<< Monks in China are working hard to protect their heritage

The course, specially designed by Shanghai's Jiaotong University, teaches temple management and corporate strategy, along with marketing religious articles. Monks also will gain some tips on how to get ahead in business from Sun Tzu's ''The Art of War,'' the report said.

High-tech temple

''Through this program, we want to learn how the secular world is managed,'' said Chang Chun, a Zen Buddhist monk who serves as general manager of the city's Jade Buddha Temple, according to Xinhua.

Thousands of Buddhist temples have been restored or rebuilt in the last quarter decade, largely to attract tourists.

In one extreme example, a ruined Buddhist pagoda in the ancient lakeside city of Hangzhou was recently rebuilt in glass, steel and concrete, complete with escalators, elevators and touch-screen electronic guides.