Kung Fu & Buddhism in Shaolin, China - 24-Hour Travel Guide

Bodhidharma statue in main temple hall

View from Bodhidharma's cave above Shaolin

Outside Shaolin Temple

Overview - If you wonder if the Kung Fu movies are real, yes. We visit Shaolin, both for the Buddhist heritage (Bodhidharma) and the Kung Fu temple.

Breakfast - To be clear, you won't be staying at ShaoLin. The closest city which accommodates foreign tourists in in Louyang, which is not that far away. You can get from Xian to Louyang by a chartered bus most easily. So in Louyang, you will probably have your hotel picked for you by the tour company. And, as with almost all China tours, they include the breakfast. What to do. It's not that great, but it's edible.

Morning - The first part of your visit to Shao Lin mountain is to climb up the mountain and visit the cave where Bodhidharma sat facing a wall for nine years until he reached enlightenment. For me, this is the reason to come to Shao Lin, because this is the real original of Zen Buddhism, called Chan in China. The view from up at his cave is breathtaking, which is tricky, since climbing up also took most of your breath.

When you get back down, head over to the temple complex. Note that many of the holes you see are from the Chinese Revolution, and there is a very compassionate sign explaining that the rebuilding that is going on is trying to make up for the damage. The main place to visit in the morning is the Mahavira hall, where there is a fabulous statue of Bodhidharma. As it is an active temple, there will likely be monks chanting and waving incense, making the visit even more spectacular. After the temple you can walk around a pagoda forest.

Lunch - Shaolin has a restaurant that caters to the tourists, and it is the only show in town, so be grateful that you can eat there. The food is generally no choice, but a fixed meal, that is quite tasty. Drink lots of tea. Bodhidharma supposedly invented or discovered tea when he pulled his eyelids off so he wouldn't fall asleep meditating, and lo and behold, they turned into tea plants!

Afternoon - The afternoon is the time to see the Shaolin performances. There is usually some performance going on, and it is either held in the courtyard of the temple, or in the performance hall which is right near the restaurant. It defies logic to see the capability of these monks, leaping as lightly as a deer, and skill fully brandishing huge swords. All in the name of peace.

Dinner - Dinner will most likely be back in Luoyang, as you won't have much reason to stay after dark at Shaolin. The Jian An Peony Plaza has a restaurant, and often the tours book you a dinner at a different restaurant than where you are staying. By the way if everything has Peony in its name in Luoyang, it's because it is famous for growing them.

After Dark - Nope. Not here. Early to bed. There may be a bar in your hotel, but this is a really off the beaten track spot. Try emulating Bodhidharma.

Sleep - The Peony Hotel (what else) is where we were put up. It's fine. After all, it's only one night. Three stars is about the most any of the Luoyang Hotels have, and since they are designed for foreigners, they are clean, and safe. That's about it.

Tags: Temples