I just returned from the 2018 Wah Lum Tour to China. I am…exhausted.

I’ve lost count of how many tours Wah Lum has conducted.  We started around 1980, and I first went to China in 1998.  Each time I return, it amazes me to see how much the country has changed.

The first time I went to China, I remember walking out of the airport and feeling overwhelmed by the billions of Chinese people!  Yes, I am Chinese, but I am used to being the minority.   I was also..ahem…underwhelmed with the bathroom situation.  I have vivid memories of when I went alone in the 90s to train for a month, but I’ll save that story for another time.

Beijing post-2008 Olympics is when the changes were most notable.   The city had really modernized.  It was surreal to see ancient structures amidst skyscrapers and smog.  I often wonder how the treasures of China will hold up over time.

This year, we had a 23 person delegation of Wah Lum competitors and sifus that accompanied me on the tour, with the most prominent members being Grandmaster Chan, Sipo Suzy Chan, and Si Jye Tina Chan.  It was the first (and probably last) time the entire Chan family has been on the tour since 2001.  Our itinerary took us to Beijing, Dengfeng, Guangzhou, Shajing, and Hong Kong.

In Beijing, the students had a chance to adjust to the 12 hour time difference by sightseeing.  We visit the most popular tourist attractions in China: The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Tian’anmen Square.

I have been to these sites countless times, so instead of looking at the sites, I enjoy watching the expressions of my students as they gaze upon these ancient structures for the first time.

The Wah Lum Temple Demo Team performs at Disney’s Epcot Pavilion frequently. During the holidays, our lion team performs daily in front of Epcot’s version of the Temple of Heaven.  We enjoyed recreating our lion dance moves in front of the real deal.  The team was pretty excited to be there!

Check out our social media for more of the fun photos during the sightseeing portion of our tour.  After Beijing, we headed to Dengfeng, home of Shaolin kung fu.  It is always a special moment for kung fu practitioners to walk up the steps of the famed Shaolin Temple.

Wah Lum members are especially proud as they enter the doors of the temple to discover the Wah Lum stone tablet, the first one ever to be erected at the temple.  The tree that is planted behind the tablet is also quite special, as it is the oldest tree in the courtyard.

Since my father, Grandmaster Pui Chan, is a 33rd generation disciple of the temple, we are privileged to have an audience with the venerable Abbot Shi Yongxin.  Two years ago, when I led the team solo for the first time, I was honored that he received our group personally, without my father.  This year, with my father and the entire family being present, we were guaranteed a visit with him, as the Abbot is my father’s younger Shaolin brother.

One of the main objectives of this tour was for the students to compete in the Zhengzhou International Shaolin Festival.  We have not joined this festival in several years, so I was excited to be returning to China with my competition team that would be representing the USA.

The students competed fiercely and I am proud of their hard work and representation.  Wah Lum Team USA won 24 medals in total, with several gold medals, quite a feat in China.

In addition, Grandmaster Chan was recognized for his immense contribution to martial arts and was given an award for his many achievements on stage at the closing ceremony.

The festival began with an incredible opening ceremony.  On the road to Shaolin, over 10,000 thousand kung fu students were performing in the streets.  The photos and videos do not do the experience justice, as the drive-in lasted over 40 minutes in total, with each bus watching for about 10-15 minutes.

 

The opening and closing ceremonies were held at the Shaolin Zen Music Ritual stage, literally, a performance stage carved out of the side of the mountain in the Daixian valley.  This stage has the biggest lighting system in the world. There are more than 2,800 lamps controlled by computers from the foot of the mountain to the 1,400-meter high top. The stage covers an area of 5 kilometers. The performers even fly and fight in the sky about 80 meters above the ground.

Another important aspect of visiting Shaolin is our relationship with my father’s older Shaolin brother, Grandmaster Liang of Epo Shaolin School.  My students were able to participate in kung fu training and tour the school.  Grandmaster Chan conducted the first Shaolin monk tour in 1992, which Grandmaster Liang was a part of.  He is my godfather and spending time with him is always very special to me.

The most important part of the tour for me is visiting my father’s hometown of Shajing.  Lighting incense for Grandmaster Lee Kwan Shan, Grandmaster Chan’s sifu, my grandparents, and ancestors always brings me a feeling of peace and fulfillment that I cannot describe.  I am proud to bring my students to pay their respects.

 

The end of the tour brings us to the final show in Shajing.  Per tradition, we participate in a kung fu exchange performance in which the local practitioners and our team show our kung fu moves.  This show has evolved over time into a huge city affair.

When we first started going, the show was held in the Chan family hall and was very casual.  Now, the entire city is open to watch the performances and is attended by dignitaries and news outlets.

The city of Shajing is proud that Grandmaster Chan has brought notoriety to their city, and always honor him at these events.  The entire Wah Lum delegation performed which brought excitement to the locals.  It is amazing for them to see Wah Lum has spread worldwide!

It excites me to bring my students to the birthplace of Grandmaster Chan and share the origins of Wah Lum with them. It is important to me that they remember their roots and appreciate the rich history of Wah Lum.

By the end of the tour, I am ready to deliver the students to Hong Kong where they can shop, eat, and enjoy the city.   I am exhausted by this time, but proud of everyone on the tour for their resilience and eagerness to learn.

After the tour, the Chan family visited Lau Fau Shan, Hong Kong.  This is the shore where my father escaped to from China. (See Pui Chan: Kung Fu Pioneer)

I saw a mixture of emotions as my father walked along the shore.  Standing somewhere he once called home, leaving behind his birthplace in search for freedom and a better life.  I visit this symbolic beach each time I return.  I experience a strange sensation of hope and sadness, and can only imagine what it was like for my father.

As much as I honestly dread these long trips filled with stress and strife, experiencing these small moments are priceless.  To experience it for the last time with my family was bittersweet.  I am grateful for the opportunity to share this moment with them but sad that this will be the last time.

Although I do not plan to take another tour for a few years, I know this is not my last visit.  I will continue to return to pay homage to my father’s hometown and bring students to learn about the roots of Wah Lum’s rich history.

 

 

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