Hundreds of martial arts students are taking part in an international competition in the birthplace of one of the oldest forms of the ancient combat.
The 11th International Shaolin Wushu Festival will be held from October 16 to October 20 in Henan Province, the birthplace of Shaolin Wushu in China.
The festival will include group calisthenics and martial arts to promote cultural communication of martial arts.
The four day festival has been held 10 times before since 1991, and according to the organisers, is a good way for martial artists to explore the country’s culture, make friends and exchange skills.
As well as the competitions, there are demonstrations of different forms of martial arts, throughout the long weekend and a grand evening party.
“These incredible images show the scale of the event and the level of discipline and training undertaken by the participants ahead of the festival,” the UK Daily Mail said.
Shaolin Wushu, also called Shaolin Kung Fu, is about 1,500 years old, and originated in the Buddhist Shaolin temple in Henan province. Records of the art go back to 495AD.