Kungfu superstar Jackie Chan and most renowned Chinese novelist Louis Cha at a grand ceremony of Chinese Kungfu held on Friday night in Shenzhen's Bao'an Gymnasium. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

An impressive ceremony celebrating Chinese Kungfu was held on Friday night in Shenzhen's Bao'an Gymnasium. Hong Kong director Stanley Tong directed the grand occasion.

Veteran Hong Kong actor Paul Chun hosted the evening party, divided into four parts in order to effectively narrate the spirit and development of Chinese Kungfu. It also paid tribute to five late Chinese Kungfu masters, Bruce Lee, King Hu, Cheh Chang, Ko Sau Leung and Tak-Hing Kwan.

Internationally acclaimed Kungfu actor Jackie Chan attended the "Global Chinese Martial Arts Presentation Ceremony" and was given an award proclaiming him as the most influential Kungfu star. Renowned novelist Louis Cha (Jin Yong) was presented with the most honorable award of the event, for his 15 best-selling Kungfu novels, all of which has helped to introduce Chinese Kungfu to the world.

The best Kungfu actors award were given to 11 action stars, with three of them female. Two foreign stars, Tony Jaa from Thailand and Yasuaki Kurata from Japan, also shared the glory.

It was the first time ever that a grand ceremony has been held to award those who have contributed to promoting Chinese Kungfu.

A monk from the Shaolin Temple presents the "Chinese Martial Arts Global Influence Grand Prize" to actor Jackie Chan (R) during a "Global Chinese Martial Arts Presentation Ceremony" in China's southern city of Shenzhen October 12, 2007. [Agencies]

Japanese actor Kurata Yasuaki (R) receives one of the "Best Action Actor" awards beside Chinese actress Athena Chu during a "Global Chinese Martial Arts Presentation Ceremony" in China's southern city of Shenzhen October 12, 2007. [Agencies]

Thai actor Tony Jaa gestures as he attends the Global Chinese Martial Arts Presentation Ceremony in China's southern city of Shenzhen October 12, 2007. Jaa won one of the "Best Action Actor" awards. [Agencies]

Chinese actors (L-R) Meng Fei, Li Yajun, Wu Jing, Vanness Wu and South Korean actor Jang Hyuk receive "Chinese Martial Arts Best New Performers" awards during a "Global Chinese Martial Arts Presentation Ceremony" in China's southern city of Shenzhen October 12, 2007. [Agencies]

Actor Jimmy Wang from China's Taiwan Province holds one of the "Best Action Actor" awards during a "Global Chinese Martial Arts Presentation Ceremony" in China's southern city of Shenzhen October 12, 2007. [Agencies]

(CRI.cn, China Daily October 14, 2007)