August 29, 2014 at 10:13 pm
These are amazing pictures. Like many others I was intrigued by the graveyard. I’m excited to read the next post!.
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August 30, 2014 at 10:38 am
You’re sweet, Darlene. I’m glad you’re enjoying the pictures. I’ve forgotten so much that I’m surprised each time I write a post. Good excuse to relive my vacation. ❤
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August 29, 2014 at 11:14 pm
So beautiful Tess. I would have thoroughly enjoyed this day, all of it.
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August 30, 2014 at 10:41 am
A lot of walking this day and the drizzle was a pain but all in all not a bad day. ❤
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August 30, 2014 at 1:32 am
Have you an explanation for the concrete arrangement with the two posts and the hole? This looks like one of the most interesting visits of the tour!
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August 30, 2014 at 10:59 am
Hi Andrew. I’ve gone back and specified what it is, thanks to you. That the preserved well written up in the plaque.
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August 30, 2014 at 1:42 am
Brill’ love the signs etc being in english. I had a date problem also, I forgot to alter the time to local time on my camera… 😉
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August 30, 2014 at 10:59 am
😀 It hadn’t occurred to me I would think about time.
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August 30, 2014 at 1:44 am
Wow! So interesting and great pictures. I wish I’d be a little mouse in your pocket.
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August 30, 2014 at 11:02 am
😀 😀 Yes, that might have been nice. You’re welcome aboard this time around. Thank you, Len.
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August 30, 2014 at 1:57 am
Hi Tess ~ Oh the cemetery is so different looking – like a village of tiny temples.
I’m enjoying this trip 🙂
Ellespeth
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August 30, 2014 at 11:04 am
I know. Who would have thought that monks and abbots would have such ‘rich’ symbols in memory of their life achievements?
Nice to see you Ellespeth. 😉
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August 30, 2014 at 4:30 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
You will find several posts on a visit to China on How the cookie crumbles and if you have missed the previous six days you can catch up in the China directory. In the meantime I enjoyed this post particularly as I have seen Shaolin warriors perform and they are spectacular.
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August 30, 2014 at 4:31 am
Stunning sculptures & great pictures telling a fascinating story!
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August 30, 2014 at 11:06 am
Thanks, Julia. I’m getting some help, by way of more pictures, from one of the men on our tour. They’re better than my iPad photos.
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August 30, 2014 at 7:32 am
I wouldn’t want to mess with the temple guards!
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August 30, 2014 at 11:09 am
Scary guys, right? And huge. 🙂
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August 30, 2014 at 7:59 am
The school is very cool, it has such a long history and Bruce Lee! Love the graveyard and the protectors. Just think, only $2000 a year, some schools here cost that a month and those are the cheap ones.
I simply love your travels. I am so glad you jumped on this one.
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August 30, 2014 at 11:12 am
The at 10,000 Yuan sounded like a lot but when I converted to USD, I was shocked. Still the average wage is only $1000.00 a month.
Thanks, Val for enjoying my tour. I’m glad I jumped on this trip as well. ❤
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August 30, 2014 at 8:50 am
fascinating! I’m surprised they let in any females to the Kung Fu school. How long was your trip again? I like how you’re doing your recap of the trip with a snippet a week 🙂
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August 30, 2014 at 11:18 am
Me too. But even at 5%, that’s 500 girls and we saw nary a one. 😦
My trip was 24 days. I could make the posts longer instead of breaking into parts, but going by my own experience, I don’t have time to read all the blogs I subscribe to let alone l-o-n-g ones. ❤
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August 30, 2014 at 11:55 am
wow! I didn’t realize it was so long. and I know what you mean about not having time to read….another reason I like the way you’re posting about the trip is that I know there will be a post every Friday and so I’ve tried to remember to look for it! maybe after year end is over at work I might be able to stick to a regular posting schedule. oh to be retired 😉
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August 31, 2014 at 9:43 am
😀 😀 😀 You’re sweet to read every Friday. Thank you. Thank you.
I’ll have to plan another trip, me thinks before I finish this series. 😮
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September 1, 2014 at 10:40 pm
well sure!! you know me, Ms. Loves to travel. and I love reading about others’ trips too 🙂 where are you going next?
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September 2, 2014 at 12:46 pm
😀 😀 😀 I’ve no plans yet but I do have the itch. It would be nice to get something planned near end of winter in March.
❤ ❤ Where you you going next?
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September 2, 2014 at 9:36 pm
where else? SPAIN!!! ha ha. actually we’re hoping to go to Spain again 3/16 but we’ll see. next up is a trip to Florida to visit my mother in early November. you should definitely go somewhere in March 🙂
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September 3, 2014 at 5:58 pm
Space would do FINE. Anywhere warm would be (choke, gasp) wonderful. 😀
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August 30, 2014 at 10:40 am
I want those temple protectors to be in charge of security for my house! Great pictures, interesting narrative, Tess.
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August 30, 2014 at 12:13 pm
I like the things you notice–no other guests, the muscle control demonstration, the drizzly rain. I can hear footsteps echoing inside, squishy outside. Interesting series, Tess.
You have another fan over on my blog who read your explanation for creating a heart ❤ and loved it. Huzzah!
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August 31, 2014 at 9:46 am
You always make me smile. Thank you for reading about my trip and saying such lovely things.
About the heart, someone else showed me, I believe–can’t remember now. I’m not smart enough to think up something like this myself. Have a lovely Sunday. ❤ ❤
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August 30, 2014 at 6:20 pm
It’s always amazing to me how so much can be packed into one day. You’ve truly experienced a magnificent adventure.
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August 31, 2014 at 9:52 am
The one thing I will say–and I’m sure I’m repeating myself–we got the best bang for our buck.I pleased all to heck I have had this opportunity. 😀
Thanks you for continuing to visit and comment. ❤ ❤
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August 31, 2014 at 1:35 am
Those temple protectors would scare me. 🙂
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August 31, 2014 at 9:53 am
Me too. I thought I’d have nightmares but I was too tired. 😀
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August 31, 2014 at 5:22 am
The protectors are scary, but that’s the idea I guess. Of course I love the cemetery photos 🙂 and the hotel looks amazing, another full on day and sore tootsies no doubt? 🙂
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August 31, 2014 at 9:57 am
Hi Jen. Yes, another FULL day. The tootsies started being better. I believe I wore my tongs again a couple of times. Gave my feet a rest. 🙂
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August 31, 2014 at 5:27 pm
tongs? thongs? – remembering over here thongs are things we wear on our feet! 🙂 x
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August 31, 2014 at 9:41 pm
Thongs. My fingers don’t listen to my brain sometimes…maybe a lot? 😀
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August 31, 2014 at 1:30 pm
It must have been creepy being the only guests in the hotel!
What a fascinating trip to the cemetery (and what a strange place to take tourists!)
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August 31, 2014 at 9:39 pm
It did feel strange not to see other guests.
Maybe a strange place to take tourist, but this is a historical site attached to a temple. Who would have thought monks would have enough donations to build such large structures. These are started before the monk dies. Guess it’s a good thing donations continue until death when it can be completed. I’m beginning to feel this is rather complicated. 🙂
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August 31, 2014 at 11:04 pm
Well, they obviously believe they are worth all that time and money, which is lovely. I think it is a bit sad that we now have cremations and the old fashioned graves are less popular. Once the memory of the person has faded with a generation or two, there is nothing tangible left to show where that person existed.
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September 1, 2014 at 10:41 am
That’s a great point. It didn’t occur to me that after a generation cremated people truly disappear. Wow. Something to think about although I have already arranged cremation. Maybe my daughter will put something on her headstone to the effect I am buried with her. We must talk.
Thank YOU, Madoqua. ❤
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August 31, 2014 at 8:55 pm
Wow! What a trip. These photos really tell a story.
Amazing that school is one half Kung Fu training.
The Shaolin Temple is beautiful.
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August 31, 2014 at 9:45 pm
And has withstood the test of time. Of course, visitor tickets must pay for upkeep. Still, it is very old. In fact, the school building–what we saw when we ladies had to use the facilities–need scraping, sanding and painting.
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August 31, 2014 at 11:52 pm
Impressed with the bowl held by tummy muscles. Do you think that boy will have enough supporters for a really big tomb?
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September 1, 2014 at 11:41 am
He might if he becomes a month but it seems there were no new structures. These were all ancient. Having graduated from this school at eighteen, your attendance looks good on a resume for further education or opening a school of your own..
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September 1, 2014 at 1:21 am
A feast for the eyes! I enjoyed looking at the photos, Tess.
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September 1, 2014 at 11:42 am
Thank you, Kate. Glad you found something of interest. 🙂
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September 8, 2014 at 12:59 am
I always do on your blog!
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September 8, 2014 at 2:34 pm
Thank you. You’re a sweetie.
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September 1, 2014 at 2:15 am
That hotel looks super posh! Very interesting post, Tess. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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September 1, 2014 at 11:43 am
Yes, posh. My mouth kind of dropped open when we arrived. ❤ Nice to see you Hope.
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September 1, 2014 at 5:29 am
You’re certainly packing a lot into your visit.
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September 1, 2014 at 11:45 am
And we’re only on Day 7. It does slow down a bit and thank goodness. The breather was necessary.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Jack.
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September 1, 2014 at 8:27 am
This looks like a fascinating day out. I meant to mention before how you noticed that despite the warm weather, the locals dressed as if for a cool or even cold day. To us 20C would be a pleasant summer’s day 🙂 Never seen tombs like that and as for those Protectors, well, I wouldn’t want to bump into them in a dark alley. Another thoroughly enjoyable post and love the photos giving such a wonderful visual tour. Great stuff as always Tess 🙂 ❤ 😀
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September 1, 2014 at 12:01 pm
From the day we arrived in China, I noticed how covered up everyone was as we wore shorts and short-sleeved Tees.
Those Protectors are scary even in broad daylight. 😀 😀
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September 1, 2014 at 6:42 pm
Strange that… and yes, haha, never mind dark alleyways, right? 😀 😛
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September 1, 2014 at 7:02 pm
😛 😛
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September 2, 2014 at 6:41 pm
😀
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September 3, 2014 at 6:13 pm
~(+_+)~~
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September 1, 2014 at 9:13 am
This tour of China is excellent. I love how the focus is on the everyday and not just the spectacular. Nice job.
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September 1, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Thanks so much John W. Howell. So kind of your. Nice to see you read and comment. Hope you enjoy some more.
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September 1, 2014 at 2:28 pm
I’m certain I will.
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September 1, 2014 at 5:48 pm
~(~_*)~~
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September 7, 2014 at 11:37 am
Wonderful pictures – look like a great time!
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September 7, 2014 at 5:21 pm
It never got boring. I wouldn’t do it again but am glad this opportunity fell into my lap. Nice to have you along for the tour. 🙂
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September 9, 2014 at 10:11 pm
My! Those protectors look awfully fierce – I can imagine intruders wondering if they were for real. Great to see you having a good time.
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September 10, 2014 at 8:03 am
Thank you. Thank you. These guy were huge. I’m sure they scare more than humans. 🙂
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September 10, 2014 at 8:16 am
Very likely 🙂 :-()
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September 12, 2014 at 3:27 pm
Such interesting photos throughout this trip!
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September 12, 2014 at 7:08 pm
Thank you. I am not a picture taker (notice I did not say photographer 😀 ) and I had to remind myself to click to bring memories home to share with my blogging community.
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December 14, 2014 at 2:08 pm
The tombs look impressive in their simplicity, dignified. It’s strange how the tawdry the hotel seems in contrast.
You’ve inspired me to take an interest in China, and I have learnt a few ideograms: there’s a great method called “Chineasy”, take a look here and here.
In fact, do you know ted.com? If not, take some time to explore: it’s a great site, though admittedly a time-sink!
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December 14, 2014 at 3:32 pm
I should check them out. We had been given a list of simple traveler’s words, but never had an occasion to use any. That’s how insulated we were. The tour guides arranged everything and when we shopped, the clerks spoke English.
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December 14, 2014 at 4:00 pm
Take a peek at the videos. Even if you don’t pursue it, they give an interesting perspective on how the ideograms work.
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April 11, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Did you eat at this fancy hotel? Love the fierce tomb protectors – can see that they graduated from King Fu School!
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April 12, 2015 at 12:11 pm
Yes, we ate dinner at this fancy hotel. We usually had dinner at any hotel we were staying at on the day of arrival. We had five local flights while in China.
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