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The official Shaolin Temple Wushu Guan, which is owned and operated by the local Henan government, is undergoing some tremendous renovation. I was privy to the new architectural plans, and what they're going to have in the next few years, is just mind boggling. Talk about a nice hotel.
But at present, the wushu guan training area has been completely, or, almost completely renovated. New floors, a new performance hall, new hallways, new exterior, but, the same old paint and broken mirrors in the training halls. The old hotel is planned for major renovation this year; I've seen the plans, and it's going to be a corker, as you British say. Within the next three years, a new 100 room, three or four star hotel will rise, in the area behind the present day restaurant. The present day restaurant will be torn down to become a parking plaza. Oh, and to the west of the grand staircase to the wushu guan, will be another entrance way, flanked by two tremendous waterfalls.
They've got some grand ideas for this project.
Training takes place indoors, which is a major plus, especially on those rainy days (which, every day was during my last three week trip), or on those cold days in October/November. Being indoors is a major plus, something which no other school in the area does well. The hotel is much better than any local school accomodation, but is inferior to most local Dengfeng hotels. Training is usually one on one, with an actual monk (wushu guan performance team member), so, you know he's good. Problem is, sometimes their knowledge is limited (I recently discovered on this past trip, that I know more forms and applications than these guys. Can't do it nearly as well, but, their knowledge of traditional stuff is limited). Still, it's good training, you'll learn some basic traditional stuff, and a lot of contemporary Shaolin forms, including the Shaolin basics.
Food is included at the local restaurant. The quality depends upon the chef that they have that year. As I've said before, the restaurant is coming down, and the new restaurant will be in the new 100 room wing that will be built over the following two years. Expect it all to be finished by 2005.
Don't expect hot water all the time, also, sometimes water is a rarity, depending upon the current situation in the nearby reservoir. Rooms are air conditioned, electricity is usually reliable.
Cost is 50 USD a day, includes everything (hotel, food, training).
Overall, a very worthwhile experience, especially for those who have never trained in Shaolin.
Doc Discount: If you are interested in training at the official Shaolin Temple Wushu Guan, contact me. I can arrange much less expensive rates.
But at present, the wushu guan training area has been completely, or, almost completely renovated. New floors, a new performance hall, new hallways, new exterior, but, the same old paint and broken mirrors in the training halls. The old hotel is planned for major renovation this year; I've seen the plans, and it's going to be a corker, as you British say. Within the next three years, a new 100 room, three or four star hotel will rise, in the area behind the present day restaurant. The present day restaurant will be torn down to become a parking plaza. Oh, and to the west of the grand staircase to the wushu guan, will be another entrance way, flanked by two tremendous waterfalls.
They've got some grand ideas for this project.
Training takes place indoors, which is a major plus, especially on those rainy days (which, every day was during my last three week trip), or on those cold days in October/November. Being indoors is a major plus, something which no other school in the area does well. The hotel is much better than any local school accomodation, but is inferior to most local Dengfeng hotels. Training is usually one on one, with an actual monk (wushu guan performance team member), so, you know he's good. Problem is, sometimes their knowledge is limited (I recently discovered on this past trip, that I know more forms and applications than these guys. Can't do it nearly as well, but, their knowledge of traditional stuff is limited). Still, it's good training, you'll learn some basic traditional stuff, and a lot of contemporary Shaolin forms, including the Shaolin basics.
Food is included at the local restaurant. The quality depends upon the chef that they have that year. As I've said before, the restaurant is coming down, and the new restaurant will be in the new 100 room wing that will be built over the following two years. Expect it all to be finished by 2005.
Don't expect hot water all the time, also, sometimes water is a rarity, depending upon the current situation in the nearby reservoir. Rooms are air conditioned, electricity is usually reliable.
Cost is 50 USD a day, includes everything (hotel, food, training).
Overall, a very worthwhile experience, especially for those who have never trained in Shaolin.
Doc Discount: If you are interested in training at the official Shaolin Temple Wushu Guan, contact me. I can arrange much less expensive rates.
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