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Hong Xiang Wushu School
The school is owned and operated by Li Fan Fu, the 6th generation successor of the Fohan Quan style of wushu. There are several groups or classes at the school. Li Fan Fu teaches the Fohan Quan group, while other coaches are present to teach other styles to the other groups, such as Shaolin Quan (also referred to as "show" wushu), and Sanda (kick boxing). The school is located in a suburban setting, with easy access to the downtown Puyang area by bus or taxi. There are restaurants and supermarkets within walking distance, yet the school feels removed from the daily bustle of city life, and is surrounded by parks, farmer's fields, and forested areas. Location: Puyang
Puyang is a modern city, having been a planned city that for the most part existed only as a village before the 1950s. The city is full of gardens, parks, and waterways, and the city has been designed to be very green. The town has been given awards for cleanliness, tourism, and for it's gardens. It was also named as one of the best "environment for living" places in all of China. Puyang county is an agricultural center for all of Henan province, and also is abundant in natural resources. The oldest known emblem of the Chinese dragon was unearthed in Puyang in 1987, and was found to be nearly 6400 years old. Because of this, Puyang is known as the "Hometown of the Chinese Dragon". Transportation to Puyang is limited to busses from nearby Zhengzhou (2.5 hours), or directly from other major cities such as Beijing (8 hours via sleeper bus). Zhengzhou is a transportation hub and has an international airport as well as bus and train stations to connect to nearly any point in China. Puyang is large enough that it has all the facilities you could want-- computer markets, supermarkets, department stores, even western fast food restaurants, however it is still small enough that getting around by taxi or bus is quick and cheap.
WeatherThe weather of Puyang is typical of central China. The winters are cold and dry, though sub-zero temperatures are the exception rather than the norm for most of winter. Snow can be expected at times in January or February. The summer months are of course the hottest, but also the only months where there is a lot of rain. July and August especially are the rainiest months, but most coaches agree these are the best months for training. Summer high temperatures can reach 40C, but are typically less than 35C. Spring and Autumn are also good times for training, with temperatures averaging around 15-20C, and not a lot of rain. School Training FacilitiesThere are 2 indoor training halls, a large outdoor earthen training area, and a large outdoor concrete area (which doubles as a basketball court). There is also a forested training area which provides excellent shade for hot sunny days. There are mats for acrobatics practice, and mats for sparring/sanda use, as well as heavy bags. Students can purchase sparring gear from the school store, which also sells many other items including snacks, training shoes and uniforms, weapons, etc. Admittedly, weight training equipment at the school is very limited-- just two bars and a handful of free weights make up the collection. However, a deal has been arranged with a local gym to give students discounted access to a very modern, fully-equipped gym for all your weight training needs. Accommodation Option 1: Stay at SchoolVisitors from abroad who wish to come to Hong Xiang Wushu School to study in Fohan Quan, Taiji Quan, Shaolin Quan, or Sanda have two options for accommodation while they are here.
Air conditioning is available in the foreigner rooms upon request. High speed internet is available directly in the room. There is also a computer room the Chinese students use for learning, which can be used by foreigners at limited times during the day. Facilities are somewhat limited-- there is one bathroom, with a squat-style toilet and sink. A separate room has a shower in it. Plans are to build a separate shower facility on-site as more foreign students arrive. Until then, the alternative is a 5 minute walk away, where there is a bath house with hot water showers and hot tub, for 2RMB/visit. Laundry can be done by hand at the school, or taken to a nearby laundromat. The food that is supplied to the Chinese students is not sufficient for the dietary requirements of most westerners. One choice is to eat the same food as the Chinese students do, but to supplement it food you purchase yourself. The other option is to eat much better quality food cooked at the school for the other foreign students. Students also have access to a gas cooker if they wish to buy and cook their own meals. Accommodation Option 2: Stay at Hotel
There is a restaurant in the hotel, or there are numerous restaurants and street vendors in the immediate area that students who chose this option can use for food. The hotel is a 10 minute walk from the school, though people choosing this option may want to purchase a bicycle locally to cut that down to a few minutes. Because of the schedule of the classes, it is possible to only have to come to the school twice a day which makes this commute an easy option. Accommodation Option 3: Rent ApartmentNumerous apartments are available in the area near the above mentioned hotel, as well as closer to downtown Puyang. This option would allow the student to live in their own space with their own kitchen. Apartments are usually available furnished or unfurnished, and there are many modern and new apartments to choose from. Note that this can take some time to set up, so students who want to chose this option should expect to stay in a hotel for a while until their apartment is available. |
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Hong Xiang Wushu School is a medium-sized wushu school located in Puyang, Henan Province, China. There are as many as 200 students attending the school from the local area and from all corners of China. Like most wushu schools in China, most of the students are school-aged children, from 5-18 years old, and who live at the school as well as attend regular educational classes at the school (in addition to the wushu training).
Puyang is a small city at the heart of Puyang County, in the northeast corner of Henan Province. While the population of Puyang County is nearly 3.5 million people (spread across several thousand square kilometers, mostly living in rural areas), the city of Puyang itself has only 350,000 residents within the city limits.
The first of the options is to reside in the school. Each student will have their own room, although they can share a room for a discounted price. There is only space available for 10 students in this manner. The rooms are approximately 8' x 15' feet, and include a desk, chair, and bed. The student can purchase any other furniture they need from local stores. Foreigner rooms are all outfitted with a lockable metal door so you don't have to worry about your belongings. 
Nearby the school is a very nice hotel with which a deal has been negotiated to give students of the school a very low price for long-term accommodation. The rooms are very clean and new, include heat, air conditioning, bottled water, TV, and all western-style amenities (hot shower and western toilet). Internet access is also available in-room.