Shang Kwan Ling Fong was one of a few women to garner a following for their martial arts roles in Hong Kong. She appeared in over 50 films during the '60's and '70's, often playing quirky or unusual roles that suited her charming personality.

Shang began studying martial arts after joining the United Film Corporation in 1966, eventually collecting black belts in taekwando, karate and judo. She was discovered by King Hu and was cast in "Green Dragon Inn," a pioneering film that is considered one of the greatest martial arts films of all time. For the next 10 or 15 years, Shang co-starred with numerous great genre actors such as Angela Mao and Jimmy Wang Yu.

Shang was born in Taiwan, in November 1949. She was one of the top female kung fu stars of the 1960s and 1970s and though never quite becoming the legend that Angela Mao has, her off the wall cute personality, diminutive stature and terrific physical skills has certainly attracted a legion of fans.

In 1966 she joined the United Film Corporation and began studying martial arts. Over the years, Shang acquired black belts in taekwando, karate and judo, and even without the Peking Opera training that many of the other female stars had, Shang managed to pick up some highly proficient martial art skills that were utilized in over 50 films.

Just one year after joining UFC, she was chosen to be in the newest film from King Hu ? (the original) Dragon Inn -considered one of the great classics of Chinese cinema. In this she plays one of the patriots fighting the cruel rule of the eunuchs and has an opportunity to display her talents. A couple of her action scenes are among the highlights of this great film. From this point on Shang was set pretty much on the path of martial arts films for more than ten years.

In 1970 she co-starred with Jimmy Wang Yu in Brave and Evil as a martial arts mistress. In 1972 she won the Golden Horse award for Best Actress for her delightful performance in Back Alley Princess. This is one of her rare films that took place in modern times and she and Sam Hui are great in it. They followed up with Chinatown Capers that moves their story to San Francisco and is also very good.

In many of her films Shang cross-dresses and is taken as a male, a common device for many of the female kung fu heroines, and in films such as 99 Cycling Swords it leads to amusing sexual confusions. There is rarely time for Shang to engage in romance, because she is generally too busy kicking and fighting. In many of her films she is a loner, forced by circumstances to defend herself or protect others, and at least in every film, she is always on the side of good.

Some of her other films that have achieved a solid reputation are, The Ghostly Face, A Girl Called Tigress, 18 Bronzemen, Shaolin Kids, General Stone and 18 Jade Arhats. As I mentioned, she was willing to take on some silly roles or fight outrageous opponents, such as a pair of giant octopi in Little Hero or Lobster Men in Zodiak Fighters. She just liked having fun on the screen and it shows in all her films. In 1980 she bowed out gracefully from films with her reputation well in tact.

After retiring from the Jade screen in 1980 Shang settled in the United States, and now she lives on the West Coast.

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