China is a country with a great diversityof religious beliefs. The main religions are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism. Buddhism enjoys a history of 2,000 years in China. Currently China has 13,000-some Buddhist temples and about 200,000 Buddhist monks and nuns. Taoism, native to China, has a history of more than 1,700 years. China now has over 1,500 Taoist temples and more than 25,000 Taoist priests and nuns. Islam was introduced into China in the seventh century.

　　中国是个多宗教的国家。主要宗教有佛教、道教、伊斯兰教、天主教和基督教。佛教在中国已有 2000 多年的历史。现在中国有佛教寺院 1.3万余座，出家僧尼约20万人。道教发 源于中国，已有1700多年历史。中国现有道教宫观1500余座，乾道、坤道2.5万余人。伊斯兰教于公元 7 世纪传入中国。

　　In China there are ten minorities, including the Hui and Uygur, with a total population of 18 million, whose faith is Islam. Their 30,000-odd mosquesare served by 40,000 Imams and Akhunds. Catholicismwas introduced into China in the 7th century. At present, China has four million Catholics, 4,000 priests and more than 4,600 churches and meeting houses. Protestantism was first brought to China in the early 19th century. There are about 10 million Protestants, more than 18,000 clergy, more than 12,000 churches and meeting houses throughout China.

　　回族、维吾尔族等 10个少数民族中的群众信仰伊斯兰教。这些少数民族总人口约1800 万，现有清真寺3万余座，伊玛目、阿訇4万余人。天主教自公元7世纪起传入中国。中国 现有天主教徒约400 万人，教职人员约4000人，教堂、会所4600余座。基督教于公元19世纪初传入中国。中国现有基督徒约1000万人，教牧传道人员1.8万余人，教堂、会所 1.2 万余座。

（编辑：何莹莹）