In Zambia, a Shaolin Temple offers a softer face of China

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, August 30, 2026

China has established Africa’s first Shaolin Temple near Lusaka, Zambia, where over 30 students from disadvantaged backgrounds train in traditional martial arts and Buddhist practices under both Chinese and African instructors. The temple symbolizes China’s growing cultural influence in Zambia and provides its students with opportunities for personal development, international exchange, and digital outreach.

Outside Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, a unique cultural site stands as a testament to China’s expanding soft power on the African continent: the continent’s first Shaolin Temple. Situated on an 18-kilometre (11-mile) stretch north of the city, the temple occupies a 20,000-square-metre (215,300-square-foot) area and offers an immersive experience into the Buddhist monastic martial arts tradition associated with Shaolin kung fu.

The development of the temple, which reportedly cost nearly $6 million, was made possible by a land donation from Chinese businessman Jiang Qingde. It has quickly become one of the more visible symbols of China’s broader economic and cultural engagement in Zambia, where Beijing’s influence is already significant through investments in mining, infrastructure, and manufacturing.

At the heart of the complex, under the guidance of four Chinese instructors alongside a Zambian and an Ivorian teacher, more than 30 students live, train, and study. Most of these students come from disadvantaged backgrounds and follow demanding daily routines that start as early as 3:00 a.m. They reside on-site year-round, with only a brief annual leave in December to visit their families. Some also receive stipends from public performances.

Among the trainees is 23-year-old John Bwalya, who credits martial arts inspiration to the 2010 “Karate Kid” reboot. Saulo Woonga, 18, joined the temple after his mother intervened following a street fight, while 18-year-old Mathews Mafulu says kung fu helped him overcome bullying and personal challenges, describing himself as “jacked up, creative and a little strong” as a result of his training. Mafulu views the cultural exchange at the Shaolin Temple positively, emphasizing mutual learning between Chinese instructors and African students.

The temple’s activities—from acrobatics and dragon dances to intense martial arts training—have attracted significant attention on social media platforms, including TikTok and its Chinese counterpart Douyin. Ronald Mwale, 26, who has adopted the Chinese name Hang Shao and speaks Mandarin, has become a leading online figure. Mwale has traveled to China multiple times and plans to spend a year there beginning next month. His videos, documenting daily temple life, have garnered over 615,000 followers on TikTok. Though initially drawn solely by martial arts, Mwale now harbors broader ambitions of becoming an actor, inspired by performers from Henan province, the Shaolin tradition’s birthplace. His debut film, released on YouTube in March, has already accumulated nearly half a million views.

Beyond martial arts and digital fame, the temple also serves as a spiritual and community hub. Each day, students clad in traditional orange and yellow robes gather to chant Buddhist prayers in a richly decorated temple hall. For Yan Chen, a 30-year-old instructor who arrived from a poverty-stricken background in China, the temple represents more than physical training. “It gives them hope for their lives,” Chen said, highlighting the broader social and cultural impact of the institution for many of its students.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.