When visiting a temple, be aware that you have also fake temples! In order to give followers the possibility to distinguishreal temples from fake ones, the State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA)will delivercertificates to Buddhist and Taoist temples.
In Beijing, the Guangji Temple and Fire God Temple were among the first to receive the certificates.Religious sites can display the certificate: the believers will be protected fromillegal fund-raising.
Indeed, fake monks are nothing new in China : some non-religious sites are employing fake monks who are tricking tourists into donating money or buying expensive incenses. Impostors in rural areas oftencheat money or go unchecked.
In 2013, two “temples” have been closed in Mount Wutai,a sacred Buddhist mountain in North China’s Shanxi Province, after an important affair was clarified.
China is counts about 33,000 Buddhist temples and more than 9,000 Taoist temples. As often, religion is used to get money from believers; Chinese authorities are taking a step to ban profit religious activities.
Sources:
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/895110.shtml
http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2014-12/04/content_34230747.htm
