Accommodation and food quality are very good. For accommodation, generally 1 - 2 students share 1 room. Upon your arrival, the key of your dormitory will be given to you, along with your bed sheets; there is bedding, a desk, wardrobe, washbasin, thermos bottle for free, and meanwhile China Shiping Shaolin Martial Arts Academywill charge a 15 USD deposit for it that will be refunded when you leave the academy.

Due to its simple accommodations, the academy cannot accept for training those persons with major illness or disabling older age infirmities, but they are welcome to come to the academy to visit at any time. There are private rooms provided for foreign students. One free uniform is provided by the academy to new students.

A computer is available at the academy with access to the web, for the students to use. Access to the internet including WIFI access (within the academy's living quarters only) is free. Because the academy is located in the mountains, the internet is slow (because high-speed cable is not available).

Typical schedule

Martial arts training

05:30 - 07:30 Exercises and training

07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast

08:30 - 10:00 Training

10:00 - 10:30 Rest

10:30 - 11:30 Training

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch

13:30 - 15:30 Training

15:30 - 17:00 Rest

17:00 - 17:30 Dinner

17:30 - 18:30 Free time

18:30 - 19:30 Training

19:30 - 21:30 Free time

21:30 - 05:30 Bed time (lights out)

Martial arts training and language

05:30 - 07:30 Exercises and training

07:30 - 08:30 Breakfast

08:30 - 10:00 Mandarin class

10:00 - 10:30 Rest

10:30 - 11:30 Mandarin class

11:30 - 12:00 Lunch

12:00 - 13:30 Rest

13:30 - 15:30 Training

15:30 - 17:00 Rest

17:00 - 17:30 Dinner

17:30 - 18:30 Free time

18:30 - 19:30 Training

19:30 - 21:30 Free time

21:30 - 05:30 Bed time (lights out)

Program description

Beginners

Students who have never studied martial arts before should not expect to perform intermediate or advanced Kung Fu in one or two months. However, they will be introduced to the basics of Shaolin traditional Chi Kung, two short Shaolin fist forms, one weapon routine, elementary combat, and 1 - 2 Tai Chi forms.

Alternatively, students can choose Wingchun, BaJi, Xingyi, Bagua, or Preying Mantis and will learn basics, a routine, one weapon form, and Chi Kung. They should be able to grasp Wingchun, BaJi, Shaolin, Xingyi, Bagua, or Mantis boxing basic Kung Fu, and decide whether what they have learned is the right path for them to follow in the future, training for longer periods of time.

Experienced students

Students who have already seriously trained in Shaolin Kung Fu for several years or more can expect to learn and perform some of the more difficult Kung Fu movements, combat skills, higher internal Kung Fu, as well as developing the underlying morality of the martial arts. The academy also welcomes advanced students wishing to learn through challenging the masters.

Customized training

Training schedules and exercises are customized to fit to you, according to your needs and abilities. The fighting / protection monks may instruct foreign students from beginning to higher levels of Shaolin arts, depending upon the student's ability, self-discipline, and willingness to learn. There is no maximum of age to come, but there is a minimum of it. You must have an escort if you are not able to travel alone.

Don't worry about age holding you back if you are middle aged or elderly. Many Chinese martial arts are suitable for middle age and older people to learn, such as ancient Qi Gong (Ba duan jin, yi jin jing, five animal style, and meditation that is not only good for health, but also helpful for your level of Kung Fu and for healing illnesses), Tai Chi fist / straight sword / fan, Xingyi fist, Bagua palm, Ba Chi fist, and Mantis boxing.

Students can study mandarin Monday through Friday full time, or study Mandarin half of the time and Shaolin martial arts the other half of the time. Training is offered to foreign students year-round at the academy.

Because of the high ratio of teachers-to-students, most of the students who attend the academy express they feel lucky to have been given such high quality instruction without a lot of other students around; which was a great benefit to them because they received more personal attention from the masters who taught them than is normally the case.

Length of stay

Many students ask how long they can stay at the academy. The length of a student's stay at the academy depends upon how they get along with the teachers, the academy's staff, and with the other students, and how much sincere effort they put into their training.

In Chinese Shaolin Kung Fu, the western belt-ranking system is disregarded. Longer training periods are available for those who find they want to advance their skills in higher levels of the martial arts. At the end of each year the monks teaching the students will decide if the student can continue to train the following year, depending upon the student's positive physical and mental growth, and their good character.

Academy overview

After students arrival, students will be issued a monks training suit for free. The academy provides tableware and bedding, Washing machines and hot shower facilities. Items of personal hygiene and grooming are the students responsibility. On arrival at the academy, the new student will be assigned a translator to make the transition to academy life as smooth as possible.

Students at the Siping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy study in modern facilities with a big training hall, and training is conducted outside in the clear air as well. Every student agrees where the academy is located is the right environment to train in. It is in the mountains near the home town of China's last queen, Chi Xi, and is the Qing dynasty home town.

At any time, there are about 10 - 30 foreign students studying Shaolin Kung Fu at the academy with from 3 to 6 monks to teach them Taiji quan, Qi Gong, Shaolin Kung Fu, Wudang Kung Fu, Sanda, etc. The academy's yard is approximately thirty-thousand square meters, and there are ten-thousand square meters of living and training facilities on the mountain.

Most of the teachers do not speak English, so the academy provides English translators during training times. Mr. Che and some of the office staff speak English and most of the foreign students speak English, either as their primary or as their secondary language. A few people have expressed disbelief that the academy actually exists, or is licensed and approved by the Chinese government. Therefore, the academy provides the English translation of the license.

Academys timetable

Academys internet room is open from 5 - 8 p.m.

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday: on these days lights out and quiet time is to be observed by 9.30 p.m. to prepare for training the next day and to respect other students and staff.

Monday and Friday during winter, all new students who have been attending the academy for less than one month wake up at 5.30 a.m. and go to the training hall for their Qi Gong practice, while other students may choose what they wish to do in the way of practice.

Saturday and Sunday all students are to return to the academy before 11 p.m. Those wishing to stay overnight away from the academy need to be accompanied by at least one other student and must complete a sign-out form before leaving.

The academy cannot accept any responsibility for what may happen when students are away from the academy for personal reasons. However, the academy will try their best to help in whatever situation may arise.

The quiet meditation room is open 24 hours a day for meditation. All students in this room must keep silent. This room is open all of the time during the day and is heated. Saturday and Sunday is free time for everyone at the academy except for the kitchen staff.

Academys regulations

In order to keep the academy's environment positive for the serious students who go there to study, if the academy manager feels for any reason an applicant or student does not meet the academy's requirements, or learns of anything he feels would not be in accordance with the academy's rules or ways he may reject the applicant at any time; even if the applicant or student had earlier been accepted. The academy is not responsible for any expenses an applicant may incur on their own behalf to prepare for training at the academy, before they actually attend the academy, or for any other reason.

Students may bring their laptop computer, but may not use it for any other unsocial, immoral, or illegal use. Abuse in this area could be cause for confiscating the computer, or dismissing the student from the academy, or both, and in some instances if the activity of the student is not allowed by the Chinese government criminal charges with resulting severe penalties may ensue.

Gambling, Drugs (including marijuana), tobacco, and alcohol, or visiting prostitutes in villages or towns when the student is away from the academy are prohibited. Breaking these rules will mean immediate dismissal from the academy and a forfeiture of 20% of the balance of fees paid by, or for, the student.

Regarding male and female cohabitation, there is no cohabitation or sexual activity allowed at the academy; regardless of whether it's boy and girl friend, fianc, or spouse.

No religious activities are allowed, other than personal prayer before or after training times so the student's training is not disrupted.

Students are not allowed to have animals, birds, or other pets at the academy.

The academy does not welcome student who is a show-off, or a bully; lazy and unwilling to clean up after themselves (regarding their living quarters and/or personal hygiene); unwilling to participate in early morning or other training; lies, or attempts to cover up for another student who has lied; unfriendly or insolent to others (to students, teachers, or any other person), or presumes to be better than other students in any way, or who tries to create disharmony between others, for any reason.

Facility

Power training equipment, a set of fitness equipment, wooden dummies, punching bag, mats, pads, gloves, and bodyguards are provided for by the academy. However, you can buy some other kinds of weapons by yourself when you need them in practice.

Students at the Siping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy study in modern facilities with a big training hall, and training is conducted outside in the clear air as well. Every student agrees where the academy is located is the right environment to train in. It is in the mountains near the home town of China's last queen, Chi Xi, and is the Qing dynasty home town.

• 

  Shi De Xiao

  Shi De Xiao, age 60, started training in Kung Fu when he was just 6 years old. Since then he has never been absent from training for even one day in the past 54 years. He is a ninth degree level in Chinese Kung Fu and is a first degree referee of Wushu in China. He has perfect skills in Baji quan series body forms and weapons of spear, sword, staff, broadsword, and Shaolin Qi Gong.

• 

  Shi Yong Xiang

  Shi Yong Xiang is a 35-year-old excellent master coming out of the Shaolin temple. He won golden plates consecutively for 5 years in China Wushu competition from 1996 to 2001. He has a rich teaching experience of over 14 years being a master of Sanda. Many of his students won the championship in the Shaolin routine quan forms and Sanda competitions. Now, he is serving in the Siping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy as a ranking 5th degree master, authorized by the China Wushu Association.

• 

  Shi Xing Jun

  Shi Xing Jun is the 12th generation of Chen style Taiji grandmasters. He is one of the top ten martial arts grandmasters in all of China. Through 20 years of training and teaching Chen style Taiji quan forms; he successfully won the championship in the whole China Taiji quan form competition in 2005.He and his students have obtained many honors in performances and competitions, both domestic and overseas. He was awarded the title of Excellent Master" many times by the superior departments and has been authorized the ranking 7th degree by the China Wushu Association.

• 

  Shi Yong Yu

  Shi Yong Yu attended the Shaolin temple in 2001, as 33rd Shaolin temple generation and became a student of the Shaolin master, Shi Xing Liang. He gained so many skills in a surprisingly short period of time and soon improved himself as an awesome Shaolin temple fighting monk.

• Shi Yan Bo

  Shi Yan Bo was trained at the academy for the past 8 years, from age 13. Now he is 21 years old. He is one of the best disciples and trained with Shi De Long, who taught at the academy prior to 2008. He is now at 7th degree level of Shaolin martial arts.

• 

  Shi Yan Hao

  When Shi Yan Hao was 8 years old, he started learning Shaolin martial arts in the Siping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy and now has become an excellent assistant under the guidance of his master. Shi Yan Hao also won many championships in domestic martial arts competitions. He is authorized the master ranking of level 5 by the China Wushu Association through his exquisite skills and rich teaching experiences. He is now serving in Siping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy as a coach of teaching domestic students.

Most of the cooking is Chinese style. The nutrition of food is enough to satisfy the requirements of students. The water at the academy is natural mineral water drawn from the protected area of the national park within the nearby Yehe Mountain. The water is clean and safe for human consumption.

In the morning, the academy provides milk, soybean milk, porridge, oats, bread, and eggs. For lunch and dinner, they serve Chinese dishes including three dishes with meat, one egg dish, one vegetable dish, fried chips, rice and soup; either egg, seafood, or sweet.

China Shiping Shaolin Martial Arts Academy also hass Chinese dumplings and noodles once a week, and seafood, fried fish and bacon (Chinese style) several times a week. The cook will provide chilies for those who would like some. The academy also caters to vegetarians. There are big feasts at festivals when students and masters eat together.

Arrival by airplane

There are no direct international flights to Siping city. Therefore, you need to first fly to Beijing or Shanghai, and then from Beijing you can take a domestic flight (about 1 hour 50 minutes; around 160 USD for economic seats) to Changchun Longjia International Airport. We can provide an all-terrain vehicle, driver, and translator as a free pick-up service from Changchun Longjia International Airport to the academy. Please book a flight that reaches Changchun Longjia International Airport before 9 p.m. if it is possible, otherwise it is quite late for the translator and driver to go there to pick you up.

Flight Number: CZ6174, Departs from Beijing: 06:40, Arrives in Changchun: 08:20, Duration: 1h40m

Flight Number: CA1609, Departs from Beijing: 06:55, Arrives in Changchun: 08:40, Duration: 1h45m

Flight Number: MU2070, Departs from Beijing: 15:15, Arrives in Changchun: 17:10, Duration: 1h55m

Flight Number: CZ6146, Departs from Beijing: 11:25, Arrives in Changchun: 13:10, Duration: 1h45m

Flight Number: CA1649, Departs from Beijing: 08:55, Arrives in Changchun: 10:50, Duration: 1h55m

Flight Number: CZ6144, Departs from Beijing: 10:25, Arrives in Changchun: 12:20, Duration: 1h55m

Flight Number: CZ6150, Departs from Beijing: 18:35, Arrives in Changchun: 20:30, Duration: 1h55m

Arrival by train

You also can choose to take train from Beijing railway station to Siping railway station (6 hours 30 minutes; around 45 USD). We can provide an all-terrain vehicle, driver, and translator as a free pick-up service from the Siping train station to the academy.

Train number: D21, Departs from Beijing: 07:00, Arrives in Siping: 13:16, Duration: 6h 16m

Train number: D25, Departs from Beijing: 07:13, Arrives in Siping: 13:27, Duration: 6h 14m

Train number: D73, Departs from Beijing: 13:44, Arrives in Siping: 19:14, Duration: 5h 34m

Train number: T59, Departs from Beijing: 20:50, Arrives in Siping: Next day 05:05, Duration: 8h 13m

Train number: K39, Departs from Beijing: 23:00, Arrives in Siping: Next day 10:52, Duration: 11h 52m