Daily Training and Rhythm
Life at Long Tou Shan follows a steady, intentional rhythm, balancing focused training with rest, nourishment, and time in nature.
The day begins with a gentle warm-up at 8:00 AM, followed by a fresh, home-cooked breakfast served between 8:30 and 9:30 AM. All meals are included and prepared daily using vegetarian, nutrient-dense ingredients sourced from the school’s garden and local organic markets.
Morning training continues from 9:30 AM through early afternoon, with time set aside for tea and rest. Each session is divided into two parts: foundational training focused on internal principles and silk reeling (chan si jin, 缠丝劲), followed by form practice in either Chen-style or Yang-style Tai Chi.
Lunch is served after training, offering a deeply nourishing and restorative pause in the day. Evenings are quiet and unhurried, with dinner prepared fresh at 6:00 PM.
Throughout the day, students have access to tea sourced from a local ecological farm, with traditional gongfu tea (功夫茶) sets provided in each room. A small on-site café also offers specialty coffee for those who wish.
Afternoons and evenings allow time to rest, explore, or continue personal practice. The school is set within a peaceful village, surrounded by the karst mountains and rivers of Yangshuo—offering a level of stillness and natural beauty that is increasingly rare.
Located just 20 minutes from town, Long Tou Shan provides both a sense of retreat and accessibility. Students can fully immerse in training while still having the option to visit Yangshuo when desired.
For many, the experience extends beyond martial arts. It becomes a period of reset—physically, mentally, and energetically.
A Typical Day
Monday – Saturday (Training Days)
| Time (Approximate) | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Morning warm-ups |
| 8:30 – 9:30 AM | Breakfast |
| 9:30 – 11:00 AM | Base training (foundations, internal work, short tea break) |
| 11:00 – 11:15 AM | Rest break / Practice |
| 11:15 AM – 12:30 / 1:00 PM | Tai Chi class (form and refinement) |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch |
| Afternoon | Free time (rest, explore, or self-practice) |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
Sunday (Rest day)
| Time (approximate) | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM | Breakfast |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch |
| 6:00 PM | Dinner |
A Rhythm, Not a Routine
While the schedule remains consistent, the experience is not rigid.
Students arrive with different backgrounds, stay for varying lengths of time, and progress at their own pace. Instruction adapts accordingly.
Over time, the structure of the day becomes less about following a schedule, and more about settling into a rhythm of practice.
Time to Integrate
What makes training at Long Tou Shan unique is not only the hours spent in class, but the space around them.
The breaks, the quiet, the environment, and the opportunity for self-practice are all part of the learning process.
It is often in these moments that understanding begins to deepen.