Around and In Shaolin Temple and Pagoda Forest, China
At one time, 3,000 monks lived at Shaolin Temple but now there are less than 350. Students pay around 7,000 yuan (approximately $1,000 U.S.) to study here for just one year and Kung Fu/Wushu devotees come from all around the world.
Lunchtime at a restaurant on the grounds of Shaolin with a unique variety of food on the English/Chinese menu. Monkey brains, pigs heart and many, many other items not to our taste. We ate pork with garlic sauce and Kung Pao chicken...no gourmet versions for us. They were wonderful and I wish I could muster up my courage to try some of these "different" food...
Walked (you could have taken golf cart transportation) along to the Pagoda Forest next and past public telephones topped with a statue of Shaolin's founder...unusual to say the least...and many vendors sitting along the way, selling prayer beads.
A Pagoda Forest is a concentration of tomb pagodas containing the ashes of famous monks, abbots and ranking monks at the temple. There are more than 250 tomb pagodas of various sizes making it the biggest pagoda forest in China. The most interesting pagoda was that of the head abbot who had died recently. His grandiose pagoda had stone descriptions of his worldly possessions...a computer, boat, video camera... (Watch the video below...)
Rapidly...and truthfully, how many temples can one person REALLY enjoy...in and out of the main Shaolin Temple. Besides, the original temple has burned down many times (last burning in 1928) and this latest reincarnation was rebuilt in 1987. Andy took us through the 500 Ancestors Hall. Almost every major Chinese temple complex has a 500 Ancestors Hall venerating and worshipping various monks and abbots. Some did not have happy faces and Shaolin's were all green (haven't a clue why) but my favorite ancestor had the right idea, slugging down a barrel of brew.
Songshan Mountain is famous as one of China's famous Five Sacred Mountains and is considered the central mountain in Taoism. There are two main peaks, Shaolin Si and Dengfeng, and the entire stretch of mountains covers an area of about 20 square miles. There are two cable cars at Shaolin on two of the mountains taking visitors up for views of the area. You could also take a long path up to a the cave where a monk spent nine years sitting motionless and facing a wall, meditating. OR, pay and look through the telescopes for rent at the bottom. ex-Marine and I wanted to walk up but very short on time. There are touts standing around the bottom of the cable car and one wanted to drive us to a waterfall for a minimal amount of money. Don't do it! Andy said they say one price, drive a long distance away, and then demand more money otherwise you have to walk back.
Enough. Started the long walk back to the parking lot and Chao. Past one lonesome camel waiting for rides...
... with a short stop to watch the end of an outdoor performance by the Kung Fu students. No matter what you call it, Judo, Karate and Kendo, all had their roots in Wushu...
...and some filmmakers blocking out a martial arts movie with students.
The entire Shaolin Temple complex may be touristy but for a good reason. It was interesting and fun! Now for a short ride to Dengfeng for the night at Shaolin International Hotel.
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