Wing Chun Kung Fu & Shaolin Temple Tour

This morning, embark on a 2-hour train journey to Guangzhou. Upon arrival, be greeted by your guide in Guangzhou and start touring Guangzhou. Firstly, you will have a visit to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, a place in Guangzhou both for offering up sacrifices to ancestors and for study. Now it serves as Guangdong Museum of Folk Arts and Crafts to show the most characteristic Guangdong architecture. Secondly, head for Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Memorial Hall, a commemorative architecture built in memory of the great revolutionary forerunner, Dr. Sun Yat-sen. It is one of the most significant architectures in Guangzhou and exemplifies delicately perfect combination of Chinese traditional architectural style and the Western structural elements. Thirdly, end the trip with a visit to the Beijing Road Pedestrian Street. Lively, crowded and fast-paced, Beijing Road is a busy commercial street in central Guangzhou. It has been praised as the city’s main thoroughfare throughout much of its history. In this car-free area there are dozens of shops to explore, including designer boutiques, jewelers, bookstores, supermarkets and stores that sell locally produced goods such as embroidery, sculptures and herbal teas. Haggle hard in the independent stores, as there are plenty of bargains to be found.

Meal: B, L

In the morning, meet your guide at hotel, and then take a taxi to subway station, for the GuangFo Line to Foshan. Foshan is a vital part of Guangzhou, known for its long history, martial arts, lion dance. It’s one of the best places to admire traditional Cantonese culture. Upon arrival, the first stop will be the Foshan Ancestral Temple, famous for its well preserved ancient construction complex and its luxuriant folk culture. It was first built in the Song Dynasty, in the Yuanfeng Era (1078-1085). As a municipal museum, the Ancestral Temple consists of Ancestral Temple, Confucius Temple, Huang Feihong Memorial Hall (another well-known Kung fu master in China) and Ip Man Hall. Different kinds of folk culture activities are available, such as the Preschool Children Enlightening Ceremony, Lion Dance, Cantonese Opera, Foshan Martial Art Performance. Extra fees are required for some of these activities. The Lion Dance performance in Ancestral Hall is held on 10.00-10.40, 14.15-14.55, 15.30-16.10. The cancellation of Lion Dance show won’t be informed in advance.

The second stop is Liang Garden built in 1796. The Garden is a traditional private garden belonging to Liang’s family. Here you can see pagodas, sculptures, lakes with fine gardens of trees and flowers. The last stop in Foshan is Ancient Nanfeng Kiln. Visit the site just like get into a ceramic museum. Its Nanfeng Kiln and Gao Kiln began to be built 500 years ago and now are still under production. After the tour in Foshan, take taxi or bus to the metro station for metro back to Guangzhou.

Note: if you prefer to have own private car for visits on this day, please feel free to let us know. Adjustments can be made easily for your preference.

Meal: B, L

At an appropriate time, be met at hotel and transfer to airport for a flight to Luoyang. Upon arrival, be greeted by your guide in Luoyang. For several centuries, Luoyang was the gravity center of China. As "The Capital of Nine Dynasties", it is one of the most important origins of Chinese civilization. In order to know this historic city well, we firstly visit the Luoyang Museum. It is a comprehensive historical museum, with a collection of over 400,000 historical relic objects, and 11,000 of them are now being exhibited. Then have a walk at old city quarters, where you can appreciate its solid structure and enjoy leisure time there.

Meal: B, L, D

Highlight tour to the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng County. Shaolin Temple is about 1.5hrs away from Luoyang by car. It is renowned in and outside of China for Shaolin martial arts. The temple was built in 495, the 19th year of the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Pagoda Forest and Chinese Kung Fu performances are also included in the tour plan.

Afterwards, take cable car up Sanhuangzhai, located on the mountainside at the western foot of Songshan Shaoshi Mountains. It is the important part of Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area and also the most representative natural landscape area of Songshan World Geopark and Songshan National Forest Park. Take a hiking to see the plank bridge which is built on the side of the mountain, supported by trusses, and the magnificent views. After the tour, drive back Luoyang.

Meal: B, L

Morning, pay a visit to the famous Longmen Grottoes, a world heritage site named in 2000, the sculptures there are an outstanding manifestation of human artistic creativity. The grottoes and niches of Longmen contain the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316- 907). These works, entirely devoted to the Buddhist religion, represent the high point of Chinese stone carving. Transfer to rail station for a high speed train to Beijing. The train journey takes around 4 hours. Upon arrival, be greeted by your guide in Beijing, and transfer to hotel.

Meal: B, L, D

Morning, meet your guide at hotel and head for Jingshan Park, formerly a private imperial garden attached to the grounds of the Forbidden City. Looking from the peak in a sunny day, the visitors are able to get a full and clear view of the Forbidden City. Later, walk through the largest public square in the world, Tiananmen Square, enter the Forbidden City. This large palace building was built between 1406 and 1420, and it was once served as the home of 24 emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government. In the afternoon, take a pedicab tour to visit Hutongs (Beijing’s traditional alleyways). The name of a Hutong represents its origin, location or history. It is in these gray-tiled long lanes that families play, buy goods, gossip, and interact with one another.

OPTIONAL EVENING ACTIVITY

• The Legend of Kong Fu Show is a must-see show in Beijing for tourists and Kung Fu lovers. A group of the best Kung Fu practitioners of China are collected and the best directors and designers of the country are invited by CHC. There are English subtitles shown above the stage to keep you informed of the story line. There is no speaking of the actors, just Kung fu show, dance and acrobatics. The fusion of modern dance with Chinese traditional martial arts makes this performance unique and spectacular.

Meal: B, L

Morning, head out from your hotel, to the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall. Huanghuacheng is 70km away from Beijing, and is the only lakeside Great Wall in Beijing. The Great Wall at Huanghuacheng stretches for 13km and there are much fewer tourists than Badaling and Mutianyu. It’s special among all dections of the Great Wall, because some of its parts are under water. Immerse yourself in the unique view and rare tranquil moment; practice Kungfu here if you wish. After the Great Wall trip, drive back city and take a visit to the Summer Palace, once an imperial garden in the Qing Dynasty. Located northwest of Beijing, it is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design with outstanding aesthetic value and was listed on the World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO in 1998.

Meal: B, L

It may be nice to have some time to explore the grand city on your own. It’s a good chance to experience the local public transportation system, such as public bus, subway, taxi. Don’t forget to take the hotel’s card with you, just in case you can’t find the way back.

  Suggestions for Your Leisure Time

• Temple of Heaven, which is included in the World Heritage List in 1998, is well-preserved Altars buildings;

• Yonghe Lamasery is a Tibetan Buddhist temple in the northeast corner of Beijing with hundred-year history

• Wangfujing Snack Street sets on a narrow alley off the main walking street. Along the 810-meter walking street, you will find many kinds of food along the roadsides, such as the deep fried insects. Some is not normal food but for attracting tourists' attention.
  

Meal: B

At an appropriate time, be met at hotel and transfer to Beijing airport for your flight back home. End of you 11 days China Kung Fu tour.

Meal: B