Abstract: Religious tourism is an important component of tourism.The profound religious culture reflected in the architecture and religious doctrines attract tourists′ interests and bring to spiritual enjoyment.The peaceful and solemn surroundings of religious sites bring tourists into indepth reflection and meditation on the meaning of life.Such reflection or meditation serves as a engine for upgrade of tourist activities and for sustainable development of tourism economy.Therefore，the authors hold the belief that “meditation” should be regarded as the seventh element of tourism.

Key words: religious architecture, tourism, the seventh element, spiritual need, conventional “six elements”