Greek Shaolin Cultural Organization
少林希腊文化組织

One of the main destinations of the EPOS cultural tour in China, is the world cultural heritage site recognized by UNESCO, Long Men, "Caves of the Dragon gate" [chin .: lóngmén shíkū 龙门石窟], 12 km south of Luoyang.Long Men is exclusively devoted to Buddhism with a high quality of Chinese stone carving in the late Northern Wei Dynasty [chin .: Běi Wèi 北魏 | 386 – 535] and the Tang Dynasty [chin .: Táng Cháo 唐朝 | 618 – 907]. More than 2300 caves and niches are carved in the cliffs of limestone, covering over more than a kilometer, with more than 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, more than 60 stupas and 2,800 relief inscriptions on stone columns.

The group arrived in Long Men at 8 in the morning, facing huge changes for the better, regarding the upgrading of tourism and the highlight of the serenity of the landscape, while protecting this holy place. The group of the Hellenic Shaolin Cultural Center under the guidance this time, of the founder of the cultural center, Master Yan Zhuo [chin .: shì yán zhuō 释延卓, toured the caves, learning from him and Master Yan Kong, stories from the first time 30 years ago, that they visited Long Men, when the river was dry and had done the tour with camels.

Passing the temple of Ancestry worship [chin .: Fèngxiānsì 奉先寺] also called the Niche of the Great Buddha Vairokana [chin .: Pílúzhēnà Fó 毘盧遮那佛], the excitement peaked when the mission passed to the opposite side of the river Yi [chin .: Yīhé 伊河], in order to visit the temple of the Fragrant Hill [chin .: xiāngshānsì 香山寺].

Many years ago, when the two young Masters visited the temple for the first time, it was ruined. Memories of that time flooded masters with unspeakable joy, pointing to the other members of the mission, the places where they practiced, alone, without people and tourists, with only companion the pristine nature of the mountain.

The mission continued the tour to the White garden [chin .: Báiyuán 白园], the mausoleum of Bai Ju Yi [chin .: Bai Juyi 白居易 | 772 – 846], one of the leading poets of the Tang Dynasty. In the beautiful garden, with thousands of bamboo and ponds with goldfish and small waterfalls, the group sat down to rest while drinking tea, waiting patiently for the end of the day, to return back to Luoyang.