The hot sauce at the Shifangyuan restaurant in Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou recently became the subject of heated debate due to its “super-hot” flavor. A sign above the condiment counter indicates the sauce is extremely hot and urges people to “put aside greed” and “add sparingly.” The thread “Lingyin Temple Hot Sauce: Monks Don’t Lie” trended on Weibo, sparking widespread discussion.
According to a live report from Hunan TV, a large warning is posted at the condiment station in the Shifangyuan area of Lingyin Temple: “This hot sauce is extremely hot. Even half a spoon is hot. Please add a small amount at first, and then add more if necessary to avoid the sauce being too hot.” Another sign notes that the hot sauce is prepared in the temple kitchen and is exceptionally spicy. Visitors are also reminded: “Use only the required amount to avoid wasting it, and keep children away from the condiment area to avoid getting any sauce in their eyes.”
Many users shared their impressions of the dish on social media. One user, who tolerates spicy food well, said, “I consider myself a person who can’t live without spicy food, and I’ve been to Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan, and I wasn’t impressed at all, but this time I was convinced.” Another person said they added just half a spoonful of hot sauce: “The first bite of noodles was so spicy that I felt dizzy, and after I finished the noodles, I was sweating profusely and my clothes were soaking wet.” However, many users also praised the dish, saying they “wanted more” and “wished someone would buy them this.”
A customer service representative from Lingyin Temple stated that the hot sauce at Shifangyuan is homemade and contains no additives, making it quite spicy. “They call it ‘Ghost Pepper.’” Previously, Shifangyuan offered bottled hot sauce for 9.9 yuan (approximately $1.30), but due to the recent hot weather, this unadulterated sauce spoils quickly, so bottled production has been temporarily suspended.
The fall of former Shaolin Temple abbot Shi Yongxin still resonates, and news of the sale of hot sauce at Lingyin Temple has sparked heated debate among online users. Some criticize: “Even monks think about making money” and “Has this become the main source of income in Hangzhou?” Others believe that hot peppers can stimulate appetite, and appetite is also a “desire,” so its consumption in a temple setting seems inappropriate.
Post time: Dec-17-2025