Putin is Facinated with Shaolin Kung Fu

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Shaolin Temple, the birthplace of Chinese Kungfu in Central China's Henan Province during his two-day state visit to China for a taste of Buddhism and martial arts on March 22, 2006.

As the first head of state to visit Shaolin temple, Putin received a grand welcome by Shaolin temple, and Abbot Shi Yongxin greeted him at the temple gate. The bell and drum were struck simultaneously to show the Temple’s highest respect to President Putin.

Established about 1500 years ago, Shaolin Temple is regarded as "the Number One Temple Under Heaven" not only because of its long history and its role in Chinese Buddhism, but also because of his martial arts. During the visit, Abbot Shi Yongxin showed President Putin the main halls of the temple, the place where monks have practiced Kungfu for thousands of years, and the showing rooms for Various Boxing, where 216 boxing statues in 14 groups are vividly displayed with historical stories.

When visiting the stele of Li Shimin, which tells the story of how the monks of Shaolin Temple rescued Prince Li Shimi (who later became the emperor of Tang Dynasty in which the Shaolin temple reached its most prosperous time) the knowledge of President Putin of Chinese history and of the Shaolin Temple astonished every one around. President Putin was deeply attracted by the Kungfu display by the monks especially put on for him and lifted the eight-year-old monk Shi Xiaoguang onto his shoulders after a Kungfu demonstration, showing the love of President Putin to Shaolin Kungfu.

At the end of the two-hour visit to Shaolin Temple, President Putin made a warm speech, paying high tribute to the Shaolin Kungfu. He said the promoting of Shaolin Kungfu will have a great significance not only to China but also to the world.