Young Chinese are rushing to temples because they are anxious and upset about their professions.

While some immerse themselves in ‘temple life’ as volunteers for months, many are looking to escape pressure and pray for good fortune.

Buddhist and Taoist temples are now “a key pillar of tourism” since they are a component of traditional culture, according to a religious affairs specialist.

Lu Zi received an excellent position with a major e-commerce company in 2021, just as the epidemic was reaching its height. She had given it all up at that point and was residing in an eastern Chinese Buddhist monastery.

With a degree in Chinese, Lu imagined a future in e-commerce. Like many of her contemporaries, Lu was ambitious and spent her undergraduate years preparing for her profession. However, after working at her first job for a year, she realized she needed a vacation and chose to volunteer at a temple in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province.


Lu is one of an increasing number of recent graduates who, feeling burned out or disillusioned, have taken a break from the fiercely competitive job market to reconsider their course.

The epidemic has challenged many of our life beliefs, according to Lu, who is now 25 and intends to stay at the temple for a year. “The pandemic has upended not only the economy but also many of our assumptions about life,” Lu said.

Many individuals my age are quite anxious because of the economy’s downturn and the growing unemployment rate. Many people choose to keep their steady and safe professions in the face of all the uncertainty. Some people, though, share my desire to halt and reconsider my goals in life.
As the nation leaves behind three years of strict Covid-19 regulations, China’s economy has begun to show signs of revival. However, the young unemployment rate reached 17.5% last year and will reach 18.1% in the first two months of 2023.

The pandemic’s employment losses have often been most severe for young individuals aged 16 to 24. In the US, young unemployment climbed to 27.4 per cent in April 2020 before declining to below 9 per cent last year.

Chinese academics have expressed worry that the lack of employment options for young people may negatively affect the prospects for the country’s economic growth.

Lu Zi received an excellent position with a major e-commerce company in 2021, just as the epidemic was reaching its height. She had given it all up at that point and was residing in an eastern Chinese Buddhist monastery.

With a degree in Chinese, Lu imagined a future in e-commerce. Like many of her contemporaries, Lu was ambitious and spent her undergraduate years preparing for her profession. However, after working at her first job for a year, she realized she needed a vacation and chose to volunteer at a temple in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province.

Lu is one of an increasing number of recent graduates who, feeling burned out or disillusioned, have taken a break from the fiercely competitive job market to reconsider their course.
At a temple in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, volunteer Lu Zi writes a blessing for an elderly guest during the Lantern Festival.


The epidemic has challenged many of our life beliefs, according to Lu, who is now 25 and intends to stay at the temple for a year. “The pandemic has upended not only the economy but also many of our assumptions about life,” Lu said.

Many individuals my age are quite anxious because of the economy’s downturn and the growing unemployment rate. Many people choose to keep their steady and safe professions in the face of all the uncertainty. Some people, though, share my desire to halt and reconsider my goals in life.


As the nation leaves behind three years of strict Covid-19 regulations, China’s economy has begun to show signs of revival. However, the young unemployment rate reached 17.5% last year and will reach 18.1% in the first two months of 2023.

The pandemic’s employment losses have often been most severe for young individuals aged 16 to 24. In the US, young unemployment climbed to 27.4 per cent in April 2020 before declining to below 9 per cent last year.

Chinese academics have expressed worry that the lack of employment options for young people may negatively affect the prospects for the country’s economic growth.
China’s ‘employment-first strategy’ is under way, but can it produce enough jobs?
14 Mar 2023

As China has reopened and abolished its stringent Covid-19 guidelines, Buddhist and Taoist temples have in recent months become a favorite destination for young Chinese like Lu looking to escape from life’s worries and pray for good fortune.

News Desk

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