On the afternoon of July 16th, about 80 representatives from the overseas Chinese community attending the 11th World Overseas Chinese Association Friendship Conference, accompanied by leaders such as Song Lun, Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of the State Council, and Xu Wei, Second level Inspector of the Economic and Technological Department of the All China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, visited the South Shaolin Temple in Putian, and were warmly received by Abbot Kong Xingda. As an extension of the theme of "Consolidating Overseas Chinese Hearts, Gathering Overseas Chinese Strength, and Seeking Development" at the conference, this visit aims to allow overseas Chinese leaders to closely touch the roots of Chinese culture, enhance cultural identity and national cohesion.
Firstly, the visiting delegation arrived at the History and Culture Museum of South Shaolin Temple. The precious historical materials and cultural relics in the museum outline the rise and fall of this millennium old temple and its unique position as the ancestral home of Nanquan. The representatives stopped to take a closer look and gained a clear understanding of the profound foundation of the integration of Zen and martial arts.
Overseas Chinese Visit Activities
02 Walking into Beilin Square
Later, the delegation visited the Palace of Heavenly Kings, the Shakya ManiHall and other halls in turn, and watched the stone tablets, stone grooves and other cultural relics. At the Nanquan Stele Forest Square, a square stone tablet is engraved with the inheritance marks of martial arts masters from various dynasties, which is a physical witness to the origin of Nanquan. Overseas Chinese leaders caressed the monument and chased far away, deeply feeling the spiritual power of passing down Chinese martial arts from generation to generation.
Overseas Chinese Visit Activities
03 Watching Zen martial arts performances
Finally, the visiting delegation moved to the South Shaolin Inheritance Hall to immerse themselves in watching Zen and martial arts performances. The martial arts monks' combination of strength and softness, as well as their exquisite equipment training, fully demonstrate the charm of the intangible cultural heritage of Southern Shaolin martial arts. The representatives cheered repeatedly, amazed by the profoundness of Chinese martial arts.
Visiting activities
2026
This visit is not only a cultural journey to find roots, but also an important bond for the overseas Chinese community to connect with their ancestral homeland. The representatives come from six continents including Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania. They expressed that they will take this visit as an opportunity to actively spread excellent traditional Chinese culture, promote cultural exchange and economic cooperation between their host countries and China, play a bridging role in the work of overseas Chinese affairs in the new era, and gather a wider range of overseas Chinese forces for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
