每年有大量的外国人来华定居，对他们来说，担忧之一就是在中国这个非基督教国家，要找到教堂并非易事。下面，我们就为大家介绍下中国尤其是首都北京的教堂...

B: Large numbers of foreigners are coming to live in China every year. Before arriving here, many Christians may worry about finding churches in this non-Christian nation.

A: But actually, many visitors to China have found that Christianity is more popular with the Chinese than they originally thought. Churches can be found all over the country, and some Chinese families even have generations of believers.

B: There are more than 20 thousand churches in China. They are not only venues of worship for both domestic and foreign believers, but also places for people to learn about the development and influence of Christianity in China. In fact, the earliest western architectural works in China were religious sites.

A: Christianity was first introduced in China in the early seventh century during the Tang Dynasty. At that time, Chinese people mainly believed in Buddhism, Daoism, or Confucianism. In an effort to reach the people, the churches built by early missionaries were all in the form of Buddhist temples. But in the mid-9th century, a pious Taoist Tang emperor forbade Christian sermons, thus leading to the disappearance of Christianity in China.

B: Christianity didn't see a resurgence in China until the 17th century when preaching by European missionaries gained the support of the Ming emperors. Churches began to be built all over the country.

A: Most of the early churches in China were originally built with a combination of religious features and traditional Chinese architecture. Their exteriors were in a traditional Chinese style, but the interiors were designed and decorated in a distinctively religious manner.

B: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, western Christian missionaries flooded into China and built more churches all over the country. In many places, churches differed little from their western counterparts.

A: We know Beijing is home to a large number of tourist attractions. Places of worship are not on the usual tourist itineraries, but churches in Beijing are really well worth a visit.

B: There are more than 30 churches in Beijing. Some of them offer English-language Masses on weekends to meet the needs of foreign believers.

A: Four Catholic churches surrounding the Forbidden City in the heart of Beijing are the best known and most popular ones among worshippers and visitors. They are located right on the four sides of downtown Beijing, so they are more commonly known among the locals as the East, South, West and North churches rather than their original religious names.

B: The four churches were all built by western missionaries. The South Church is the oldest one in Beijing, dating back to the early 17th century. Its origins were associated with the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who arrived in Beijing in 1601 to spread the gospel.

A: When Ricci was granted a chance to meet the Chinese emperor, he presented him some exquisite timepieces and other precious gifts he had brought from Europe.

B: Impressed by Ricci's profound knowledge and advanced western science and technology, the emperor allowed him to do missionary work and build a church to the south of the Forbidden City.

A: The church was originally a very small chapel that had Chinese architectural elements. In the following centuries, it was rebuilt several times and expanded into an imposing Baroque-style cathedral.

B: The East Church is the second oldest cathedral in Beijing. It is nestled on Wangfujing Street, one of the busiest commercial districts in Beijing. The gorgeous Romanesque architecture is very eye-catching amid the area's many contemporary shopping malls, hotels and theaters.

A: The church was first built in the mid-17th century and has since gone through several reconstructions. The latest renovation was completed just a year ago. Today the graceful building is acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful churches in China.

B: The North Church was built in 1703. It is the largest Catholic Church in Beijing, with an area of 2,200 square meters.

A: The building is a typical Gothic structure, but the surrounding architecture presents a classical Chinese garden style.

B: The church is surrounded by marble railings decorated with traditional Chinese patterns. Two pavilions with glazed tile roofs have been built on each side in front of the church, and four stone lions guard the entrance. The complex is considered a good example of architecture that integrates traditional Chinese and western cultures.

A: The West Church was built in the 1720s. It was the first non-Jesuit church in Beijing. Its delicate Corinthian pillars and Gothic peaked arches make it elegant and solemn, although its exterior looks less magnificent than those of the three others.

B: With China's fast social progress in the last three decades, the Chinese have become more open to western culture and enjoy more freedom with their religious beliefs.

A: This is why Christianity has spread rapidly in the country. The number of Christians has grown phenomenally, and many new churches have been built to cater to the needs of the increasing numbers of worshippers. Some of the churches are in traditional western design, while others feature innovative modern architectural styles.

B: The Haidian Christian Church in northwestern Beijing is one of the most famous modern-style churches. This Protestant church opened just two years ago. It’s located in the Zhongguancun district, which is known as China's Silicon Valley and home to a large number of IT companies, research institutes and universities.

A: Designed by a German architectural firm, the church was built in modern minimalist style. The four-story building is all white with long white pillars encircling the structure and a huge white cross standing in a covered stairway that leads to the entrance. Beside the building is a tall bell tower, also in white.

B: Many churchgoers in China are actually not Christians. Some of them go to these churches out of curiosity, and some find attending church services can bring peace and calm to their minds despite the hustle and bustle of modern life.

A: The most important concepts of religions, be it Christianity or Buddhism, are love and benevolence. So even though many people are not religious believers, they can still strive for them in their daily life.