Victor Wembanyama made headlines when news of him training in a Shaolin Temple in China spread in 2025. When I first heard the story, I was thinking about one particular temple I went to, but I was unsure if that was the same place. Then I got more details of the story, and I realized that it was. It took me back to the time I visited Luoyang.
The Longmen Grottoes
Luoyang is an important historic city because it used to be one of the capitals of China’s ruling dynasties centuries ago. It also served as a center of Buddhism back in its heyday. A walk around the city center’s historic district reminded me of similar places in Beijing, but on a smaller scale, with its traditional houses and shops lining the streets. However, one of my main destinations in this part of the country was to see the Longmen Grottoes.
True to its status as a former Buddhist center, the Longmen Grottoes showcase an impressive display of artistry. As you walk up to the main carvings, you’ll see detailed (from minuscule to massive) carvings and depictions of Buddha and treatments for illnesses. The area has more than 2,000 caves, over 100,000 Buddhist statues, and over 2,800 inscriptions. Some of the earliest carvings date to the 5th century. Various artists from all over China imitated the style they saw during their visits. It’s also an open-air museum that displays the changes in aesthetics over the centuries. Its setting along the Yi River and amid the mountains creates a serene and grandiose ambiance.
If you’re ticking off UNESCO World Heritage Sites, you might want to add the Longmen Grottoes whenever you visit China. You can access this spot by public transportation or just hire a car to take you there.
Train like a Shaolin
I tried different martial arts when I was growing up; from Taekwondo to Wushu to Arnis. Even if it has been years (decades) since the last time I practiced, the interest has remained. That’s why when I was in Luoyang, I had to include a stop at the Shaolin Temple. The temple dates to 495 A.D., when Emperor Xiaowendi of the Wei dynasty ordered its construction. It then became the birthplace of Zen Buddhism. The sprawling complex lies along Mt. Song. The latter is one of the country’s most sacred mountains. Its cultural and historical significance earned it a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. You wouldn’t think of it as a place of solitude for meditation because of its popularity with locals and the crowds coming and going. I could imagine Victor Wembanyama towering over all of the monks and their masters during his time here.
One of the highlights of a visit was watching the monks perform martial arts. I remembered the hours and years my brothers and I spent kicking, punching, sparring, practicing forms and defensive techniques, stretching (sitting or standing in a front or side split felt like an eternity even if it only lasted for a few minutes), acrobatics, and anything related to the martial art we practiced at the time. I was particularly fond of Wushu because of its ballet-like and smooth movements that just looked cool.
The monks lined up as the host called them to the stage. They were of varying heights and ages, some of whom still looked like young boys. They displayed their prowess with splits, flips, and acrobatic movements. They showed intense focus when they started using weapons, one of which was a spear that a monk bent using his neck. It was a fascinating display of martial arts that also took me down memory lane.
Seeing Wembanyama’s name attached to the Shaolin Temple initially felt like a clash of two different worlds, but experiencing the temple firsthand makes it entirely understandable. Luoyang isn’t just a city frozen in its dynastic past; it’s a living testament to dedication, whether through the painstaking, centuries-old carvings of the Longmen Grottoes or the lifelong discipline of the Shaolin monks.
My trip down memory lane reminded me why these ancient traditions still captivate us today. Whether you are an NBA superstar looking to sharpen your focus or a traveler seeking awe-inspiring history, Luoyang leaves an unforgettable impression.