Disbelief over death of China’s ‘most handsome Shaolin monk’ Qiu Feng in car crash at 21

Qiu Feng, the young man dubbed “China’s most handsome Shaolin monk,” was killed in a car accident at the age of 21.

Qiu, a kung fu expert whose name means “autumn wind,” was killed in a collision with a taxi while on his way to a charity performance.

He was a 34th generation Shaolin monk from Jiyuan, Henan Province, northern China. He began training in martial arts at the Songshan Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou, Henan, at the age of 13.

With his athletic, well-groomed appearance and powerful kung fu moves, he quickly rose to fame, captivating fans who crowned him “the most handsome Shaolin monk.”

He has become an iconic figure in traditional martial arts, thanks in part to promotional efforts by the Henan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

Qiu Feng’s well-groomed image has won him a huge army of admirers on social media. Photo: Baidu

His Douyin account has amassed 1.8 million followers, and a video of him reciting scriptures in the snow attracted 486,000 likes.

Another clip, which showed her dynamic moves in heavy rain, received 266,000 likes.

Despite his popularity, Qiu remained humble.

“I am just an ordinary monk in the Shaolin monk group. The attention I have received is due to the unique charm of Shaolin kung fu,” he once said.

Shaolin kung fu was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006, and its global appeal has since grown, prompting the popular monk to become an international ambassador.

In April, Qiu practiced the ancient philosophical martial art at Angkor Wat in Cambodia with his peers, and in August, he demonstrated his skills at the Sydney Opera House alongside the Chinese Buddhist Chanting Music Ensemble.

His last post on Xiaohongshu showed him practicing his art in Australia, which he shared just before the fatal accident.

The young monk was killed on August 7, the traditional start of China’s “autumn day”, on the Zhejiang Zhuyong Expressway in eastern China’s Zhejiang province.

According to Elephant News, Qiu and the taxi driver were the only ones in the vehicle when it collided with a large truck. The taxi driver died instantly, while Qiu died the following evening.

A famous video of Qiu reciting scriptures in the snow has attracted 486,000 likes online. Photo: Baidu

Qiu’s sister, surnamed Xing, told Red Star News that her head had “suffered multiple impacts.”

Police are investigating and Qiu’s family has hired a lawyer.

“He was a positive and motivated person, still very young, with an outgoing personality. He was always respectful to everyone,” said an elder brother at Qiu Temple.

Netizens also expressed their disbelief and sadness.

“When I heard the news, I was really shocked. I kept checking to confirm, and even now, I can’t get over it. This is the first time I’ve felt this sad for someone I don’t know personally,” one person said.

Another person wrote a poem for Qiu, expressing his sadness, which ended with the line: “Whenever the autumn wind blows, we will remember you.”