China Trip 2026
Five Immortals Temple
June 29 - July 9 Dragon Heart Sword
June 13 - July 23 Internal Alchemy
The Five Immortals Temple (五仙庙 Wu Xian Miao) is a small temple built atop White Horse Mountain (白马山 Bai Ma Shan), the westernmost peak among the 72 peaks of the Wudang Mountains. A thousand-year-old hermitage, it was established during the Song Dynasty to serve as a sanctuary and has been passed down through Daoist lineages to this day. Its current abbot, the transmission master of the Pure Yang lineage of Wudang, whose Daoist name is Xing De, whom everyone calls Li Shifu, has undertaken its restoration to restore its former prestige and thus ensure the transmission and dissemination of Wudang Daoist teachings.
Lindsey Wei (Cheng Ling 诚灵）a student of Li Shifu since 2005, has taught internationally teaching work since 2010, and will lead a group of students to the temple for 2 retreats in 2026.
Participants are expected to have a positive and engaged attitude: respect for the cultural context and temple etiquette, participation in all activities (no personalized program), practice of the methods taught, open-mindedness, ability to self-reflect and function as a group, and leaving the place in better condition than you found it. Be aware that this is not a tourist visit, but a retreat for practice and learning, and a unique opportunity.
Our objective is: To experience the Daoist way of life based on simplicity and nature, in its original cultural context. To be in service to the temple, the physical vessel for the transmission of teachings across generations. To receive teachings transmitted in person by Li Shifu.
General Daily Schedule
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5:30 a.m. Morning Drum and Incense Offerings Ritual (each person has an opportunity to perform)
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6:00 a.m. Qi Gong
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8 a.m. Breakfast
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8:30 a.m. Service (temple maintenance/ cleaning chores)
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9:30 a.m. Movement practice or theory class
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12:30 p.m. Lunch
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1:00 p.m. Rest or Service (picking herbs, tending the vegetable garden, splitting wood, etc.)
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3:30 p.m. Movement practice or theory class
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5:45 p.m. Evening Incense and Scripture Recitation (attendance on new and full moon only)
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7:00 p.m. Dinner
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8:30 p.m. Seated Meditation
Dragon Heart Sword
(24 movements)
June 29 - July 9
Taught by Li Shifu and Cheng Ling (Lindsey Wei)
Course Contents and Schedule
Early Morning (1.5 hours): Longevity Qi Gong – Five forms (Expel the Old, Take In the New; Red Phoenix Facing the Sun; Five Qi Return to the Source; Dragon Claw Gong; Embracing the Origin and Guarding the One). Open the gate, clear the orifice, Rhythmic detoxification exercise 21-forms, Five Tones Healing Song with Guiding method, methods to regulate cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine issues.
Morning (2.5 hours): Sword fundamentals, hand, eye, body, techniques, and footwork basics, Dragon Form Sword routine, and techniques.
Afternoon (2.5 hours): Sword fundamentals, hand, eye, body, techniques, and footwork basics, Dragon Form Sword routine, and techniques.
Evening (1 hours): Standing Meditation – Tai Chi Opening and Closing, Submerging and Floating pillar. Sitting meditation cultivating stillness, Lying Dragon meditation.
Foundations of Internal Alchemy
(Dan Dao – Elixir Way) for Longevity
June 13 - July 23
Content taught by Li Shifu translated into English by Cheng Ling, Cheng Liang, and Xin Hui
Course Contents and Schedule
Purpose: To help participants understand the path and methods of Daoist cultivation in China; enhance each individual’s comprehension and ability to distinguish different levels of cultivation; open the gate to wisdom, guiding us to find direction amidst the chaos and illusory changes of social life; discover the value and meaning of our existence; explore the meaning of life and the truths of the universe.
Strengthen one’s energy field and vibrational frequency; cultivate a heart of compassion, love, forgiveness, and tolerance; awaken the willingness to assist others and serve all beings. To prepare for future opportunities to unify the body and the higher self, elevate oneself, and thereby create a true body, an immortal body, and attain the Dao.
Course Contents: Primarily theory-based, learning Daoist etiquette and taboos. Fundamentals of Internal Alchemy theory, standing qigong methods, sitting meditation to gather qi, sleep-based qi retention methods, and different breathing techniques for various stages. Basics of Microcosmic Orbit, explanation of key points in alchemical texts: “49 Barriers,” “Qingjing Jing – The Scripture of Purity and Tranquility”, “Da Cheng Jie Yao – Essentials of the Shortcut to the Great Achievement”, “Tai Yi Jing Hua Zong Zhi – The Secret of Golden Flower”.
Overview and explanation of key points: Dao De Jing, Yin Fu Jing – The Hidden Tailisman Scripture, Longmen Heart Method, Huang Ting Jing – The Yellow Court Scripture, Nei Jing Tu – Internal Secret Landscape Map. Basic theory and practice methods of Female Alchemy. Fasting (depending on students’ interest in exploring fasting and their physical condition). Taboos in gathering qi, dietary requirements in relation to the four seasons, four times and four forms (moving, standing, sitting, lying down). Daily life regulation, problem-solving, preparation of fasting alchemical pills, Seclusion: essential points, purpose and requirements during the 100-day building the foundation period, ignition of the alchemical fire: the teacher assists in opening the gate of Dan Dao, highlighting key points and secretly igniting the inner fire, emergence of embryo breathing, 3 appearances of the sunshine.
Schedule
Morning (1.5 hours): Longevity Qi Gong – Six forms (Expel the Old, Take In the New; Red Phoenix Facing the Sun; Five Qi Return to the Source; Dragon Claw Gong; Three Stars illuminate Within; Embracing the Origin and Guarding the One). Open the gate, clear the orifice, Rhythmic detoxification exercise 21-forms, Five Tones Healing Song with Guiding method, Three Vertebrae Seven Forms (Stubborn Bull Turns its Head; Yaksha Explores the Sea; Lazy Bear Stretches its Waist; Golden Turtle Shines its Back; Auspiciousness on the top of the Head; Bronze Wall, Iron Back; Wind Sways the Willow) – methods to regulate cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine issues.
Morning (2.5 hours): Theory, methods.
Afternoon (2.5 hours): Theory, methods.
Evening (1.5 hours): Health-preserving Qi Gong – 5 forms, Submerging and Floating Stance, seated meditation practice, Lying Dragon Exercises.
Students’ Requirements:
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Basic Foundation of sitting meditation and/or cultivation of stillness (any type)
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No diseases or disabilities
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Vegetarian Diet. Monastic discipline (adhering to the temple’s precepts)
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Destiny to learn from the master
Travel
Travel is not included in the organization of the retreats: you are responsible for organizing your trip (transportation and visa). We will have 1 online meeting and a group thread for support in your planning and preparation! For those who will participate in both retreats, you will have a few days between the retreats to visit the UNESCO site of Wudang if you wish. You can also stay at the temple and participate in daily tasks.
Recommended travel dates:
You will appreciate arriving a couple days in advance to rest from the trip and recover from jet lag before the start of the retreats. During this time you must stay in a hotel in town. For this private course we are not allowing early arrival at the temple. Everyone will climb to the temple on the same day, which is the first day of the date for the course (Dragon Heart June 29, Alchemy July 13.) A full day of classes begins the following day after arrival.
Arrivals via Shiyan-Wudangshan Airport (WDS) or Shiyan Railway Station 十堰市 in Hubei Province 湖北省 (not to be confused with Xian in Shaanxi Province)
Departures on July 10 (Dragon Heart) or July 24 (Alchemy) from 11:00 am at the airport or train station on the day after the final date of course.
We will arrange taxi’s for pick up and drop off to and from temple - airport.
Communication
All teachings will be taught in Chinese by Li Shifu and translated into English by a senior student translator. Prepare yourself to be at least somewhat independent on a daily basis during your travels and during the retreat: study pinyin before the trip, download the free PLECO translation app on your phone at https://www.pleco.com/
PRICES
The prices include a 10-day retreat at the Temple of the Five Immortals with full board: teachings, accommodation, 3 vegetarian meals per day, running water and electricity. The temple is neither a hotel nor a restaurant: the living conditions at the temple are rustic, similar to a mountain refuge, and require a good ability to adapt. The rooms are very basic, the beds are made of boards on which two duvets are placed (one as a mattress, one as a blanket), and the humidity level is often high. Personal hygiene is done with a basin, hot water and a small towel. The toilets are Chinese: squatting over a trench. The meals, vegan except for the eggs, are cooked over a wood fire in the wok, and consist of wheat noodles, rice, steamed wheat bread, wild plants, fresh vegetables, seaweed, mushrooms, peanuts, sesame, roots, tofu and fermented products. Food intolerances such as gluten can be taken into account but this will limit the choice of dishes offered and you will have to be involved in their daily management.
Rates do not include travel expenses (transport, visa, train, accommodation and food outside the temple). Your financial contribution will go directly to the temple and helps finance its restoration and autonomy, and thus the continuation of the living transmission of Daoist arts in Wudang.
+ Expect about 300 CNY for the tailor-made making of a Daoist set to wear during your stay (daily Daoist set in cotton: short crossed tunic and midnight blue pants, traditional white socks). One set per person minimum is required. You will have the possibility to have more clothes made if you wish.
+ Also consider in your budget the costs of accommodation, food and transportation before and after the temple (hotel, taxi to go up to the temple, entrance ticket to the UNESCO site, etc.).
We will have an open meeting where we go over travel logistics and what is expected. After your application is accepted you will be prompted to pay the deposit in USD.
Your deposit goes towards the full tuition. It is non-refundable to hold your space as we have a limit of 30 persons. It may be considered for refund only if we can fill your space and if it is more than 60 days prior to the trip. We appreciate your understanding.
For registered attendees only we will host a 2nd meeting where we go over the Martial Virtues we aspire towards as we enter the Chun Yang lineage.
The remainder of the tuition will be due upon arrival in China using cash RMB placed into the donation boxes via ceremony.
How to Apply
Before applying please take the time to carefully read all the information presented on this page as well as temple rules here. Anyone honestly interested in taking part in this course is required to submit an application. The decision for acceptance will be made within 2 weeks. After the student is accepted, deposit must be made in order to secure his/her place in the course.
Cancellation and Refund policies
If for some reason students decide not to stay at the temple, the deposit will not be refunded and they must leave China, since the responsibility for their visas falls on the temple. If a student is unable to attend the course, we reserve the right to keep the deposit as this may have taken an opportunity away from someone else to join the course.