

In legendary Chen Village, everyone is a martial arts master, using their powerful Chen Style Tai Chi in all aspects of their lives. Lu Chan has arrived to train, but the villagers are forbidden to teach Chen Style to outsiders, and do their best to discourage him by challenging him to a series of fights. Everyone, from strong men to young children, defeats him using their Tai Chi moves. But when a man from the village's past returns with a frightening steampowered machine and plans to build a railroad through the village at any costs, the villagers realize they may have no choice but to put their faith in Lu Chan... who has a secret power of his own.
Direction
Stephen Fung's comic panel framing and on-screen video game stats
Practical Effects
Steampunk mech built with genuine obsessive detail
Stunts
Sammo Hung choreographed fights with genuine martial artists

Director
Stephen Fung
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was planned as the first of a trilogy—Tai Chi Hero (2012) followed immediately, but the third film never materialized due to disappointing box office.
The film explicitly references the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake through its railroad conflict, framing modern Chinese infrastructure debates through steampunk allegory.