China

Religious houses to be established or renovated for Games

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-11 09:26

GUANGZHOU: To accommodate adherents of different faiths, a religious service center will be available in Asian Games Town during the 16th Asian Games that will start in this southern Chinese city on November 12 next year.

Religious houses to be established or renovated for Games<BR>

Gathering places for Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity and Hinduism, as well as a serenity room, will be made available in the special-built town at foot of Lianhua Mountain in Panyu district, authorities said.

In addition, some 26 temples and churches and two more religious houses for Christian activities in downtown areas will open to foreign participants.

"The religious service will cater to believers in different religions when they attend the Games," an official with the local ethnic and religious authorities said.

Some 12,000 athletes from 45 Asian countries and regions are expected to attend next year's event, sources with Guangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee said.

A number of places of worship are undergoing renovation in preparation for the Games, including Liurong Temple, the Temple of the Great Buddha and the Mausoleum of Moslem Masters.

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Guangzhou is one of the many places available for religious gatherings during the Asian Games.[China Daily]

The Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Guangzhou is one of the many places available for religious gatherings during the Asian Games. Zou Zhongpin

The Temple of the Great Buddha, or Dafo Temple, near renowned downtown Beijing road will be expanded, authorities said.

Renovation and expansion of temples and churches are listed among the local government's urban planning in preparations for the Games, officials said.

In addition, the 600-year-old Chenghuang Temple, or Town's God Temple, will undergo thorough renovation before the Asian Games begin, authorities said.

Located in downtown Yuexiu district, the temple will be restored to its old appearance to the fullest extent possible with the current amount of land available, according to the district government.

Built in the Ming Dynasty, it was the largest temple of its time in Lingnan, or south China, and it is seen as of equal significance as Dafo Temple.

Combining the essence of Lingnan architecture and Cantonese folk arts, Chenghuang Temple was a landmark in Guangzhou in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Authorities said an investment of up to 5 million yuan will be needed for reconstruction.

The temple will be used for gathering of Taoist activities after its completion next year.

According to the district government, the temple, the Nanyue King's Palace and a cultural street on Wende road will all be linked to form a historical and cultural area before the Asian Games.