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Shaolin Temple – Birthplace of Kung Fu

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On day 7 in our journey to the Terracotta Warriors, we finally leave Shanghai and fly up to the city of Luoyang.  This leg of the trip I organized with our private guide Lisa and we start things off with a little kung fu.

Inside the new Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai that's mainly used for domestic flying.
Inside the new Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai that’s mainly used for domestic flying.
After getting picked up by Lisa and Mr. Zheng, we drove from Luoyang to Dengfeng. We ate at this surprisingly good vegetarian restaurant for 40RMB a head. This the Kingstar China Beer that was included. 2.5% weaksauce beer.
After getting picked up by Lisa and Mr. Zheng, we drove from Luoyang to Dengfeng. We ate at this surprisingly good vegetarian restaurant for 40RMB a head. This the Kingstar China Beer that was included. 2.5% weaksauce beer.
Those look like sausages but they're actually made out of some sort of tofu.
Those look like sausages but they’re actually made out of some sort of tofu.
The lovely courtyard of the vegetarian restaurant we ate at. Purely designed for tourists but nonetheless done very well.
The lovely courtyard of the vegetarian restaurant we ate at. Purely designed for tourists but nonetheless done very well.
Flowers in bloom
Flowers in bloom
Early Check In at Shaoshi Shanzhai Inn & Hotel
Our early check in at Shaoshi Shanzhai Inn & Hotel was met with confusion as the lady working the desk didn’t know how to use the computer to check our Agoda hotel booking. She gave us the keys eventually.
Right after we got dropped off at the entrance, we were graced with this spectacular view even despite the rain.
Right after we got dropped off at the entrance, we were graced with this spectacular view even despite the rain.
Sure it's all a modern made visitor center but still wowed at the scenery.
Sure it’s all a modern made visitor center but still wowed at the scenery.
Practicing our kung fu moves
Practicing our kung fu moves
The rainy day provided a ton of dramatic shots of the mountain like this
The rainy day provided a ton of dramatic shots of the mountain like this
One of the oldest and largest Shaolin Kung Fu schools in the area with 30,000 students here. The kids are put to work after the rain, pushing the water into the sewer drain.
One of the oldest and largest Shaolin Kung Fu schools in the area with 30,000 students here. The kids are put to work after the rain, pushing the water into the sewer drain.

Little Shaolin Monk Stones

The theater for the 30 minute kung fu show at Shaolin Temple. Yes it's quite commercialized here but the show is included with your entrance ticket.
The theater for the 30 minute kung fu show at Shaolin Temple. Yes it’s quite commercialized here but the show is included with your entrance ticket.
The queueing madness begins. Things are okay before the doors open but once they did, the pushing and shoving was ridiculous. I actually had to yell at an old grandma to tell her to shop pushing us. Don't be a pushover. Stand your ground!!
The queueing madness begins. Things are okay before the doors opened but once they did, the pushing and shoving was unbearable.
Chantelle not impressed with the grandmas shoving behind her. One thing I can't even joke about is how China can bring out the worst in you when it comes to line ups and queues. I've shoved a few people back a few times just to tell them to stop.
Chantelle not impressed with the grandmas shoving behind her. One thing I can’t even joke about is how China can bring out the worst in you when it comes to line ups and queues. I’ve shoved a few people back a few times just to tell them to stop.
The kung fu show featuring kids from nearby schools at Shaolin was actually pretty impressive. These kids were really good!
The kung fu show featuring kids from nearby schools at Shaolin was actually pretty impressive. These kids were really good!
This kid was insanely flexible. He showed us at least 7 or 8 different poses where he contorted at impossible angles.
This kid was insanely flexible. He showed us at least 7 or 8 different poses where he contorted at impossible angles.
You can't see it too clearly here but this guy broke two metal rods over his head.
You can’t see it too clearly here but this guy broke two metal rods over his head.
This guy had a needle and was able to throw it hard enough to penetrate the glass and burst the balloon behind without shattering the glass.
This guy had a needle and was able to throw it hard enough to penetrate the glass and burst the balloon behind without shattering the glass.
We thought the rain was over but it started up again after the show. This is in front of the entrance to the actual Shaolin Temple. It has quite the storied history. Lisa gave us a ton of history facts about the monks but what tripped me up the most was all the dynasties this temple has seen through.
We thought the rain was over but it started up again after the show. This is in front of the entrance to the actual Shaolin Temple. It has quite the storied history. Lisa gave us a ton of history facts about the monks but what tripped me up the most was all the dynasties this temple has seen through.
Yes this is a tree but no those holes aren't natural. Kung fu students actually trained their single or two finger strikes on these trees back in the day and that's what caused the indents you're seeing.
Yes this is a tree but no those holes aren’t natural. Kung fu students actually trained their single or two finger strikes on these trees back in the day and that’s what caused the indents you’re seeing.
The many temples within the temple grounds.
The many temples within the temple grounds.
This cooking pot dates back 500 years and was used as a cooking wok for 2000 monks that lived here during the Ming Dynasty.
This cooking pot dates back 500 years and was used as a cooking wok for 2000 monks that lived here during the Ming Dynasty.

Shaolin Temple View

Love the intricate roof designs of these temples.
Love the intricate roof designs of these temples.
The modern monk.
The modern monk.
The last building in the temple is the training room. You can't quite see it here but there are 48 indents on the ground from the practice the used to do here.
The last building in the temple is the training room. You can’t quite see it here but there are 48 indents on the ground from the practice the used to do here.
Closeup of the indentation
Closeup of the indentation
These look funky but they're actually quite jealous they had these disposable shoe covers.
These look funky but they’re actually quite jealous they had these disposable shoe covers.
Our guide Lisa to the left.
Our guide Lisa to the left.
The Pagoda Forest at Shaolin looked a lot different than I had imagined. In my head I was thinking it would be more of a forest path but instead it turned out to be really a giant cemetery of these stupas built to commemorate various monk leaders over the years at Shaolin.
The Pagoda Forest at Shaolin looked a lot different than I had imagined. In my head I was thinking it would be more of a forest path but instead it turned out to be really a giant cemetery of these stupas built to commemorate various monk leaders over the years at Shaolin.

Pagoda Forest Stupas

Typically the training field for the students, this was turned into overflow parking on the day we visited. Just look at all the garbage left behind. I was disgusted!
Typically the training field for the students, this was turned into overflow parking on the day we visited. Just look at all the garbage left behind. I was disgusted!
Sketchy looking entrance to our Dengfeng Hotel - Shaoshi Shanzhai Inn & Hotel
Sketchy looking entrance to our Dengfeng Hotel – Shaoshi Shanzhai Inn & Hotel
Last but not least, our scary hotel for the night in the tiny town of Dengfeng. The room looked alright until...
Last but not least, our scary hotel for the night in the tiny town of Dengfeng. The room looked alright until…
The hardest part for a lot of travellers to rural parts of China are the bathrooms and this particular hotel in Dengfeng was no exception.
The hardest part for a lot of travellers to rural parts of China are the bathrooms and this particular hotel in Dengfeng was no exception.

Lost in translation

Just one of the many sights that will make your jaw drop.
Just one of the many sights that will make your jaw drop.
I love these super odd descriptive names!
I love these super odd descriptive names!
A little surprise tile in my parent's bathroom in our Dengfeng hotel.
A little surprise tile in my parent’s bathroom in our Dengfeng hotel.

I’m not sure how I’ll be able to keep up the live blogging as I’ve been coming back to the hotel fully exhausted from all the hiking we’ve been doing but I’ll try my best!

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About Will Tang

Will is the Chief of Awesome at Going Awesome Places which is focused on off-the-beaten-path, outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring others to travel, writing detailed trip itineraries to help others plan their own trips, and providing helpful tips and tricks to guide readers to travel better. He is based in Toronto, Canada but you'll find him on the road more often than not. Make sure to learn more about Will to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

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