Abroad in Beijing: Shaolin Kung Fu Trip to the Great Wall at Gubeikou and to Gubei Water Town

Once in October and later on again in April, the Beijing Milun School of Traditional Wushu took students on a trip to the Gubeikou 古北口 section of the Great Wall for sightseeing and a weekend full of martial arts activities. We stayed at a small hostel in Hexi Village at the foot of the mountain, enjoying home-cooked meals and the company of our hosts. Each day we'd start off with a light breakfast at our hostel before we spent hours studying Shaolin Kung Fu out in the village and mountainside. On one day for each trip, we'd share a picnic in the fields with food we'd each contribute, and then the next day, wake up early to start our hike to the wall by the crack of dawn. The wall at this section isn't reconstructed and so it has a more authentic ancient feel to it. With the view of the mountains and sunlight gleaming through the mist, it was really an awe-inspiring scenery. Some people are willing to go camping in the towers of the wall here, though this can be dangerous due to how unsteady some parts of the wall are. On the trip in April, we also went to Gubei Water Town (Gubei Shuizhen 古北水镇 ) for a little R&R. Here is a collection of photos from both of these trips.

October