Crouching Tiger Hidden Panda

As part of my China travel I ventured into the depths of Houhai to catch a Kung Fu show. A friend of mine who speaks better Chinese than I bought the tickets from an all Chinese website, we got a little turned around getting there, got there right before the show, and only had a vague idea of exactly what the show would entail. When we first arrived we were swamped in a sea of Panda costumes, and were worried our poor Chinese has accidently led us to a kids show. Once they show started, however, we realized it was anything but, and that the show was a great addition to our China tours.

Kung Fu Bandanna

The show was based around two pandas traveling around China to learn about all of the different Kung Fu styles. Each act took place in a different part of China, and focused on a different style. The acts began with the panda's wandering through the sets, acting basically as the comic relief clowns. Then a large group scene would begin with many different people practicing the style, and the pandas getting caught in the middle of it. They covered the swan, monkeyFinally, a master of the style would come out and perform a much more impressive feat. These ranged from fighting off an entire group, to breaking a stack of bricks, to fighting upside down. Everyone in the show was in peak physical condition, and the fighting scenes were spectacular.

I came into the whole show with high expectations after having it built up to me over Skype for hours before I went, and I was not disappointed. I've always had a soft spot for Kung Fu movies, but there is nothing like seeing the real thing. When you're on stage there's [almost] no special effects, and no safety net. The performance was raw, entertaining, and extremely impressive.

The entire show was full of laughs, thrills, and excitement. It was relatively inexpensive, and was a great way to spend a night. If you're interested the website is http://kungfushichahai.com/, it's in Chinese though so have a friend or Google translator ready if like me your Chinese is not always up to par. See this show or any Kung Fu show as part of your China travels. It's a great way to experience the people and culture of China, and see an amazing show to boot. Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, this is not a show you want to miss. Oh and if you like Panda's be sure to "like" our Facebook page so we can adopt one [http://www.facebook.com/ChinaTravelDepot]

Mandarin Chinese 101: Learn to Speak Mandarin Chinese with The Travel Linguist

Learn the 101 critical words and phrases in Mandarin Chinese to travel safely and have fun abroad. Whether doing business in Beijing or walking the Great Wall, Mandarin Chinese 101 will teach you words and phrases for Greetings, Dining, Travel, and Emergency.

We use only native Chinese speakers so your pronunciation will be clear and accurate. There are 3 different levels so you can start with the easiest and slowest way. As you learn more and more, you can advance levels and learn more. The Travel Linguist series is a great way to start learning Mandarin Chinese today.