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Itinerary
Taoist Journey into Qigong & Internal Alchemy
September 1 ~ 17, 2008
Due to the earthquake in Chengdu in May, the location and itinerary for this trip was changed. Instead of meeting in Chengdu, we met in Xian, and instead of practicing at Yuan Ming Temple near Chengdu city we instead trained in the holy mountains of Wudang. See the Wudang page for an overview and photos of the Wudang area. Also see the Photo Gallery for pictures of our Sept. 2008 journey.
Day One. Members arrive at Chengdu Airport from their respective countries. We will all meet in the early evening for a dinner together, and to discuss the upcoming schedule and activities of our Taoist journey. Traditional therapeutic Chinese Tui-Na massage therapy and Reflexology are available to help those with jet lag and travel fatigue at the hotel Spa Center.
 
QingYang Temple in Chengdu City, as seen on day two
Day Two. Today we will arise and share a traditional Chinese breakfast together, and depart by bus to QingYang Taoist Temple in Chengdu city. QingYang Temple is the most famous Taoist temple in China, and the oldest temple in Chengdu, and dates back to 620 AD in the Tang Dynasty. We will freely explore the large temple grounds together, and enjoy its many grand halls which house very large and imposing statues of the many Taoist Immortals and Deity figures. After our exploration, we will have lunch in the temple restaurant, and enjoy tea with the locals who gather here daily for relaxation and talking together. We then are off by bus to the base of QingCheng Shan Mountain. We then begin our accent up the scenic hiking trail to the site of our lodging and daily training -- the ancient Yuan Ming Temple. This evening after our dinner in the temple, we will have our first lecture with Teacher Hu on the art of Internal Alchemy and the basic methods of its practice.
  
Yuan Ming Temple on Mt. QingCheng
Sight of our lodging and daily training
Day Three. Today we will begin our day with our first session of Internal Alchemy Meditation with Teacher Hu. After our training we will have a simple breakfast in the Temple Dining Hall. We then will have our first lecture on Taoism theory, cosmology, and Internal Alchemy. In the afternoon we will take part in our second session of Internal Alchemy meditation. Afternoons today will be free, for resting or exploring the nearby temple areas on your own. In the evening we will have our final meditation session of the day. Our schedule is one that follows the ancient teachings of Alchemy practice -- we will be training in our Internal Alchemy sessions at the time of sunrise, noon, and at sunset, gaining a natural harmony with the powerful daily cycles of the sun.
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Daily Practice Schedule
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Early Morning Meditation Practice
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5:15 am - 6: 45 am
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Morning Taoism Theory Class
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8: 30 am - 10:30 am
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Noon Meditation & Taiji Practice
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11:00 am - 12:30 pm
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Evening Meditation Practice
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7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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Afternoon free time for resting, hiking, and enjoying QingCheng Shan
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1:00 - 7:00 pm
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Day Four. Morning / Afternoon / Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture. During our free time in the afternoons, we will go on hikes to visit local sacred sites, temples, and majestic natural areas on QingCheng Shan. This is optional -- and members are also welcome to spend time in their rooms resting, and contemplating the Internal Alchemy methods we are learning, or explore the mountain on their own. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
The vast expanse of the QingCheng Mountain range.
A secluded and sacred natural wonderland and
the birthplace of Taoism in ancient times.
Day Five. Morning / Afternoon / Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture at Yuan Ming Temple. Afternoons today will be free, for resting or exploring the nearby temple areas on your own. In the evening we will have our final meditation session of the day. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
 
Mountain steps of QingCheng Shan
and nearby temple complex of the Three Purity
Day Six. Morning & Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture in Yuan Ming Temple. During our afternoon practice we will have a guest instructor -- Teacher Shao Tianze. Teacher Shao is a Dragon Gate Taoist, and he will share his methods of traditional Wudang Taiji and Qigong with our members. Teacher Shao will also give some demonstrations in Taoist Calligraphy, and also perform music on the Taoist seven-string Zither (Guqin). During our free time in the afternoon, we will go on hikes to visit local sacred sites, temples, and majestic natural areas on QingCheng Shan. This is optional -- and members are also welcome to spend time in their rooms resting, and contemplating the Internal Alchemy methods we are learning, or explore the mountain on their own. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
Dragon Gate Taoist, Teacher Shao Tianze
Our guest instructor in Wudang Taiji and Qigong
Day Seven. Morning & Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture in Yuan Ming Temple. During our afternoon practice we will continue to study with our guest instructor, Teacher Shao Tianze. Teacher Shao will continue to share his methods of traditional Wudang Taiji and Qigong with our members. Teacher Shao will also give some demonstrations in Taoist Calligraphy, and also give another musical performance of the Taoist seven-string Zither (Guqin). During our free time in the afternoon, we will go on hikes to visit local sacred sites, temples, and majestic natural areas on QingCheng Shan. This is optional -- members are also welcome to spend time in their rooms resting, and contemplating the Internal Alchemy methods we are learning, or explore the mountain on their own. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
 
Dragon Gate Taoist, Teacher Shao Tianze
Our guest instructor in Wudang Taiji and Qigong
Day Eight. Morning & Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture in Yuan Ming Temple. During our afternoon practice we will continue to study with our guest instructor, Teacher Shao Tianze. Teacher Shao will continue to share his methods of traditional Wudang Taiji and Qigong with our members. Teacher Shao will also give some demonstrations in Taoist Calligraphy, and play the Taoist seven-string Zither (Guqin). During our free time in the afternoon, we will go on hikes to visit local sacred sites, temples, and majestic natural areas on QingCheng Shan. This is optional -- members are also welcome to spend time in their rooms resting, and contemplating the Internal Alchemy methods we are learning, or explore the mountain on their own. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
 
Gateway and Taoist Altar nearby our lodging on QingCheng Shan
Day Nine. Morning & Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture at Yuan Ming Temple. During our afternoon practice we will continue to study with our guest instructor, Teacher Shao Tianze. Teacher Shao will continue to share his methods of traditional Wudang Taiji and Qigong with our members. Teacher Shao will also give some demonstrations in Taoist Calligraphy, and play the Taoist seven-string Zither (Guqin). During our free time in the afternoon, we will go on hikes to visit local sacred sites, temples, and majestic natural areas on QingCheng Shan. This is optional -- members are also welcome to spend time in their rooms resting, and contemplating the Internal Alchemy methods we are learning, or explore the mountain on their own. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
Cliffside hiking trail on QingCheng Shan
Day Ten to Twelve. Morning / Afternoon / Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture at Yuan Ming Temple. During our free time in the afternoons, we will go on hikes to visit local sacred sites, temples, and majestic natural areas on QingCheng Shan. This is optional -- members are also welcome to spend time in their rooms resting, and contemplating the Internal Alchemy methods we are learning, or explore the mountain on their own. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
Taoist altar to Tou Mu, the Bushel Mother
or Goddess of the North Star on QingCheng Shan
Day Thirteen to Fourteen. Morning / Afternoon / Evening training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi and also morning lecture at Yuan Ming Temple. During our free time in the afternoon, we will go on hikes to visit local sacred sites, temples, and majestic natural areas on QingCheng Shan. This is optional -- members are also welcome to spend time in their rooms resting, and contemplating the Internal Alchemy methods we are learning, or explore the mountain on their own. For those members who wish, we will also all meet at night to reflect on our experience and share our group insights as we grow in our Taoist Internal Alchemy Training.
Taoist Temple near our lodging at Yuan Ming Temple on QingCheng Shan
Day Fifteen. Morning training in Taoist Internal Alchemy with Teacher Hu Xuezhi. Today we will have an extended lecture at Yuan Ming Temple. In this very special lecture, Teacher Hu will outline the entire course of practice and development in the art of Taoist Internal Alchemy in great detail. Today we have a free afternoon, to allow students time to pack their things, or enjoy hiking in QingCheng Shan, or to visit the nearby temple complex. This evening we will enjoy our last dinner together in Yuan Ming Temple, and discuss our intensive training together.
 
Elder Taoist Masters
Day Sixteen. Today after our breakfast, we will gather our things and prepare for our hike down the mountain to the small village at the base of QingCheng Shan. We will transfer by bus to our hotel in Chengdu city. Tonight we will enjoy a large banquet meal together and celebrate the completion of our intensive training together on QingCheng Shan.
Day Seventeen. Early morning breakfast & departure from Chengdu Airport to return home.
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