Montessori School is located in the exclusive China World Hotel. The parents are generally foreigners employed by major companies,or wealthy Chinese. Charles Li, a very respected and experienced kung fu master in Beijing, is the kung fu coach who teaches lessons to young students at the school. The school had their year-end program, than included a kung fu performance.

He did a remarkable job teaching the kung fu which requires so much discipline to these young students. Although the children were nervous, they used their inner discipline to work their routine. It was very obvious that they loved it, and the parents were very proud of their children's' performance. They are fortunate to have Charles teach their children kung fu, both for the culture and the benefits of learning a martial art. Kung fu helps children develop better motor skills, integrates the brain with the body, and builds inner resources that include resilience, decision making, and maturity. Kung fu is a major element of Chinese culture. The famous Peking (Beijing) Opera incorporates martial arts in nearly all of its programs.A good private school in China will offer kung fu lessons to "foreign" students.

Next: Tianjin. Another train trip, old friends and new