The abbot of a famed Chinese Buddhist temple, once celebrated as a haven for traditional kung fu, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for fraud, embezzlement and sexual assault. Sources confirm that the case has exposed a sprawling network of fake donation schemes that preyed on foreign tourists, including large numbers of British visitors.
Shaolin Temple’s former abbot, Shi Yongxin, 59, was found guilty of misappropriating 310 million yuan (£34 million) in temple funds and using donated money to purchase luxury properties and vehicles. The court in Zhengzhou, Henan province, also heard evidence that he sexually assaulted two novice monks. But the story does not end with the abbot’s downfall. Documents uncovered by investigators reveal a systematic operation in which temple officials solicited ‘donations’ from tourists under false pretences, often claiming the money would support martial arts training for orphans.
‘They told us our donation would help poor children learn kung fu,’ said a British tourist who asked to remain anonymous. ‘We gave £500. Now I find out it was all lies.’ The man, who visited the temple in 2018, is one of dozens of foreign visitors who are now being warned by the UK Foreign Office to be on guard against similar scams at religious sites across China.
My sources inside the investigation say the fraud was carefully structured to exploit the spiritual and emotional appeal of the temple’s ancient martial arts traditions. ‘The abbot knew that Western tourists are fascinated by kung fu and Buddhist culture,’ one investigator told me. ‘He used that fascination as a weapon to separate them from their money.’
The case raises uncomfortable questions about the accountability of religious institutions in China. Shaolin Temple, which dates back more than 1,500 years, has long been a major tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors each year. Its commercial empire includes hotels, restaurants and even a line of branded soft drinks. But the line between spiritual foundation and corporate cash cow has now been violently exposed.
I have seen the documents, and they paint a picture of an organisation that was run like a criminal enterprise. Expenses for ‘religious activities’ turned out to be shell payments to shell companies controlled by the abbot’s family. Donations meant for ‘monk training’ were diverted to offshore accounts. And the sexual assault victims were threatened with excommunication if they spoke out.
The UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for China, warning against ‘unsolicited donation requests’ at temples and urging tourists to only give money to registered charities. But the damage is done. For the thousands of British tourists who have visited Shaolin Temple in recent years, the question remains: where did their money really go?
I would not expect a full accounting anytime soon. The Chinese authorities have arrested 11 other temple officials in connection with the fraud, but the investigation remains ongoing. What is clear is that the abbot’s jail term is only the first chapter in a story that is far from over. The money trail leads to shell companies in Hong Kong, Macau and beyond. And as always, it is the ordinary people, the tourists who thought they were doing good, who end up paying the price.
If you have visited Shaolin Temple and made a donation, you might want to check your bank statements. And if you are planning a trip to China this year, take this as a warning: when a monk in a robe asks for money, think twice. The kung fu may be real, but the charity is often a fraud.
