More than 1,500 students at Po Kong Village Road School watched a dazzling performance of Shaolin monks today, before joining them on the field to learn a few basic boxing steps.

Since the monks arrived in Hong Kong last week, the Leisure & Cultural Services Department, Hong Kong Culture Association, Songshan Shaolin Temple of China and the Hong Kong Wushu Union have organised four martial arts performances. The aim is to interest students in taking up wushu as an extra-curricular activity.

Dazzling display: Two novices demonstrate their martial arts prowess; a Shaolin monk shows students a few basic boxing moves; two monks perform with ancient weapons.

So far, more than 8,000 students from schools enrolled in LCSD's School Sports Programme have enjoyed the Shaolin monks' displays of martial arts feats. The students have gasped at Qigong displays in which the performers seemed to turn into men of steel. Demonstrations of monkey boxing, mantis boxing and the drunken fist were decidedly more thrilling than movie special effects.

Star Hong Kong wushu athletes, including To Yu-hang, Cheng Ka-ho, Chow Ting-yu, Chan Siu-kit, Lam Chung-wai, Wong Woon-yee, Law Sum-yin, Wong Man-chuen and Cheng Kwok-yeung, also demonstrated various armed and unarmed wushu routines at today's show.

Speaking at the show's opening ceremony, LCSD's Chief Leisure Manager Wells Ho noted that wushu is part of our cultural heritage as well as a sport. "It not only improves physical health but also toughens the spirit. And it instills in students a sense of respect for their teachers."

A Wushu Outreach Coaching Programme was introduced under the School Sports Programme in November last year with assistance from the Hong Kong Wushu Union, which sent professional coaches to train students after school.

So far, it has organised 52 wushu training courses for 1,400 students.

Interested schools may download the application form from the LCSD website at www.lcsd.gov.hk, or call the department's Community Sports Section at 2601 8861 for details.