Shaolin Temple opens new cultural center site in Austria

Xinhua, October 2, 2011

China's famed Shaolin Temple, known to many for its kung fu origins, on Saturday opened the new site for its cultural center in Vienna.

Shi Yongxin, the Shaolin Temple Abbot, highlighted Shaolin's historical and cultural heritage in its more than 1,500 years of history during the opening ceremony.

Thomas Fiedler, former chairman of the Buddhist Association in Austria, said the opening of the new Shaolin Cultural Center of Austria will help Westerners learn more about Shaolin, and about Chinese Buddhist culture.

The Shaolin Temple was put on the world map after kung fu gained global popularity thanks to Chinese kung fu movies since 1970s.