History Film / OnceUponATimeInChina

--->'''Master Yim:''' "What's the use of being a Kung Fu expert? Can't make a living."

The story begins when the love of his life, "13th Aunt" (not by relation, but because his grandfather and her father are BloodBrothers), returns from a 3-year education in England. Though the perspective and charm derived from her western education fascinates Fei-hung, an awkwardness forms in their relationship, as it clashes with his traditional eastern values. On that same day, a young, unemployed-acrobat -- Leung Foon (played by Creator/JackieChan film veteran Creator/YuenBiao in the first film, and Creator/MaxMok in all subsequent films) -- wanders into Canton seeking instruction in the martial arts. Instead, he blunders into and insults the Shaho ("Sand River") Gang -- a vicious Triad that terrorizes and fleeces the innocents of Canton, already destitute from simultaneous British and American exploitation.

** General Nap-lan Yun-seut's weapon when he gets serious is a long bolt of fabric that he can somehow tighten up and swing with enough force to act like a combination of a whip and a staff. The first time we see it, it can be justified since it was obviously soaking in water for a long time, thus becoming very heavy. In the final battle, it will make sense to long time readers of {{Wuxia}} fiction that he channeled his ''Chi'' into the spun cloth-lance, much like how Master Yim channels ''chi'' through his body, and therefore hardens it's tactile strength enough to allow it to shatter stone while retaining its elasticity.

** General Nap-lan Yun-seut's weapon when he gets serious is a long bolt of fabric that he can somehow tighten up and swing with enough force to act like a combination of a [[WhipItGood whip]] and a staff. The first time we see it, it can be justified since it was obviously soaking in water for a long time, thus becoming very heavy. In the final battle, it will make sense to long time readers of {{Wuxia}} fiction that he channeled his ''Chi'' into the spun cloth-lance, much like how Master Yim channels ''chi'' through his body, and therefore hardens it's tactile strength enough to allow it to shatter stone while retaining its elasticity.

* HeadCrushing: The Red Lantern Sect's HighPriestess in the fourth ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina'' movie demonstrates her kung fu skills by grabbing a German soldier's head - helmet and all - and crushing his skull via her fingers.

In the mean time, Creator/JetLi does return to play Wong Fei-hung twice more in the embarrassing slapstick InNameOnly "sequel" ''Once Upon A Hero In China'' (which is completely separate from the continuity of the first 3 films), before returning to the franchise proper in ''Once Upon A Time In China And America'', directed by Creator/SammoHung (who also choreographed the fight-scenes). In this film, the stage is moved to TheWildWest era San Francisco, creating a unique ([[Film/ShanghaiNoon for the time]]) {{Wuxia}} meets SpaghettiWestern film.

** Wong usually only calls out his most famous technique, "No Shadow Kick". It's hilariously averted in "Once Upon A Hero In China" where he calls out "No Shadow Kick" but does a completely different attack instead. His opponent is understandably confused and lampshades it.
* CanonDiscontinuity: ''Once Upon A Time In China 4'' and ''5'' (wherein Jet Li was replaced by Creator/VincentZhao) have for all intents and purposes being disowned from the continuity, so much so that in Eureka's UK ''Once Upon A Time In China Trilogy'' release, only the first-three and the sixth (the ones starring Jet Li) are included in the package. The Creator/CriterionCollection US box set, however, includes ''4'' and ''5''. The less said about the InNameOnly sequel ''Once Upon A Hero In China'', wherein Jet Li dresses up as a giant rooster to fight a centipede formation, the better.

* HeadCrushing: The Red Lantern Sect's HighPriestess in the fourth ''Film/OnceUponATimeInChina'' movie demonstrates her kung fu skills by grabbing a British soldier's head - helmet and all - and crushing his skull via her fingers.

* StopHelpingMe: Most of Wong's problems in the first movie stem from the impulsive actions of the militia he's training, which the authorities invariably blame on their trainer.