On October 19, the 13th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival and the China Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Competition kicked off in Dengfeng, Henan Province. This year’s event attracted an impressive 2,560 athletes from 56 countries and regions.
Originating in 1991, the Zhengzhou International Shaolin Martial Arts Festival is a large-scale event that combines martial arts, tourism, and cultural exchange, having successfully completed twelve editions prior to this year. With the theme “Rooted in Shaolin, Proud of Kung Fu in Zhengzhou,” the festival is hosted by the Henan Provincial People’s Government and co-organized by the Henan Provincial Sports Bureau and the Zhengzhou Municipal People’s Government.
Before the opening ceremony, a welcoming event showcased a stunning 1.5-kilometer performance parade titled “Shaolin World” in the scenic area of Songshan Shaolin. Along a 13-kilometer route from Shaolin Temple to the festival venue, 30,000 performers presented a breathtaking series of shows divided into three parts: the Origin of Shaolin, the Mastery of Shaolin, and the Legacy of Shaolin, illustrating the dissemination of Shaolin martial arts.
Among the competitors was Spanish Shaolin kung fu enthusiast Pan Ali, who arrived in Henan several days early to prepare for the tournament. Before the ceremony, he could be seen practicing his Shaolin forms repeatedly in a quiet corner outside the venue. “I practiced Shaolin kung fu over 20 years ago, and this time I signed up to compete alongside the ‘masters’ and see where I stand,” he shared.
The organizers highlighted that this year’s festival features two traditional activities: the Shaolin Martial Arts Competition and the Chinese Martial Arts Dan System assessment for international participants. Additionally, there are five innovative activities: a collective performance of Shaolin Kung Fu, the inaugural Kung Fu Zhengzhou International Combat Competition, a Sino-American Youth Martial Arts Elite (Shaolin) Training Camp, a series of “Kung Fu Wonderful Tours,” and a “Cambodian Boxing Return Visit to Shaolin Boxing” event. The festival also includes cultural activities such as exhibitions of martial arts and cultural tourism projects, as well as exchanges between Chinese and foreign martial artists.