The Tianmeng Mountains are calling…
not only for our weekly practice sessions of stretching, kicks and Qi Gong, but this time also for a special “school trip” while helping to create a promo film.
I am already familiar with the South Gate section of the Tianmeng mountains, where we train several times a week after running or walking uphill from our school. Today, however, we are getting spoilt! Master Zhou has arranged for a bus to pick us all up at school – pure luxury! As we drive higher into the mountains, we enjoy the beautiful scenery before arriving at the main entrance about half an hour later.
Another school is already here. Those older students, gracefully dressed in bright red Tai Chi uniforms, are practising while a film crew records them. We still have some time to get ready. My black uniform is already sticking to my body in the humid air. Despite the heat, we all look great in our matching school uniforms.
“Husband” Qi Gong
“Lái, lái, lái” we hear the familiar voice of Shifu. It’s time for our performance! We perform the so-called “Husband” Qi Gong which is said to build power and strength. As we perform, we are filmed not only by a professional camera crew hired by Shifu, but also by many Chinese visitors.
Since my arrival in China, and especially at the school, we are almost always the only foreigners, wherever we go. We attract a lot of attention, and it doesn’t always feel comfortable. Some people greet us with a friendly “Ni hao” but most simply come up close and start filming us without asking for permission. This time feels slightly different, though, as we are here to be filmed anyway.
After a while, we move on. The Mountain Area is nothing like “my mountains” back home in Austria, or even in Spain. Like so many places in China, it feels like everything has been turned into “Entertainment“.
These mountains are part of an “Amusement Park“, rather than of the other way around. We walk some sections, and at other times we hop on a tourist bus that takes us to our next filming location.
Seven Stars & meditation
There’s a wonderful “Ancient City” where some of our Kung Fu students performe the “Seven Stars” sequence. Two Chinese hosts join in, and it’s fun to finally interact with the locals. They even offer us some tea, before it’s time to head to our next stop.
Suddenly we pass a Hobbit Town, with a pink wedding chapel in the distance, and an impressive plastic tree covered in pink blossoms standing right beside it. So fake, so kitsch!
A little stream separates this surreal scene from yet another incredible setting called “Chiang Mai“. If you’ve ever been to Chiang Mai in Tailand, I bet you wouldn’t have recognised it here if it weren’t for the sign! This time we sit on huge fake rocks along the river and meditate while, once again, a camera crew films us.
Highlights
After some more filming, it’s finally time to relax. We take the cable car, climb Wanghai Tower and enjoy the views of the Yimeng sea and the surrounding mountains. The Jade Emperor Palace is stunning and provides the perfect backdrop for photography.
Unfortunately, it’s a bit hazy, but still clear enough to appreciate the breathtaking scenery. Some brave, fearless students walk across the colourful canopy swing bridge, showing off the Five Elements forms. So much fun!
At the Mirror Photo Plateau, we make time for more meditation and filming. Wanghai Tower, surrounded by mystical clouds in the background, gives the whole scena an extra touch of magic.
I stay behind a little longer with three fellow students before catching up with the rest of our group. As we’re running late for lunch, we pay for a ride down the mountain on the coaster. It’s slow but fun! We laugh like young children on their very first school trip!
To reach the restaurant, we have to cross the record-breaking pedestrian suspension bridge. From a distance, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to cross because of my fear of heights, which sometimes appears out of nowhere. Standing on the bridge, I feel nothing. It’s actually fun to cross. The glass section in the middle offers spectacular views without scaring me. To protect the glass, we’re all given brown shoe covers to wear.
So many impressions, so many repetitions of Qi Gong, yet we are having an amazing time. Once again, it reminds me how meaningful people can become when you live together in a small community like our school. Different languages, countries and cultures, yet we’re united as one family!
Like the famous message from Kung Fu Panda “There is no secret ingredient“. Our greatness comes from believing in ourselves and putting in the effort.
In the end, we all have the same desire: to be happy and free.
