Urban Conservation in China
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In China's great cities such as Shanghai,
Buddhist temples provide havens of peace and
inspiration
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Thirty percent of Chinese people live in urban areas,
and the cities are growing rapidly. The Chinese Buddhist
Association, supported by ARC, is hoping to develop
community-based environmental improvement schemes,
organised by Buddhist temples in Shanghai, Beijing,
Guangzhou and elsewhere.
These urban
monasteries and education centres have great potential
to help local communities manage simple improvements in
their physical environment, such as recycling waste,
planting trees and reducing noise pollution. They can
teach about such topics as energy conservation and
toxics. The gardens around the temples provide important
quiet places, popular with Chinese residents who go
there to find peace, play chess, and relax with their
families.
Working with these monasteries is
now a priority for ARC.
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