TAOIST TEMPLE EXERCISE HELPS CITY WORKERS RELIEVE STRESS

Serene place of worship eases burden on body, mind

Young white-collar workers in Beijing can easily find themselves frazzled by the pressure of their day-today jobs and the fast pace of city life.

A Taoist temple located in the Chinese capital's downtown Xicheng district, however, is providing an oasis of serenity for young residents to relieve their aches and pains, ease their nerves, and find inner calm.

The courtyards of Baiyun Temple are shaded by towering trees and filled with the aroma of burning incense. Priests can be encountered everywhere at the temple — a living reminder of the historical significance of Taoism in China and its importance to believers.