Temples to limit visitor numbers at Lunar New Year in name of safety
Print Edition
SHANGHAI’S temples will impose restrictions on visitor numbers on Lunar New Year’s Eve on February 18 in a bid to ensure public safety.
At Jing’an Temple, in Jing’an District, a maximum of 3,000 people will be allowed entry on the night, which is within a “manageable” limit, its operator said.
In previous years, the number has averaged between 5,000 and 6,000, it said, adding that ticket sales will be halted as soon as they reach 3,000.
The temple will also end its traditional practice of giving out admission “vouchers,” in a bid to better manage the situation.
The price of admission on last year’s Lunar New Year’s Eve was 600 yuan (US$96), and will “probably be the same this year,” the operator said.
In the wake of the tragedy on the Bund on December 31, the number of police officers on duty in the area of the temple will be increased on both February 18 and 19.
Similar precautions will be taken at the Jade Buddha Temple, also in Jing’an, its operator said yesterday.
A maximum of 4,000 people will be allowed in with prepaid tickets on Lunar New Year’s Eve, a drop of about a third from previous years, said temple official Xu Donglai.
The price of admission to the temple will be increased by 150 percent to 50 yuan in an effort to “deter visitors” on February 19, Xu said. Ticket sales will also be suspended if required on the day, he said.
To help ease the flow of people through the temple, an incense burner that usually stands in the square in front of the Grand Hall will be moved to the back of the compound, Xu said.
Police told Shanghai Daily yesterday that they will increase the number of officers in attendance around the site during the Spring Festival holiday.
At Longhua Temple in Xuhui District, the opening hours on Lunar New Year’s Eve will be 9pm to 3am, an official said yesterday.
It, too, will seek to deter visitors by doubling the entry fee to 600 yuan, though those who pay in advance will be given free admission to the temple for the rest of the year, he said.
At Eryan Temple in Fengxian District, the time between blessing ceremonies will be reduced to 40 minutes on Lunar New Year’s Eve, its operator said.
The interval is usually an hour, and it is hoped the shorter gap will reduce the chance of disputes between worshippers, it said.
Restrictions on ticket sales will also apply at Donglin Temple in Jinshan District, though the exact details have yet to be finalized, its operator said.
Millions of Chinese people visit their local temples during the Spring Festival holiday to pray for good fortune in the year ahead.
As a result, Lunar New Year’s Eve is typically the busiest day of the year for the city’s temple operators.
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