In a surprising fusion of the sacred and the stylish, temple cafés are becoming the latest lifestyle trend among China’s Gen Z. Across the country, ancient Buddhist temples are opening serene coffee shops to cater to young visitors seeking a peaceful escape from their fast-paced lives.
With names that evoke Buddhist ideals, these cafés offer more than just caffeine. Yongfu Temple in Hangzhou hosts a café called Cibei (“Compassion”), Faxi Temple’s café is called Muhuanxi (“Bathe in Happiness”) and Taizhou’s Longxing Temple offers coffee at Jianfo (“Meet the Buddha”). Visitors sip on lattes while drawing lots, browsing incense and purchasing Buddhist trinkets.
The trend has sparked a boom online. The hashtag “temple coffee” has garnered over 10.3 million views and more than 53,000 posts on the lifestyle platform RedNote. Critics and commentators say the rise of temple coffee reflects a growing desire among young people for tranquility, spirituality and mindfulness amid daily stress and uncertainty.
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