During Spring Festival, sent by Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province, Shaolin Temple responded positively to President Xi Jinping’s call for the Belt and Road initiative sending Shaolin Kungfu Monk Corps and followed deputy director Ms Kang Jie to Netherlands for cultural exchanges and visiting overseas Chinese.

 

 

 

On February 7, 2019, 9 of Shaolin Kungfu monk corps led by Yanchen left Beijing for Netherlands and arrived in Amsterdam at 4 am local time. At 2 pm, invited by China Culture Center in Holland, Shaolin Kungfu corps went to the center for cultural exchanges and received a warm welcome from the head.

 

 

 

 

After visiting China Culture Center in Netherlands, the delegation was invited to Chinese Embassy in Netherlands and received a warm reception from Ambassador Sun Canzhan of Chinese Embassy in Netherlands. During the conservations, deputy director Kang Jie introduced that Shaolin Kungfu has a history of over 1500 years from now. As part of traditional Chinese culture, Shaolin Kungfu has great influence abroad. Shaolin disciples are around the world. Shaolin Temple has been a calling card of China abroad. Deputy Director Kang Jie expressed that Shaolin Kungfu Monk corps would bring a stunning authentic Shaolin Kungfu performance to people in Netherlands. Mr. Sun Canzhan also conveyed that local people in Netherlands admired Shaolin Kungfu very much and gave a great warm welcome to Shaolin Kungfu Monk corps coming to Netherlands.

 

 

 

Then deputy director of Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province Ms Kang Jie, Mr. Hu Zhiguang from Dutch Chinese Chamber of Commerce and 9 of Shaolin Kungfu corps went to Longquan Great Mercy Temple in Netherlands and visited the Temple and conducted cultural exchanges with local monks.

On February 8, 2019, the delegation led by Ms Kang Jie went to the Hague municipal government for the New Year celebration performance. Participants in the event also included China General Chamber of Commerce, overseas Chinese and people from all walks of life in Netherlands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the evening, the Dutch hosts and deputy director of Culture and Tourism Department of Henan Province Ms Kang Jie introduced Shaolin Kungfu Monk corps saying that Shaolin culture is among the most representative part of Chinese culture. Its Chan and martial arts culture are the essence of traditional Chinese culture.

As the opening show, Shaolin Kungfu demonstrated not only the fabulous Shaolin Kungfu, but also the deposits of Chinese culture. Local friends and overseas Chinese in Netherlands showed they loved Shaolin Kungfu so much. Then the group performed Henan Opera, erhu, song and dance and other cultural representative programs of Henan province. Finally the centerpiece of Shaolin Kungfu show came to an end successfully. The public took photographs together with delight. (Reported by Yanyang, Yanchen, Zou Xiang and Zhang Hailong)