Filming on location is probably the dream of most directors who focus on Shaolin kung fu. But Benny Chan is an exception.

Benny Chan is helming "Shaolin" - also known as "New Shaolin Temple" - which features a constellation of stars including Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Nicholas Tse, Wu Jing and Fan Bingbing.

"There are so many tourists at the Shaolin Temple," director Chan said recently of the kung fu hotbed, which is located in Songshan, central China's Henan Province. "And the architecture there has been painted with vibrant colors, which I don't want in my film. Besides, my film has lots of action scenes. I don't want to see the temple damaged."

Instead, Chan and his crew have built their own "Shaolin Temple" in Zhejiang Province. The set cost 10 million yuan (1.47 million U.S. dollars), and is a life-size copy of the actual temple, only with less restoration.

"Shaolin" began shooting in October 2009 with a jubilant ceremony held inside the Shaolin Temple amidst media reports touting the film as the first to be allowed on location since the 1982 smash-hit "The Shaolin Temple" starring Jet Li.

Distinguishing his film from the previous version, Benny Chan sets the new "Shaolin" in the early 20th century. The film is about Shaolin monks who protect and shelter civilians during the war.