In Beijing, China in 1900 during the Qing dynasty, Wong Fei-hung (Jet Li) plans to return to Foshan with his father Wong Kei-ying and apprentices Leung Foon and Clubfoot. He also meets 14th Aunt, 13th Aunt's sister, who has a romantic crush on him.
Just as Wong is about to leave, a Manchu general, Alan Chengdu, shows up and tells him that the Eight-Nation Alliance has challenged China to an international lion dance competition. The general is eager to recruit Wong to join him in representing China in the competition because Wong was the champion of the national lion dance competition. Since the competition is an international one, the contestants are not restricted to using only lion masks; other animal masks, such as dragon, centipede and eagle, are also present. Wong understands the gravity of the situation – China must win to uphold its sovereignty and regain lost national pride - and promises Alan Chengdu that he will join the competition.