Shaolin Temple under fire for plans to build luxury hotel, golf course in Australia

China’s famed Shaolin Temple has come under a fresh wave of online criticism over its planned expansion project in Australia – which apart from a martial arts school will reportedly include a four-star hotel and a 27-hole golf course.

Critics say the flashy, “overly commercialised” venture is at odds with the Shaolin Temple’s image as a sacred and solemn monastery for training and contemplation for warrior monks, and as the birthplace of martial arts, cradled in China’s Henan province.

The city of Shoalhaven in Australia’s New South Wales state has recently approved the real estate project known as “Shaolin Village”, valued at A$360 million (HK$2.18 billion).

Mainland Chinese netizens’ news was received overwhelmingly negatively.

“Religious [organisations] elsewhere build hospitals, schools and welfare institutions. But ours is an exception,” read a satire by “MoMoXiangQian” on Weibo.

Another blogger, who identifies as “Super Zhang Peng”, said: “Today’s Shaolin Temple acts more like a company, a business enterprise whose purpose is to profit.”