Kung Fu Show

Our most recent trip to Beijing was for a Kung Fu show... and so far, it's probably the best thing I've seen in China. (No original pictures though... here are some from the internet.)

 The show is a series of choreographed scenes telling the story of a young boy who is sent off to a temple to become a Kung Fu master. He is reluctant to go, and at times loses concentration and fails in his tasks.... eventually he overcomes his demons and gets back on the straight and narrow to become a fierce Kung Fu warrior.

The performers in the show were outstanding. They could move their bodies in ways I could only dream of, and they do it all with such strength and agility. Some scenes were meant to depict different animals, like a scorpion or a cheetah.... and the men truly transformed their bodies into these animals.

There were young children in the show... about 8-9 years old. They could jump, flip, and bounce all over the stage. Without any kind of running start or help, the boys would just completely flip backwards, land on their head, three or four times...  and then bounce back up to do another kick combination.



The highlight of the show came when the Kung Fu master had successfully completed his training and his body took on the strength of iron. He was placed on a metal spike and able to balance there, even spin on it, without a problem.

Another scene has him lay on knife blades and have a wooden block with nails laid on on top of him. Then, another warrior lays on top of that, and a huge stone is placed on the top of him.  A third warrior uses a sledgehammer and breaks the stone. Amazingly, no one is hurt and they all jump up to continue on with more kicks, punches, and jumps.



It has hints of Cirque du Soleil, with some aerial stunts included.

All in all, it was an incredible show... and it made me want to start Kung Fu lessons immediately.

Too Big

 Living in China as a foreigner has its challenges… but as two able-bodied adults, Gary and I didn’t think we’d have as many physical challenges as we do. At 5’3”, I’m on the short side of average, but there are more than just a few women here who I seem to tower over. I wear a 7.5 shoe, which might be the most common shoe size in America… but in China, I count myself lucky if I find one straggly pair of shoes in the back in my size. 

But, if it sounds like I have it tough… imagine life in midget-land for Gary. At 6’4,  he is always, always the tallest person in any room, and usually for as far as he can see (which is pretty far over most people’s heads).

He’s hit his head on a doorway more than once and has to duck down to enter the subway cars. But don’t feel too sorry for him… he gets asks for photos like he’s some kind of rock star. Chinese people love to get their photo taken with a foreigner, so the thought of getting one with a foreign GIANT is even more appealing.

Day to day things can be funny, like having to use household items built for people who are at least a foot shorter. The ironing board is near his knees, as is the kitchen counter and the stove top.

And you have to laugh at the new boxers he bought yesterday… clearly made for the oversized foreigners who might be wandering around China in search of underwear. They are “Fat Men Briefs” in a 6XL. And he said they fit just fine.