10 Days Kung Fu and TCM All-Inclusive Health and Longevity Retreat at Shaolin Temple Yunnan, China

Facilities

Daily schedule

Day 1: Arrival day

• Transportation from Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) to the temple via scheduled shuttle*
• Registration at the temple, room assignments, and orientation
• Welcome dinner
• Included: Dinner, off-grounds

Day 2

• Kung Fu training session 1: Kung Fu basics
• Traditional Chinese Medicine session 1: Nutrition
• Kung Fu training session 2: Tai Chi
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning and evening)
• Optional: Sitting meditation, medical QiGong
• Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the temple

Day 3

• Kung Fu training session 3: Power stretching, basics cont.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine session 2: Organ health
• Kung Fu training session 4: Tai Chi cont.
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning and evening)
• Optional: Sitting meditation, medical QiGong
• Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the temple

Day 4

• Kung Fu training session 5: Hard Qi Gong, basics cont.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine session 3: Understanding your channels of Qi and application
• Kung Fu training session 6: Tai Chi cont.
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning and evening)
• Optional: Sitting meditation, medical QiGong
• Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the temple

Day 5

• Kung Fu training session 7: Self-defense, basics cont.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine session 4: The purpose and function Of foot baths
• Kung Fu training session 8: Meihua Quan
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning and evening)
• Optional: Sitting meditation, medical QiGong
• Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the temple

Day 6

• Kung Fu training session 9: Kung Fu basics cont.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine session 5: The history and purpose of tea
• Kung Fu training session 10: Meihua Quan cont.
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning and evening)
• Optional: Sitting meditation, medical QiGong
• Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the temple

Day 7: Free day - leave for an excursion

• Free day: Explore the local surroundings or the beautiful temple grounds at your leisure or take a day of rest.
• Leave for an overnight excursion
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning and evening)
• Included: Breakfast and lunch at the temple. Dinner off-grounds.

Day 8: Return from the excursion - free day

• Return from the overnight excursion to Dian Ancient Town Hot Springs
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning)
• Included: Breakfast off-grounds. Lunch and dinner at the temple

Day 9

• Kung Fu training session 11: Kung Fu basics cont.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine session 6: Shaolin Medicine
• Graduation
• Farewell dinner
• Included: Breakfast and lunch at the temple. Dinner off-grounds.

Day 10: Farewell

• Check out
• Transportation to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) from the temple via scheduled shuttle*
• Optional: Buddhist ceremony (morning)
• Included: Breakfast and lunch at the temple

*Provided transportation to and from Kunming International Airport via the shuttle service is only available at scheduled times (3:00 p.m. on Day 1 Arrival and 1:00 p.m. on Day 10 Departure). You are responsible for arranging other means of transport to and from the airport if your travel times do not align with the provided shuttle service. You are required to give advanced notice if you will be making alternative transfer arrangements.

Your temple life: Building a temple to take home

During your retreat, you’ll train, sleep, eat and generally live like a monk. This will include learning and upholding the temple’s religious and cultural practices (at least while on the temple grounds and while in your uniform or T-shirt). Don’t worry! Retreat attendees will receive a packet with guidance on this, and the staff will be there to remind you. It’s a very integral part of the overall experience of any stay at the temple.

You’ll learn things like bowing and greeting protocols toward the monks and each other, taking respectful postures in the vicinity of Buddha (and other statues), dining etiquette, and more. You’ll also be taught the importance and meaning of presenting yourself modestly on the temple grounds (in dress and action) and how your temple garment (the provided gray uniform) encourages self-worth, sameness, and connection between you and other guests of the Temple. Finally, you’ll learn why residents and guests of the Temple do not partake in alcohol, meat, cigarettes, sexual acts, or public displays of affection within the complex (or outside in uniform or temple T-shirt).

Through adhering to these practices first-hand for the duration of your retreat, you’ll come to understand their healing and purifying benefits, the value of mutually respecting your body and those of others, and the discipline the temple monks have committed themselves to for centuries.

Following these rules may be challenging for foreign visitors, but be assured they are part of the journey. And though it may be different from what you’re used to, they play a large part in the growth you’ll be experiencing physically, mentally and spiritually on the retreat. These practices are centered on staying healthy, diligent and respectful of humanity – including yourself.

Even after you leave China, you’ll forever live in the temple of your body and mind. Shaolin Temple Yunnan Warrior Monks Training Center hopes this ideal is something you’ll take with you no matter how far your journey home.

Included is an excursion to Dian Ancient Town Hot Springs (with overnight health spa experience as well as included dinner and breakfast).

Shaolin Temple Yunnan is located in Kunming, China. Known as the City of Eternal Spring, the weather there is excellent all year long. When you’re not training, you can venture out into the city or you can spend your time inside the temple grounds.

The Shaolin Temple complex consists of four temples: Mioazhan, Fa’ding, Tuzhu, and Guanyin. Fa’ding is the oldest temple, original construction completed around 756A.D. with renovations during the Guanxu Period of the Qing Dynasty, followed by Tuzhu in 937A.D. and Miaozhan in 1290A.D. Many areas of the temple complex are dedicated to deities. The Side Hall and Wing Rooms serve as Buddhist and Taoist shrines to the Goddess of Mercy, God of Fortune and General Yue Fei from the Song Dynasty among others. Tuzhu Temple is the shrine to deity Mahakaya (Da Hei Tian Shen).

Jingang Pagoda, in the main square, was built in 1447A.D. to vanquish the local devil Luo Si Guai, and is the oldest of its kind in China. You will be immersed in ancient Chinese architecture and culture that will enhance your training experience. Those coming to train can experience these as well as many other historically significant architectural features. Students can also participate in lively cultural events and daily ceremonies of this active Buddhist temple.

The temple complex is located in the city of Kunming, the City of Eternal Spring. Located at the edge of the Lake Dian, Kunming enjoys wonderful weather year-round, as its name suggests. The city is surrounded by other local temples, limestone landscapes, and lakes. Kunming is also central to Yunnan Province which makes it an ideal location for visiting the exquisite local attractions.

Yunnan, considered by many to be the most beautiful province in China, is home to sights such as the Hani Rice Terraces, the Wooden City and Snow Mountain in Lijiang, and the Shilin Stone Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Other places of interest include the Luoping Flowers, Red River Area, Pu’er Tea Terraces and Xi’Banna Jungle. Those in training are encouraged to explore these local wonders during their free time; such interactions can only enrich their stay at the temple and in China as a whole.

Buddhist monks follow the law of nature. They have a set time for meals and eat in silence. Monks are present in every activity they do, show gratitude to reality and find joy in daily life. Letting go of desire helps them achieve enlightenment. Being in the present you can feel relaxed, your body will be healthy and have vitality.

Mahayana Buddhism entered China in 200 CE. It is the dominant form of Buddhism in China. Mahayana Canon prohibits eating meat as killing animals is Karmically negative. Buddhist food is served in Buddhist Temples. The way of cooking respects the Buddhist precepts. Shaolin Monks follow Buddhist Cuisine. The way of eating is vegetarian or vegan and follows the concept of cruelty-free. As part of the cruelty-free values, we often release animals into the wild – Fangsheng.

In the monastic diet, there are several food restrictions such as garlic, strong-smelling plants (shallot, leek, onion, scallions, and chives), coriander and alcohol. The vegetables restricted are called “The Five Acrid and Strong smelling vegetables” (Wǔ hūn 五荤) or Five Spices (Wǔ xīn 五辛). The restriction is because if they are eaten raw, it can lead to anger or cooked to passion. For Buddhists, strong odors repel Gods and attract hungry ghosts and demons.

Alcohol is also forbidden because of the effects it has on the body. A person under alcohol influence can violate the “Five Moral Precepts” which are: no killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying and no taking intoxicants. Moreover, a person under intoxicant (alcohol, tobacco, drugs) influence will lose the proper concentration needed to achieve enlightenment.

The Buddhist food preparation is simple with great attention to keep the wholesomeness, quality, and flavor of food. Not everybody can cook Buddhist food. You must be sincere, kind at heart and treat each ingredient with care and respect. This means simple and natural.

Rice is a staple food served with every meal. In the morning and evening, it often will be cooked porridge or congee. Noodles and grains are also an important part of the diet. The food is cooked using stir-fry method or steamed.

Although eggs and dairy are not permitted in the Buddhist monks’ diet, they are served to the Kung Fu training students as an extra source of protein. As dairy, they only offer goat cheese. Additional sources of proteins in the temple are tofu, beans, lotus root, nuts, and grains.

The temple also offers many dishes that have medical properties such as San Qi Root soup, seaweed, bamboo shoots so on. When there are ceremonies in the temple, many offerings are given in the form of fruits, nuts, and cakes.

Buddhist cooking, in a nutshell, is about maintaining the original character and taste of the food and its nature. Inner peace can be led by a simple meal.

“A cup of tea can wipe off the ignorance and affections/ two cups of tea clear the mind/ three cups of tea can lead to enlightenment.” – Tea Drinking Ballad for teasing Cui Shishi.

Buddhism was introduced in China from India but become known in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Wu Lizhen, a monk in Sichuan Province (Han Dynasty), was the first person to discover the benefits of tea. At that time, tea tree was planted widely. Buddhism developed in the Tang Dynasty when tea culture spread. The tea was very beneficial for monks who were doing meditation. The benefits include refreshing and finding the true heart of Chan.

The temple keeps classes for the tea ceremony for students to attend. During these classes, you will learn how to do a proper ceremony, taste different types of Chinese tea (Pu’er Tea is specific for the Yunnan Province) and understand the benefits of drinking tea for the body. You will be also able to keep your own tea ceremony as part of the practice.

• Guided Kunming tour, Visit UNESCO site Stone Forest
• Private classes

There will be an excursion to Dian Ancient Town Hot Springs - extras such as massage are not included in the fee.

• 9 nights accommodation as per your choice (temple or hotel)
• 3 daily vegetarian meals
• 11 Kung Fu training sessions
• 6 Traditional Chinese Medicine sessions
• Daily optional temple activities
• 1 overnight excursion (transportation, entrance, and guide)
• Scheduled airport transfers from and to Kunming Changshui International Airport (KMG) (arrival and departure at the set time)
• Welcome dinner
• Farewell dinner
• Official Shaolin gray uniform
• Official Shaolin T-shirt

• Alternative airport transportation
• Airfare
• Visa
• Off-grounds meals (unless otherwise noted)

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 50% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.