China Kung Fu & Travel Tour 2008!
Hello readers, fellow Kung Fu practitioners, and Masters
Kung Fu Experience - recently visited China again to inspect and update our schools.
The main reason for going was to ensure that the students we have sent there were satisfied with their time there, and what the KFE program has done for them.
Please read the 'Student Feedback' page for detailed coments on their stay.
We are also very exited to anounce the new co-operation with the Hong Sheng Guan - Choy Lee Fut School in Foshan - South China. KFE are now able to send students to this traditional establishment! Please visit our 'Choy Lee Fut' page for more information.
KFE will submit the student comments and sumarisation of the below article into MAI Magazine in time for the August edition. You may also see the full article below.
Kung Fu Tour 2008
I arrived in Beijing China on my own then flew to Yantai to see the students training at the Kun Yu Mountain Academy -
www.chinashaolin.co.ukYou can see the students coments and pictures on our 'student feedback' page.
I was quickly refreshed with my old forms I learned from Master Wong including my staff form.
It was great to get back into hard training after becoming a bit slack in the UK!
I met with fellow students at the academy and took down their coments for feedback. Including this and my own inspection there was really no need for suggestion to the School apart from me just suggesting some rubber floor matting in the showers. Supperficial things like that. Infact the school had made many improovements since my last visit. There is now a huge training hall with a Sanda ring in it, a big canteen and new dorms. I felt the food had improved also.
The scenary near the School is incredible. You have Kun Yu Mountain behind the school where there is a temple. We also run up here every Friday and students like to come here to meditate.
Also there is the National Park which includes the Dragon Pools. On the way up here you can see local bee farmers attending their hives with no protection! Students also come to the Dragon Pools for meditation.
Master Wong (Behind me far right bottom pic) is who teaches me when I am in Yantai. I have a lot to thank him for and he is a truely amazing Master along with all the others at Kun Yu.
Apart from training in Foshan the majority of the rest if this article is not so much about Kung Fu but to share with others what China has to offer. Please read on.
After 5 weeks training I met with collegues and friends and we traveled down to South China stopping at a few must see places on the way!
This included:
Jiangsu Province
We visited Wuxi / Nanjing for the World Championship Snooker Final 2008!
We were 4 of about 6 foreingers in the audience (not including the officials and players)
So of course we were routing for Mark Selby. Aparantly our hails for support were heard from back here in UK on the TV coverage!
Shanghai
We went on to see Shanghai which is only a couple of hours on the Train from Nanjing.
This is a must see city which amazing scenery will blow you away, day or night!
Hangzhou
As well as Suzhou it would almost be wrong to come only a couple of hours train ride from 2 of the most beautiful places in China, and not see them.
Hangzhou is known as 'peoples heaven' in China so of course we paid that a visit! I would suggest (if you go) to higher a bike and cycle round the gorgeous sites of the west lake.
Here you also have the Emperor's Gardens (much like in Suzhou but bigger!)
Of course the urge to practice some Tai Chi / Qi Gong in this calm and tranquil area was un-avoidable!
Like in many places in China there was a Buddhist Temple in Hangzhou. But this was one of the most attractive ones. Also if you catch it at the right time of day you can hear and watch the Monks chanting their prayers by song, and the peaceful sound of the 'Gok' being struck. You can also smell the aroma of insense all around and its a very calming place to be in.
Foshan
From Hangzhou we flew to Guangzhou in South China (Guangdong provice - Canton)
Guangzhou is crammed with traffic and people. It is hussle and bussle where ever you go, but that is certainly not to say isnt worth a visit! Besides Shanghai and Beijing, Guangzhou is classed within the 3 capital city's of China. We spent 3 days here before taking the bus to Foshan (in my opinion, besides Shaolin Temple Foshan or Fu Shan is the Kung Fu Capital of China).
Here we met up with students in the Southern Kung Fu Schools we are associated with. We all went to the Wong Fei Hung Museam, the Wing Chun Museam and Zumao Temple.
In Foshan we experienced all the local cuisines even including a Muslim resturant with one of our students who trains here. We also set up new relations with the Choi Lee Fut School here.
Zhaoqing
This is another must see city in South China. I would describe this place as the Heaven of South China in my opinion. You must see the Star Lake Crags, and Dinghu Mountain - if you come here.
This is the first city I ever visited in China when I first arrived. It is where myself and Stuart (RIP) first decided that we wanted to set up something that could help others experience China, combined with our love for Kung Fu.
We taught English here to Chinese students and also trained in Nan Quan Kung Fu with a world wide association here. Infact although the School is not listed on our site yet, if students particly want to train Nan Quan then I can put you in touch with my Master there (Above on far right poster).
Of course the Chinese School was a definate visit - to see my beloved students who I miss dearly!
I took the guys and some local friends up to Dinghu Shan and around the lakes.
There is more than one thing in Zhaoqing that I love. This is what makes this place (and China as a whole) one place that I will always be drawn back to for the rest of my life.
Hainan Island (Sanya)
Of course lots of traveling, training and business does begin to wear you out, and we are only human! So 2 of us thought why not go for a 3 day 'chill' in the tropical Chinese Island of Hainan. After not being amazingly lucky with weather in South China, here in Sanya you are pretty much guaranteed scortching beach weather!
As you can see it wasnt too hard to relax here and think about preparing for our return home.
We even highered a little smart car and went off exploring the Island! Now Chinese driving law is some-what different, so do be careful if you decide to do it! But it was a laugh I can assure you.
We drove our little smart car (dont be fooled it was pretty quick!) to the port where we caught a boat to Monkey Island (above). By the way Monkeys like to swim! (above left).
Now I have seen Masters defeat gravity! I have seen Kick Boxers break world records!
But above all this, now I have wittnessed, with my own eyes that God graced me - a goat (yes a goat) balance along a high wire with a monkey doing a hand-stand on his back!! (above).
A lot of things in China dont even faze me now, but I can assure you this did!
What in the name of all that is sain is going on there??....
Macau
After Sanya we flew to the Shenzhen boarder then caught a bus to Macau. Now be careful you check your visa! Because once you cross into Macau or Hong Kong you have left China and will need a multiple entry, or a new visa to re-enter.
Macau which used to be a Portuguese colony is now classed as the gambling capital of the world! Here along with the MGM grand and many others, you have the actual biggest casino in the world!
Which of course we had to visit.
Inside the Casino they even have an indoor canal - like you would see in venice!
As you can see from above, the interior does not lack any presteige.
(In the photo: Mr Li and Mr Yu on the left who are assistants for Fred Wu on the far right,
Fred Wu is KFE's Chinese administrator and translator based in China).
Hong Kong
After Macau we went on to Hong Kong to prep for our flight home. Coming from Macau this was rather risky because if there is a storm and the sea is too rough, the authorities close the ferry.
If you do not go to HK via ferry the only way is by land and requires you to enter the mainland again! As mentioned before once your visa is stamped thats it! But fortunatly we had re-checked the weather and asked the information desk about this and caught the ferry to HK.
When in Hong Kong China, I often stay in the Dragon Hostel in the Chum King Mansions on Tsim Sha Tsui. All accomodation in HK is compact so dont expect a hotel (unless you are rich!).
It is a nice and freindly place ran by a Chinese couple who are happy to help with any info.
Hong Kong is the city that never sleeps. I know from taking late / early flights / arrivals that you can walk around the streets of HK at 4am and have to wait to cross the road in what seems like daylight!
We finally headed for Lantaw Island Airport for the flight home.
Conclusion
The 2008 tour of China was yet again an amazing experience. I am glad I also had the oportunity to show freinds and collegues of mine what China has to offer as well as Kung Fu.
My main passion is Kung Fu. So of course the sole purpose of this trip was to refresh my personal training, and see people that I have sent there benifiting from the experience.
This trip was also in the aim of setting up new relationships (like with the Choi Lee Fut School).
But of course I want to share with people what else China has to offer from general travel!
This is why I have included as much as I can in this article.
www.kungfuexperience.com
Train Kung Fu in China!
"I would like to dedicate the article to some very dedicated Kung Fu Students who I had the pleasure of training with. Also to any others who have been lost, who shared the same passion.
Nigel Hopkins (who trained Lau Gar Kung Fu under instructor Steve Jefferys in my local town), was unfortunatly lost along with his partner in a road accident. He was very keen and brought a lot to our club. It was good to train with and learn from him. Although I didnt know him extreemly well 
outside the club, I know he will be missed by family, friends and fellow students. Of course I would also like to menion our business partner and close friend Stuart Adlam (right) who passed away in China from an un-diagnosed heart defect. Stuart trained Wing Chun for 9 years and was also the former regional Manager for GKR Karate in the Bristol zone.
Your imput to Kung Fu and sudden depature from this life has only but inspired me to do better and spread the culture, so that others may experience what we have been so lucky to see. RIP"
Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I only hope it will inspire you to come and experience all of this for your self, and please spread the word so that others can too.
Kind regards,
Steve Cross - KFE