(Zhumadian, Henan Province — October 10, 2025) Amid tightening religious regulation in China, authorities in Shigunhe Town, Zhumadian City, Henan Province, have issued a notice, the date of which is unknown, urging residents to actively report “privately established religious venues” and “illegal religious activities.”
According to information in the notice, any religious venue not registered with or approved by the government’s Department of Religious Affairs is classified as a “privately established religious venue,” and any gatherings held there are deemed “illegal religious activities.”
Incentives for Reporting
In support of this, the local government called on citizens to collect and submit photos, videos, or audio recordings as evidence for reports. Individuals providing information are typically offered a cash reward of 500 yuan (approximately USD 70).
Wider Campaign Across Henan
Shigunhe Town, located in southern Henan, falls under the jurisdiction of Runan County, Zhumadian City. The population primarily engages in the agriculture industry and small-scale manufacturing. Although such notices rarely receive media coverage, similar campaigns have emerged in recent years across other cities in Henan, including Mengzhou, Jiyuan, and Shangqiu, where local governments have hung banners and slogans reminding residents that they “must report any gatherings of three or more people.” In the propaganda of some places, it failed to distinguish between legal and illegal religious activities, causing even government-registered Three-Self Church gathering locations to be affected.
Legal Guarantees vs. Reality
While China’s Constitution formally guarantees freedom of religion, in practice, all religious groups and activities must be registered with the government and supervised by authorities. In recent years, religious activities, especially Christian house churches, have continued to be subject to stricter control. Scholars of religion note that such reporting systems could further shrink the space available to religious communities and create a tense atmosphere within local neighborhoods.
Reported by Special Correspondent Gao Zhensai for ChinaAid