Society

Company refutes rumors of managing Shaolin Temple

By Zhao Chunzhe (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-28 10:54

The opening ceremony for the "Dengfeng Songshan Shaolin Culture and Travel Company" was held on Sunday. The new company will manage all tourism near the famous Shaolin Temple on Songshan Mountain in Henan, chinanews.cn reported. However, it will not manage the Shaolin temple itself.

"The company will manage the Dengfeng Songshan scenic spot, not included the Shaolin Temple. The tickets of the Shaolin Temple won't change," said Xu Muhan, the vice president of the Dengfeng Songshan Shaolin Culture and Travel Company.

The Dengfeng municipal government of Henan province and the Hong Kong-based China Travel Service Group (CTS) have jointly invested in the company, which is worth a total of 100 million yuan ($14.6 million). The government will hold 49 percent of the company's stock, while CTS owns the remaining 51 percent.

The abbot of Shaolin Temple did not attend the ceremony of the company, although there was a seat with his name on it.