Serene temples offer welcome respite from city life

"The first day was really hard, as I had to get up before 6 am for morning meditation," he said.

After meditation, a simple breakfast was served, before Tan was assigned to cleaning work. Later, he studied Buddhist scriptures and attended recitals, lectures and discussions hosted by senior monks. "It was tiring work, but very relaxing and fulfilling," he said.

He quickly became accustomed to the new routine and started to appreciate it more.

"I especially enjoyed the tea session at night with a senior master. He answered our questions about life and offered advice that was convincing and easy to understand," he said.

The five-day stay enabled Tan to acquire good habits, which included rising and going to bed early. "I never used to eat breakfast before, but now I feel bad if I don't," he said.

The temple experience also eased his anxiety.

"I looked at the source of my negative emotions — most of which were unnecessary — and I now know how to stay positive," Tan said.

When he posted news of his temple experience on Xiaohongshu, many of his 50,000 followers asked him for more details about the visit.

"I was surprised by their curiosity and enthusiasm, and I now realize many people might want to experience the same thing as I did," Tan said.

Young people such as Lyu and Tan are increasingly visiting temples mostly situated in mountainous areas that offer close contact with nature.

Major online travel agency Trip.com Group reports that bookings to temple-related scenic spots have more than tripled since February.

The agency said the most popular venues are: Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province; Hanshan Temple in Suzhou, Jiangsu province; Baima Temple in Luoyang, Henan province; and Great Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

Visitors either go to temples for fun, or stay for a few days to experience Zen practice — recharging their batteries before they return to the hustle and bustle of city life.

More tourism and cultural elements have been introduced to areas near temples to appeal to young visitors.

Creative cultural souvenirs are available near Shaolin Temple in Henan province, known for being a birthplace of kung fu. In Beijing, Longquan Temple has introduced a robot that recites scriptures, plays Buddhist music, and engages visitors in conversation about Buddhist teachings.

Trip.com Group has launched temple-themed visits to Buddhist sites such as Mount Putuo, Zhejiang, and Mount Wutai, Shanxi province, as well as those offering Zen practice. These trips have proved popular with young travelers.

The agency said those born after 1990 account for nearly 50 percent of visitors heading to scenic spots that boast a temple.