“MY god, it’s so cool!” “Is this Chinese kung fu? I want to learn this!” Just a couple of comments from several young foreign students after watching 10 Chinese children performing Yuanyang Mantis-style kung fu at a theater in Qingdao No. 1 International School.

    An audience of more than 200 foreign children and teachers was amazed by the style.

    “Our students love Chinese kung fu so much,” said 63-year-old American Jeffrey Fischmann, head of the school. “From next week on, I will set aside a training venue for Sun Congzhai, a Yuanyang Mantis-style kung fu master, to teach our kids from all over the world and give them a better understanding of Chinese culture.”

    Chairperson of the school Gao Wenqiang said Yuanyang Mantis-style kung fu is a part of Qingdao’s intangible cultural heritage.

    “Our students come from all over the world. Our responsibility is to provide them with opportunities to experience and know more about Chinese culture,” Gao said, adding that as well as kung fu, the school would also be introducing Beijing opera, Chinese folk music and porcelain art to students.

     (Jane Lai, Zhang Bei)