Begin your day with a visit to the Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and Chinese martial arts. Explore the temple's core areas, such as the Changzhu Temple and the First Patriarch Temple. Watch an official Shaolin Kung Fu performance and learn about the origins of Zen and the history of Shaolin martial arts from your English-speaking guide.
Next, head to the Pagoda Forest, the largest ancient pagoda cemetery in China. Discover the architectural features of the pagodas and learn about the Buddhist culture and the construction techniques of ancient Chinese pagodas.
Afterward, enjoy a lunch of local vegetarian dishes and traditional Chinese home-cooked meals (at your own expense).
In the afternoon, visit the ancient Astronomical Observatory, one of the oldest observatories in the world. Learn about the Yuan Dynasty's astronomical observation system and the ancient Chinese calendar calculation principles.
In the evening, attend the Zen Music Ceremony, an open-air live show that combines natural mountain scenery, Buddhist culture, and traditional folk music. Enjoy a 70-minute performance that features five chapters, each blending Zen, martial arts, folk music, and the mountain night scenery.
