Shaolin festival opens with over 2,500 kung fu practitioners

The opening ceremony of the 13th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival was held in Dengfeng of Zhengzhou, Henan province, on Saturday.

With 2,560 kung fu practitioners from 56 countries and regions participating in the competition, the festival provides an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich heritage and culture of Shaolin kung fu.

Sven Husmann, 50, expressed his enthusiasm for attending the opening ceremony, emphasizing the event's role as cross-cultural exchange and mutual learning.

"We aim to get the spirit of this festival and carry it back to Germany upon our return to Europe," he remarked,

The festival showcased a diverse range of activities, including traditional Shaolin Wushu competitions, an international fight competition, and US-China youth training camp.

People also witnessed Khmer Boxing, a traditional Cambodian martial art, at the Shaolin Temple.