In a recent survey of China’s richest people, a stunning 50 per cent said they were religious – and a third claimed to be Buddhists.

Everywhere, ancient holy sites are being rebuilt as Taoist spas and Buddhist meditation resorts. Even the Communist party no longer seems to want a nation of atheists. Opiate of the masses? More like Xanax for the middle class: capitalism made China rich, now it is making China faithful.

On a recent trip to rural Jiangxi province, I stumbled upon the construction of a brand new ancient temple complex – as one does in China, where ancient temples are springing up all over, viewed as good for tourism (and political stability). This one was at Mt Gezao, birthplace of the Lingbao sect of Taoism, one of China’s main religions.