Once Upon a Time in China

Wong is Foshan’s martial arts instructor and a devoted healer who runs Po-chi-lam. He mentors three apprentices and stands as the community’s defender, using skill and moral resolve to confront criminal gangs and foreign threats. His leadership is marked by courage, restraint, and a willingness to defy authority when protecting civilians.

Siu-kwan is the daughter of a sworn brother of Wong’s grandfather, treated as senior and thus addressed with reverence. The two share a restrained romance shaped by conservative social codes, making their bond both tender and forbidden. Her relationship with Wong adds emotional depth to the frontline action.

Leung Foon arrives with an opera troupe and quickly becomes entangled in Foshan’s turmoil. He develops a crush on 13th Aunt and often finds himself at odds with the Shaho Gang. His loyalty and humor provide a foil to the film’s tense action.

Porky Wing is one of Wong’s three apprentices who pursue their own growth under his guidance. He contributes to Wong’s clinic's operations and joins in the fight against the Shaho Gang and Jackson’s men.

Bucktooth So is another of Wong’s apprentices, loyal and eager to prove himself. His actions help Wong confront danger, including the gang’s attacks on the clinic and the prison breakout.

Ling Wan Kai is the third apprentice who joins Wong’s circle. He navigates the moral complexities of Foshan’s turmoil and contributes to the rescue mission in Jackson’s base.

Yim Chun Tung is a northern martial artist seeking fame by proving himself in Foshan. He allies with the Shaho Gang, uses cheating techniques, and ultimately dies after underestimating gun power. His defeat underscores the era’s shift from pure technique to weapon-based power.

As the gang’s leader, he terrorizes local businesses and collaborates with Jackson to exploit workers and villagers. He is a main antagonist who faces Wong in the climactic battles and meets his end.

A member of the Shaho Gang who participates in the extortion and arson plots against the clinic and the community. His actions escalate the stakes for Wong and his allies.

Another member of the Shaho Gang who helps execute their schemes and fights Wong’s group during the various confrontations.

The Governor oversees Foshan and blames Wong for the disturbances, leading to arrests and a tense standoff. His actions catalyze the conflict and tests Wong’s resolve.

An American businessman who runs Jackson’s base and uses the Shaho Gang to run a human-trafficking operation. He becomes a central antagonist until Wong kills him during the ship confrontation.

A Jesuit priest who identifies the Shaho Gang’s involvement in the arson and is killed while protecting others from a fatal shot. His presence amplifies the foreign tensions in the plot.

The local militia, including Wong’s apprentices and peers, fights to maintain order in Foshan. They are drawn into the conflict with the Shaho Gang and Jackson’s gang.