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-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu --
Finally, the wonderful kungfu TV series by Du Xiao, which has been topping viewership ratings across various provinces in China, is available for sales officially on DVD.

This martial arts production features highly authentic martial arts sequences with intricate exchanges, courtesy of Ching Siu Tung who discards his usual highly stylised/beautified choreography for wide shot and long cuts that give ample room to showcase the skills of the martial arts champions Li Yuan, Xie Miao, Ye Jian Wei, Ji Chun Hua, Yu Cheng Hui, Chen Jia Jia, Guo Hui, Li Qi Long, Dai Tian etc, a number of whom are fresh talent. Also starring Bao Guo An, Sun Hui Ning, Yaqi Fatima, Wu Ma, Anthony Wong, Tsui Siu Ming, etc.

Order Legend of Shaolin Kungfu DVD (in Chinese only) from YesAsia.

As a side note, Shaolin Warriors DVD with Sammo Hung in a major supporting role as well as actual Shaolin monks as extras but starring non-martial artists is shipping on August 19, 2008. Shaolin Warriors is an unrelated TV series surrounding Shaolin Temple and its monks helping general Qi Ji Guang fend off marauding pirates.

Ye Jian Wei on His Humble Beginnings and His First Role in Legend of Shaolin Kungfu
  

叶剑卫 Ye Jian Wei was born in Jiangsu in 1983 on January 25. When he was only 10, when kids at this age live an insouciant life, Ye Jian Wei was already helping out at his father's shop. Owing to jealousy from people of the same trade, his father's shop often got smashed. Seeing the burdened look on his father's face daily, a thought struck Ye Jianwei - to start training in martial arts. And that was how it all started.

Xie Miao and Yaqi Talk about Legend of Shaolin Kungfu

《少林寺传奇》 A Legend of Shaolin Kungfu TV series, a trilogy directed by 都晓 Du Xiao, consists of  《乱世英雄》 Heroes in Troubled Times, 《十三棍僧救唐王》 Thirteen Warrior Monks and Prince Li Shimin, and  《十八小铜人》 Eighteen Arhats. A Legend of Shaolin Kung Fu I: Heroes in Troubled in Times is currently being aired in China to great success and high viewership ratings while the second part Thirteen Warrior Monks has begun production since January 2008.

It features an impressive cast consisting of veteran actors like 鲍国安 Bao Guo An, 午马 Wu Ma, 郭达 Guo Da, 王刚 Wang Gang, 吴京安 Wu Jing An, etc. and most importantly, large number of martial artists such as 计春华 Ji Chun Hua, 于承惠Yu Cheng Hui, 李渊 Li Yuan, 叶剑卫 Ye Jian Wei, 谢苗Xie Miao, 陈佳佳 Chen Jia Jia, 王雪 Wang Xue, 郭辉Guo Hui, 袁新东 Yuan Xin Dong, 阴海龙 Yin Hai Long, 刘子威 Liu Zi Wei etc. for the main leads and their opponents to deliver martial arts sequences that are jaw-droppingly realistic, beautiful, yet without being too violent, as choreographed by  程小东 Tony Ching Siu Tung. To add more colour to the series, 孙卉凝 Sun Hui Ning, 法提麦·雅琦 Yaqi Fatima, 乔乔 Qiao Qiao are invited to play the leading ladies.

-- Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II --

A couple of new pics of Xie Miao, Yuen Biao, Ye Jian Wei, Wang Xiao Long and Pan Yuan Jia in Legend of Shaolin Kungfu II: Thirteen Warrior Monks, courtesy of Xie Miao's Blog and Ye Jian Wei's Blog

-- A Legend of Shaolin Kung Fu II: Thirteen Warrior Monks --

Production has begun quietly on January 4 for second part of 《少林寺传奇》 A Legend of Shaolin Kungfu Trilogy. Du Xiao continues to helm this martial arts series revolving around Shaolin Temple. The majority of the martial arts cast members are also back, including Xie Miao, Li Yuan, Ye Jian Wei, Pan Yuan Jia, Li Chong, Wang Xiao Long and actress Sun Hui Ning. This time around Yuen Biao will play Tan Zong, leading thirteen warrior monks in aiding Prince Li Shimin. Yuen Bun will handle the martial arts choreography. The story, similar to Jet Li's Shaolin Temple, is as follows:

In the twilight years of Sui Dynasty, the emperor is tyrannical, fatuous and debauched, and the commoners lead a very hard life. People begin to rise in revolt. To fulfil his ambitions, General Wang Shi Chong, who views Shaolin Temple as his biggest threat, outlaws martial arts.

In order to defend Shaolin Temple as well as protect the commoners, Tan Zong, the head monk of martial arts, formed the Arhat Enigmatic Cudgel Formation. Tan Zhong takes in eight different people into the order, and together with 5 original Shaolin warrior monks including himself, they risk their lives to rescue to sagacious Prince Li Shi Min, and wage a final battle against Wang Shi Chong.  Shangdu News

-- Legend of Shaolin Temple --

《少林寺传奇》 Legend of Shaolin Temple TV series, based partially on novel 《断臂方丈》 Broken-Arm Abbot and shot over four months in summer 2006, tells of the daring exploits of 6 disciples of one-armed abbot in the turbulent times of North and South Dynasty. Produced and directed by Du Xiao, with action by Ching Siu Tung and consultation from present day Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yong Xin, it features a cast comprising predominantly of martial artists including Yu Cheng Hui, Ji Chun Hua, Xiao Miao, Li Yuan, Pan Yuan Jia, Ye Jian Wei, Wang Xiao Long, Chen Jia Jia, etc. Apart from them are veteran actors like Bao Guo An, Anthony Wong, Wang Gang, Guo Da, etc.

The name Ching Siu Tung is synonymous with wuxia productions where style and gracefulness of action take precedence over continuity or authenticity. But how well would he be able hold up on the kungfu epic Legend of Shaolin Temple TV series? Check out the 12 min long trailer on Sina and be amazed at the startling martial arts sequences with long, uninterrupted shots.

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Trailer: Part 1, 2, 3

-- Shaolin Temple: Broken-Armed Abbot --

《少林寺·断臂方丈》 Shaolin Temple: Broken-Armed Abbot (tentative), the first of 120 episodes 《少林寺传奇》 Shaolin Legends Trilogy drama serial will begin production on a CCTV soundstage in Hebei on June 1 and expects to be completed in October. Directed by Du Xiao with Ching Siu Tung as the martial arts director, the cast consists of such celebrities as Anthony Wong, Bao Guo An and Guo Da, and various wushu champions and martial artists, including Yu Cheng Hui, Ji Chun Hua, Xiao Miao, Li Yuan, Pan Yuan Jia, Ye Jian Wei, Wang Xiao Long, Chen Jia Jia (the female general in Seven Swords), etc.