China’s “temple economy” is experiencing unprecedented growth as increasing numbers of young people flock to temples seeking spiritual comfort and purchasing temple-related merchandise. The market is projected to exceed 100 billion yuan ($13.9 billion) this year.
The temple economy refers to a comprehensive economic model centered around temples, developing through religious culture and tourism. This phenomenon has gained particular momentum among younger generations who visit temples to burn incense, pray for blessings, and purchase commemorative items as a form of emotional investment.
Beyond traditional revenue sources like entrance fees and incense offerings, the temple economy has expanded significantly through cultural and creative products. Young visitors frequently purchase items such as refrigerator magnets, canvas bags, protective amulets, and prayer bracelets. Popular examples include Beijing’s Yonghe Temple’s famous incense ash glass bead bracelets and Lingyin Temple’s eighteen-seed prayer chains.
Innovation has also emerged in this sector, with AI fortune-telling services and virtual lamp offerings attracting post-90s and post-2000s consumers as primary customer groups.
The market reached 80-90 billion yuan in 2023 and is expected to surpass the 100 billion yuan ($13.9 billion) milestone by 2025. Leading temples report substantial annual revenues: Mount Emei generates 820 million yuan ($114 million), Mount Jiuhua earns 720 million yuan ($100 million), and Lingyin Temple brings in 670 million yuan ($93 million) annually.
Industry analysts attribute this growth to people’s heightened demand for spiritual comfort and emotional support. This has driven consumption in prayer tourism, meditation experiences, and cultural products, with more consumers willing to pay for emotional value. The temple economy demonstrates stable cash flow characteristics, reflecting deeper societal needs for spiritual fulfillment in modern China.
Source: Central News Agency (Taiwan), June 10, 2025
https://www.cna.com.tw/news/acn/202506100214.aspx