Hearing a higher calling

Xian Xun could have chosen to be a successful young professional if he had so wished. At just 25, he had already bought an apartment in Beijing after graduating from Peking University in 2009 and working for a year with a security company. Instead, he decided to become a monk at Longquan Temple on the outskirts of the city.

So why did he choose the path less traveled?

The initial attraction of a temporary retreat from the hustle and bustle of urban life is understandable.