Shaolin Si (Shaolin Temple), Henan

Setting the mood first...

We went to the Shaolin Si in the Shaolin mountains area. The Shaolin Temple is probably Henan's current claim to fame. Definitely the place where I saw the most tourists. The history was pretty interesting, I saw some trees with deep holes which are supposed to be evidence of years of finger boxing. One of the buildings had deep grooves in the concrete floors from Shaolin monks secretly practicing kung fu when it was banned during the Ming Dynasty. 

Finger boxing holes

grooves in the floor, looks much more impressive in real life

Chinese tourist, Chinese monk

While I was there, I saw parents bring in their son to register him to learn kung fu full-time with the temple. Kung fu schools are still largely acceptable alternatives to the traditional schooling system. Usually, the students practice for 8 hours a day, using computers the rest of the time to fulfill basic education requirements. 

Waiting for some kung fu(n)

We asked the headmaster of the kung fu school if he had mastered all of kung fu. He answered, "I 'm not very good, I know all of the disciplines but only kind of good at each." Right.

Also hiked the Shaolin Mountain area, there's this incredible temple nestled into the mountains.

Spectacular.

Along the way.

China's mountains are really something.

And of course, nothing like a very convincing picture with both the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple (Grand master Shi Yongxin) and Former Russian President Vladimir Putin to keep the memories.