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(Macao, January 10, 2013) –The Venetian^® Macao-Resort-Hotel’s Venetian Theatre opened to a crowd of Kung Fu enthusiasts Wednesday night, as 32 young warrior monks from the world-renowned Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, in China’s Henan province, performed World’s Shaolin Temple to amaze the Macao audience, marking a successful beginning to the show’s 16-performance run. The last performance will be held Saturday, January 26.

The breathtaking performance consists of individual, duo and group acts, in bare-handed (a demonstration of the “fist principles”) and weapons forms (spears, whips, swords, wood poles and three-sectional staffs). In addition to wowing the audience with countless front and back somersaults, the warrior monks showcase their extraordinary physical flexibility, elasticity and strength in a series of acrobatic performances, including an act where a monk sits on the stage floor, and then raises both of his lower limbs and puts them behind his head, while his upper body remains upright. Another highlight of the show is a traditional qigong demonstration in which a warrior monk is lifted up with only the sharpened heads of three spears supporting his body weight.  

The 32 warrior monks coming from the Shaolin Temple’s training base to perform on the Venetian Theatre stage this month are mostly between 18 and 20 years old, but the youngest is just nine years old. This group of prominent warrior monks did not disappoint the Macao audience in the premiere performance, as they successfully demonstrated live what they have learned over the last six years at their training base, namely various styles of traditional Chinese martial arts: kung fu, wushu and qigong. The Shaolin Temple Warrior Monk Training Base has been demonstrating the fascinating traditional practice of Shaolin Kung Fu worldwide over the past 15 years, including in the United States, France, Canada, Singapore, and throughout the continents of Asia and Africa, amongst others. Recognised as the cradle of Chinese kung fu and the origin of Zen, the Shaolin Temple is located on Mount Song, one of China’s Five Great Mountains, and has a profound and extensive cultural history. It was founded in the fifth century and is long famous for its association with Chinese martial arts and particularly with Shaolin Kung Fu.

The Venetian Macao strives to diversify Macao’s entertainment offering by continuing to bring in world-class performances of different kinds. World’s Shaolin Temple provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Macao locals and tourists alike to appreciate the legendary Shaolin Kung Fu, witnessing the essence of traditional Chinese martial arts live and up close. This cultural performance also offers a great platform to promote one of the most respected Chinese martial traditions to Macao and to the world, setting another example of the integrated resort’s ongoing effort to facilitate cultural exchange.

The 15-day run of World’s Shaolin Temple is another fine example of The Venetian Macao’s long-term effort to contribute to Macao’s development into one of Asia’s top entertainment destinations, and a world centre of tourism and leisure, by bringing the best of Chinese and international cultural performances to Macao. In December, the Venetian Theatre hosted the much-loved Christmas classic The Nutcracker from the prestigious National Ballet of China.

Tickets for the 7:45 pm, January 9 to 26 performances (3:45 pm on January 20; no shows on January 14 and 21) of World’s Shaolin Temple at the Venetian Theatreare on sale now at all Sands China box offices*. They can be purchased in one of three categories: HKD/MOP 580 (A Reserve), 480 (B Reserve) and 280 (C Reserve). Packages with round trip Cotai Water Jet ferry tickets between Hong Kong and Macao are also available for HKD/MOP 668 (A Reserve), 568 (B Reserve) and 368 (C Reserve). Tickets can be booked online at www.CotaiTicketing.com, or by phone at +853 2882 8818 (Macao) / +852 6333 6660 (HK), and are also available at Tom Lee Outlets and through Hong Kong Ticketing (customer service fee applies) online at www.HKTicketing.com or by phone at +852 3128 8288.