The story is based on the historic martial art legend Hung Hei-gun (Donnie Yen) in the Qing dynasty. In the final stand Hung Hei-gun and Fong Sai-yuk (Nick Cheung) fight their way to defend the Shaolin Monastery against the invading army of the Qianlong emperor who was trying to get rid of oppositions. Qianlong was also afraid to reveal that he was not a true manchu.

A couple unite - she is fluent in the crane style of kung fu, he in tiger style. They have a son, but the boy's father is killed by the evil eunuch Pai Mei. Disguised as a girl, his mom trains him in crane style while he secretly learns tiger style from his father's training manual.

A band of fighting Ming Dynasty loyalists branded as enemies of the state are driven underground following the burning of the Shaolin Temple by Qing Dynasty officials. Due to a misunderstanding, Shaolin kung fu prodigy Fong Sai-yuk is duped into helping Qing agents to capture leading Shaolin rebel Hung Hei-gun. Upon discovering his mistake, Sai-yuk teams up with the remaining rebels to free Hei-gun before his planned execution. Plotting to stop them is General Che Kang, a formidable Tibetan kung fu master who commands an army of fighters including four deadly Tibetan llamas.

A young father and his infant son are beset by forces of evil and corruption. They wander China, upholding their sense of honor and protecting the weak. When they are forced into combat, spectacular and hilarious fast-motion kung fu sequences follow. In the end, they must call on all of their abilities in a battle royale, to attempt to vanquish a supernatural man-monster or die trying.

His name was Hong Xiguan. Legendary master from Southern Shaolin and Hung Ga school’s founder. In this film Hong is a young monk who carried the treasure map of the Ming Dynasty that Master Cai Jiuyi entrusted to him before his death. In the process of fighting against different enemies such as the forces of Wu Sangui, the scum of Heaven and Earth, and the Witch of White Lotus, Hong Xiguan gradually integrated Qi Jiajun Kungfu, Shaolin Kungfu, and Guangdong local boxing in the late Ming Dynasty, creating the "fighting world" Hung Ga.

This classical tale of Shaolin Temple disciples versus the Manchurian Ching government displays Shaolin martial arts at its best in empty hand combat. After the siege of the Shaolin Monastery by the Ching gevernment in the 18th century, students of Shaolin led by Hung See-Kwan, continue to rebel agains the Manchus. Hung then joins forces with the well-known hero Fong Sai Yuk. Hung is now a wanted criminal by Ching leader Kow Ching Chung, former disciple of Shaolin. Fong's association with Hung brings tragedy to his family as they are raided and killed by Kow's troops. Fong and Hung prepare for the final battle as they vow to bring Kow to his knees to avenge Shaolin and their families.

The film takes up the tale of Shaolin students Fong Si Yu and Hung Si Kwan (joined here by a third comrade, Lu Ka Chai) and their efforts to battle Ching oppressors. Their chief antagonist is the Abbot of Wutang who makes it his job to get rid of the three heroes and actually comes up with a clever plan to do so. He creates three exact doubles of the heroes and trains them to fight their counterparts.