Director: Zhang Xinyan / Martial Arts Choreographers: Yu Hai, Yu Chenghui, Pan Qinfu Starring: Jet Li
"Shaolin Temple" is a classic in Chinese martial arts films. Its biggest feature is the shift from actors learning martial arts for performances to professional martial athletes directly performing on screen. Although martial arts films have their own limitations in terms of subject matter and cannot be as magical or varied as other types of wuxia films, they have still opened up a brilliant chapter in the history of Chinese wuxia films. Since "Shaolin Temple" caused a sensation worldwide, action films shot with domestic landscapes and featuring domestic martial artists have been widely popular, but none have surpassed the impact made by "Shaolin Temple". Not only did "Shaolin Temple" bring Chinese wuxia films to the world, it also spread the cultural spirit of wuxia films globally.
"Shaolin Temple" once caused a sensation, sparking a wave of Shaolin fever. The Shaolin Temple attracted countless tourists as a result, and Jet Li received a special contribution award from the Zhengzhou Tourism Association. When filming this movie, Jet Li was just eighteen years old. For Jet Li, he became an overnight star through this debut work. Moreover, apart from the five-time champion Jet Li, there were also other national champions in various martial arts disciplines such as Yu Hai, Yu Chenghui, and Ji Chunhua who starred together in the film. The film features real combat with no use of wires or stunt doubles. Real kung fu gathers at Shaolin!