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People walk into the Fuxi Temple to pay their tributes during a commemoration ceremony of Fuxi, the Legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, in Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing)

Recently, a Taoist college in East China's Zhejiang Province announced that nearly 1,300 people have applied for its undergraduate program, a jump of almost 1,000 from 2022, marking a record high. The news quickly became a hot topic online.

In March, Zhejiang Taoist College announced its 2023 autumn admission guide on its official account, with the post receiving over 100,000 views. Described as a "magic school more suitable for Chinese youth" on social media, it offers free meals and tuition. Students focus solely on Taoist practices, and upon graduation, they can work directly in Taoist temples.

Official information reveals that the Zhejiang Taoist College, approved by the State Administration for Religious Affairs and run by the Zhejiang Taoist Association, offers a full-time undergraduate program in "Taoist Doctrine and Temple Management" over a four-year period.

Unlike most universities, this college does not enroll students through the national college entrance exam. Only 60 students are admitted annually from almost 1,300 applicants, making the admission rate nearly 21:1.

Many netizens believe studying in such colleges can better promote traditional Chinese studies and personal cultivation. However, some argue that seeking refuge in such institutions to escape reality might not be the best choice.