HONG KONG — Celebrities like National Basketball Association (NBA) stars Victor Wembanyama and Jaylen Brown, and multimillionaire streamer IShowSpeed, have one thing in common - they all underwent professional training in one of China's Shaolin centres. With the "Chinamaxxing" trend on the rise, many are drawn to martial arts such as kung fu, chasing physical and mental strength by living and training with monks in temples tucked away in high mountains.
But how does one join the programme, and what should one expect from life in Shaolin? Here is what you need to know.
For international students looking to experience authentic Chinese monk life and martial arts training, there are Shaolin Zhong Wu, Shaolin Youngzhi and Shaolin Tagou, with the last one situated right at the foot of Mount Song, close to the original temple.
