Beijing, March 5 (Youth.cn) - On March 4, 2025, in Haidian District, Beijing City, a glossy-furred North China red squirrel is spotted at the Shifang Pujue Temple in the National Botanical Garden, climbing a tree with a walnut pilfered from pilgrim offerings. The nimble rodent’s comical sight  - perches high while nibbling the ritual walnut - draws crowds of visitors capturing the moment.

The temple, dating back to the Tang Dynasty, has become a natural sanctuary for wildlife due to its ancient trees, fostering frequent human-squirrel interactions in recent years. Temple staff explain that squirrels typically snatch offerings during early mornings before worship peaks, and the temple regularly replaces offerings to ensure hygiene.

Folklorists note that squirrels’ presence in Buddhist spaces carries symbolic weight: Chinese tradition associates rodents with prosperity (“shu xian cai” or “rodents bringing wealth”), and their harmonious coexistence with humans here reflects a poetic blend of nature and spirituality. Photo/CFP