The art of Shaolin in pics: Poise, power and precision

Shaolin martial arts embody the balance of softness and strength. Rooted in centuries of tradition, its movements seem fluid and effortless, yet they conceal immense power. Through mastery of techniques, monks turn inner strength into swift sweeps and precise strikes, while flexibility can overcome brute force. The above photos show Shi Yancong, a warrior monk in his 20s, who has been practicing kung fu for over a decade.

Podao, Spring-Autumn Falchion and double broadswords represent the diversity and complexity of Shaolin weaponry. Both the podao and the chunqiudao, or Spring-Autumn Falchion, demand strength and balance. Their classic moves, including sweeping, lifting and chopping, require waist power and foot stability to control their momentum. Mastering the double broadswords requires practitioners to coordinate both hands and feet, combining swift swings with agile steps. Each weapon embodies the balance of strength and technique at the heart of Shaolin martial arts.

(All photos by CGTN's Chen Hongyu)