List of Catholic dioceses in China
The Catholic Church in Greater China comprises 152 Latin jurisdictions:
- 21 ecclesiastical provinces, consisting of 21 metropolitan archdioceses and 101 suffragan dioceses
- 28 apostolic prefectures
- 1 exempt diocese, the Diocese of Macau
- 1 apostolic administration, the Apostolic Administration of Harbin
There is an apostolic nunciature as papal diplomatic representation to China, in Taipei, the seat of government of the Republic of China on Taiwan, also charged with mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The Catholic Church recognizes the Republic of China as the sole government for all of China; nevertheless, it does not recognize all of its territorial claims. In this context, the term "China" is understood as including Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan in its 1949 provincial boundaries and mainland China as effectively controlled by the People's Republic of China. Due to the non-recognition of the People's Republic of China, however, the authority of the Taipei-based Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference is effectively limited to the islands of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu. The dioceses of Hong Kong and Macao do not belong to that conference. The dioceses of mainland China take part in the Beijing-based Chinese Bishops Conference, which is not recognized by the Holy See.
Current Latin dioceses in Greater China
Note that the diocese of Hong Kong belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Guangzhou, whereas the diocese of Macau is exempt. Also note that a small part of the diocese of Xiamen, the island of Kinmen, is administered by the Republic of China. At this moment, this part of the diocese is administered by the archdiocese of Taipei.In all of greater China, only one non-Latin jurisdiction exists: an apostolic exarchate of the Russian Greek Catholic Church in Harbin. It has, however, been vacant since 1939.
| Area | Archdioceses | Dioceses | Apostolic prefectures | Apostolic administrations | Total |
| Mainland China | 20 | 94 | 28 | 1 | 143 |
| Hong Kong | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Macau | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Taiwan | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Total | 21 | 101 | 29 | 1 | 152 |
However, the Chinese government has its own division of the dioceses, which is not necessarily identical to that of the Holy See. For example, many dioceses have been merged, and the difference between archdioceses, dioceses, apostolic prefectures and apostolic administrations has been abolished. Thus, according to the Chinese government, mainland China is divided into 104 jurisdictions, all dioceses.
Originally, the ecclesiastical provinces were closely aligned with the civil provinces of China. However, the borders of most provinces have not been redrawn again for decades. As a general guideline, however, the ecclesiastical provinces largely correspond with the following civil provinces:
| Ecclesiastical province | Civil province | Jurisdictions | Jurisdictions |
| Anqing | Anhui | 4 | 1 |
| Beijing | Beijing, Hebei, Tianjin | 15 | 12 |
| Changsha | Hunan | 9 | 1 |
| Chongqing | Chongqing, Sichuan, Tibet | 8 | 8 |
| Fuzhou | Fujian | 6 | 4 |
| Guangzhou | Guangdong, Hong Kong | 9 | 7 |
| Guiyang | Guizhou | 3 | 1 |
| Hangzhou | Zhejiang | 5 | 5 |
| Hankou | Hubei | 11 | 5 |
| Jinan | Shandong | 11 | 9 |
| Kaifeng | Henan | 9 | 9 |
| Kunming | Yunnan | 3 | 3 |
| Lanzhou | Gansu | 5 | 5 |
| Nanchang | Jiangxi | 5 | 1 |
| Nanjing | Jiangsu, Shanghai | 7 | 5 |
| Nanning | Guangxi | 3 | 1 |
| Shenyang | Jilin, Liaoning | 12 | 3 |
| Suiyuan | Inner Mongolia, Ningxia | 4 | 6 |
| Taipei | Taiwan, Kaohsiung, New Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, Taipei, Taoyuan, Fujian (Kinmen-Matsu) | 7 | — |
| Taiyuan | Shanxi | 8 | 10 |
| Xi'an | Shaanxi | 8 | 8 |
| Total | 152 | 104 |
The ecclesiastical jurisdictions in Hainan, Macao, Qinghai and Xinjiang are all exempt, though Macao is a diocese. Heilongjiang is also exempt, being administered by three apostolic prefectures, with the exception of some parts of Mudanjiang, which belong to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Yanji, which is located in Jilin province.
In the Apostolic Constitution of 11 April 1946, all provinces are named by the name of the civil province as well as by the name of the archdiocese. The province of Suiyuan is described as the province of Mongolia, and the province of Shenyang as the province of Manchuria. However, these two names are not used anymore.
Current Latin provinces and dioceses in PR China incl. Hong Kong
Ecclesiastical Province of Anqing
The Ecclesiastical Province of Anqing roughly covers the territory of Anhui province. The archdiocese is located in Anqing, even though Hefei has been the provincial capital since the 1940s – in fact, no diocese is located in Hefei. Also, apart from the archdiocese and the two diocese, there is also one exempt jurisdiction, the Apostolic Prefecture of Tunxi.Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing
The territory of the Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing is largely equal to that of Hebei province, when including Beijing and Tianjin. An important exception was Chengde; however, in 2018, the diocese of Chengde was erected, a suffragan of the archdiocese of Beijing, covering the entire prefecture-level city of Chengde. Furthermore, Puyang and Xinxiang's Changyuan County belong to the diocese of Daming, whereas Handan's Linzhang County, She County and Wu'an belong to the diocese of Weihui. Shandongs Ningjin County also belongs to the diocese of Jingxian. Parts of Qinhuangdao and Zhangjiakou do not belong to the Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing. Furthermore, the Apostolic Prefecture of Yixian has not yet been elevated to the rank of diocese, and as such is not yet part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Beijing, but is still exempt. Furthermore, the Diocese of Xiwanzi belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Suiyuan, even though its seat is located in Hebei province.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Beijing 北京
- * Diocese of Anguo 安國
- * Diocese of Baoding 保定
- * Diocese of Chengde 承德
- * Diocese of Daming 大名
- * Diocese of Jingxian 景縣
- * Diocese of Shunde 順得
- * Diocese of Tianjin 天津
- * Diocese of Xianxian 獻縣
- *
Diocese of Xuanhua 宣化→ Diocese of Zhangjiakou 張家口 - * Diocese of Yongnian 永年
- * Diocese of Yongping 永平
- * Diocese of Zhaoxian 趙縣
- * Diocese of Zhengding 正定
Ecclesiastical Province of Changsha
The Ecclesiastical Province of Changsha roughly covers the territory of Hunan province. In Hunan province, five exempt jurisdictions are also located: the Apostolic Prefecture of Baoqing, the Apostolic Prefecture of Lixian, the Apostolic Prefecture of Xiangtan, the Apostolic Prefecture of Yongzhou and the Apostolic Prefecture of Yueyang.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Changsha 長沙
- * Diocese of Changde 常德
- * Diocese of Hengzhou 衡州
- * Diocese of Yuanling 沅陵
Ecclesiastical Province of Chongqing
The Ecclesiastical Province of Chongqing roughly corresponds to Sichuan and Chongqing and also covers Tibet, though the diocese serving Tibet, the diocese of Kangding, is located in Sichuan. All the dioceses are located in Sichuan, except for Chongqing and Wanxian, which are located in Chongqing.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Chongqing 重慶
- * Diocese of Chengdu 成都
- * Diocese of Jiading 嘉定
- * Diocese of Kangding 康定
- * Diocese of Ningyuan 甯遠
- * Diocese of Shunqing 順慶
- * Diocese of Suifu 敘府
- * Diocese of Wanxian 萬縣
Ecclesiastical Province of Fuzhou
The Ecclesiastical Province of Fuzhou roughly covers the territory of Fujian province. In Fujian province, two exempt jurisdictions are also located: the Apostolic Prefecture of Jian'ou and the Apostolic Prefecture of Shaowu.Note that Kinmen belongs to the diocese of Xiamen, and Matsu Islands belongs to Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fuzhou, but both are administered by the archdiocese of Taipei.
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Fuzhou 福州
- * Diocese of Funing 福寧
- * Diocese of Tingzhou 汀州
- * Diocese of Xiamen 廈門
Ecclesiastical Province of Guangzhou
The Ecclesiastical Province of Guangzhou roughly covers Guangdong and Hong Kong. Nearby Macau and Hainan are both exempt: the diocese of Macau and the Apostolic Prefecture of Hainan. Also, note that the diocese of Beihai is located in Guangxi.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Guangzhou 廣州
- * Diocese of Beihai 北海
- * Diocese of Hong Kong 香港
- * Diocese of Jiangmen 江門
- * Diocese of Jiaying 嘉應
- * Diocese of Shantou 汕頭
- * Diocese of Shaozhou 韶州
Ecclesiastical Province of Guiyang
The Ecclesiastical Province of Guiyang roughly covers the territory of Guizhou. In Guizhou province, one exempt jurisdiction is also located: the Apostolic Prefecture of Shiqian.Ecclesiastical Province of Hangzhou
The Ecclesiastical Province of Hangzhou roughly covers the territory of Zhejiang.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hangzhou 杭州
- * Diocese of Lishui 麗水
- * Diocese of Ningbo 寧波
- * Diocese of Taizhou 台州
- * Diocese of Yongjia 永嘉
Ecclesiastical Province of Hankou
The Ecclesiastical Province of Hankou roughly corresponds with Hubei. Hankou has been merged with Wuchang and Hanyang to form Wuhan in 1927. Apart from the dioceses, two exempt jurisdictions exist, the Apostolic Prefecture of Shashi and the Apostolic Prefecture of Suixian.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Hankou 漢口
- * Diocese of Hanyang 漢陽
- * Diocese of Laohekou 老河口
- * Diocese of Puqi 蒲圻
- * Diocese of Qizhou 蘄州
- * Diocese of Shinan 施南
- * Diocese of Wuchang 武昌
- * Diocese of Xiangyang 襄陽
- * Diocese of Yichang 宜昌
Ecclesiastical Province of Jinan
Apart from the dioceses, Shandong province also has two apostolic prefectures: the Apostolic Prefecture of Weihai and the Apostolic Prefecture of Linqing. However, even after taking this into account, the boundaries do not completely correspond with Shandong province.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Jinan 濟南
- * Diocese of Caozhou 曹州
- * Diocese of Qingdao 青島
- * Diocese of Yanggu 陽穀
- * Diocese of Yantai 煙台
- * Diocese of Yanzhou 兖州
- * Diocese of Yizhou 沂州
- * Diocese of Zhoucun 周村
- * Diocese of Weifang 濰坊
Ecclesiastical Province of Kaifeng
The territory of the Ecclesiastical Province of Kaifeng is almost equal to that of Henan province. However, Puyang and Xinxiang's Changyuan County belong to the diocese of Daming, whereas Handan's Linzhang County, She County and Wu'an belong to the diocese of Weihui. Furthermore, the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang has not yet been elevated to the rank of diocese, and as such is not yet part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Kaifeng, but is still exempt.Note that the archdiocese is located in Kaifeng, and not in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan since 1954.
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Kaifeng 開封
- * Diocese of Guide 歸德
- * Diocese of Luoyang 洛陽
- * Diocese of Nanyang 南陽
- * Diocese of Weihui 衛輝
- * Diocese of Xinyang 信陽
- * Diocese of Zhengzhou 鄭州
- * Diocese of Zhumadian 駐馬店
Ecclesiastical Province of Kunming
The Ecclesiastical Province of Kunming roughly covers the territory of Yunnan. In Yunnan province, one exempt jurisdiction is also located: the Apostolic Prefecture of Zhaotong.Ecclesiastical Province of Lanzhou
The Ecclesiastical Province of Lanzhou roughly covers the territory of Gansu. Note that Xinjiang is covered by the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang-Urumqi and Qinghai by the Apostolic Prefecture of Xining. Historically, both provinces were part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Lanzhou.Ecclesiastical Province of Nanchang
The Ecclesiastical Province of Nanchang roughly covers the territory of Jiangxi.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nanchang 南昌
- * Diocese of Ganzhou 贛州
- * Diocese of Ji’an 吉安
- * Diocese of Nancheng 南城
- * Diocese of Yujiang 餘江
Ecclesiastical Province of Nanjing
The Ecclesiastical Province of Nanjing roughly covers the territory of Jiangsu and Shanghai. In Jiangsu province, two exempt jurisdictions are also located: the Apostolic Prefecture of Haizhou and the Apostolic Prefecture of Yangzhou.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Nanjing 南京
- * Diocese of Haimen 海門
- * Diocese of Shanghai 上海
- * Diocese of Suzhou 蘇州
- * Diocese of Xuzhou 徐州
Ecclesiastical Province of Nanning
The Ecclesiastical Province of Nanning roughly covers the territory of Guangxi. In Guangxi, one exempt jurisdiction is also located: the Apostolic Prefecture of Guilin. Also, note that the diocese of Beihai, which is located in Guangxi, is part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Guangdong.Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang
The Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang roughly covers Liaoning and Jilin. However, the Diocese of Chifeng belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang, but is located in Inner Mongolia. Furthermore, the diocese of Yanji also covers a very small part of Heilongjiang. Some parts of the North-East are covered by exempt jurisdictions: the Apostolic Administration of Harbin, the Apostolic Prefecture of Jiamusi, the Apostolic Prefecture of Lindong and the Apostolic Prefecture of Qiqihar.Harbin is also the seat of the Eastern Catholic Russian Catholic Apostolic Exarchate of Harbin, which, however, has been vacant since 1952 and only exists on paper.
- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Shenyang 瀋陽
- * Diocese of Chifeng 赤峰
- * Diocese of Fushun 撫順
- * Diocese of Jilin 吉林
- * Diocese of Rehe 熱河
- * Diocese of Sipingjie 四平街
- * Diocese of Yanji 延吉
- * Diocese of Yingkou 營口
Ecclesiastical Province of Suiyuan
Suiyuan is now known as Hohhot; the dioceses roughly cover Inner Mongolia and Ningxia, though the diocese of Xiwanzi is actually located in Hebei. Also, the Diocese of Chifeng is located in Inner Mongolia, but belongs to the Ecclesiastical Province of Shenyang.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Suiyuan 綏遠
- * Diocese of Jining 集寧
- * Diocese of Ningxia 寧夏
- *
Diocese of Xiwanzi 西彎子
Ecclesiastical Province of Taiyuan
The territory of the Ecclesiastical Province of Taiyuan is almost equal to that of Shanxi province. However, the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang has not yet been elevated to the rank of diocese, and as such is not yet part of the Ecclesiastical Province of Taiyuan, but is still exempt.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Taiyuan 太原
- * Diocese of Datong 大同
- * Diocese of Fenyang 汾陽
- * Diocese of Hongdong 洪洞
- * Diocese of Lu’an 潞安
- * Diocese of Shuozhou 朔州
- * Diocese of Yuci 榆次
Ecclesiastical Province of Xi'an
Apart from the dioceses, Shaanxi province also has two apostolic prefectures: the Apostolic Prefecture of Tongzhou and the Apostolic Prefecture of Xing’anfu. However, even after taking this into account, the boundaries do not completely correspond with Shaanxi province.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Xi’an 西安
- * Diocese of Fengxiang 鳳翔
- * Diocese of Hanzhong 漢中
- * Diocese of Sanyuan 三原
- * Diocese of Yan’an 延安
- * Diocese of Zhouzhi 盩厔
Current Latin province and dioceses in Taiwan
Ecclesiastical Province of Taipei
Note that Kinmen and the Matsu Islands belong to the diocese of Xiamen, but are administered by the archdiocese of Taipei with its Archbishop serving as an Apostolic Administrator in respect of the islands.- Metropolitan Archdiocese of Taipei
- *Diocese of Chiayi
- *Diocese of Hualien
- *Diocese of Hsinchu
- *Diocese of Kaohsiung
- *Diocese of Taichung
- *Diocese of Tainan
Current exempt jurisdictions, immediately subject to the Holy See
Dioceses
Apostolic Administrations
- Apostolic Administration of Harbin in Heilongjiang
Apostolic Prefectures
- Apostolic Prefecture of Baoqing in Hunan
- Apostolic Prefecture of Guilin in Guangxi
- Apostolic Prefecture of Hainan in Hainan
- Apostolic Prefecture of Haizhou in Jiangsu
- Apostolic Prefecture of Jiamusi in Heilongjiang
- Apostolic Prefecture of Jian'ou in Fujian
- Apostolic Prefecture of Lindong in Inner Mongolia
- Apostolic Prefecture of Linqing in Shandong
- Apostolic Prefecture of Lixian in Hunan
- Apostolic Prefecture of Qiqihar in Heilongjiang
- Apostolic Prefecture of Shaowu in Fujian
- Apostolic Prefecture of Shashi in Hubei
- Apostolic Prefecture of Shiqian in Guizhou
- Apostolic Prefecture of Suixian in Hubei
- Apostolic Prefecture of Tongzhou in Shaanxi
- Apostolic Prefecture of Tunxi in Anhui
- Apostolic Prefecture of Weihai in Shandong
- Apostolic Prefecture of Xiangtan in Hunan
- Apostolic Prefecture of Xing’anfu in Shaanxi
- Apostolic Prefecture of Xining in Qinghai
- Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang in Shanxi
- Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang-Urumqi in Xinjiang
- Apostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang in Henan
- Apostolic Prefecture of Yangzhou in Jiangsu
- Apostolic Prefecture of Yixian in Hebei
- Apostolic Prefecture of Yongzhou in Hunan
- Apostolic Prefecture of Yueyang in Hunan
- Apostolic Prefecture of Zhaotong in Yunnan
Eastern Catholic : Byzantine Rite
Defunct jurisdictions
Most former jurisdictions have current successor sees.Suppressed without 'direct' successor :
(Arch)Diocesan
There are no titular sees, and the Latin Titular Patriarchal See of All the East was suppressed in 1370 after a single incumbent, the Archbishop of Khanbalik.- Archdiocese of Khanbalik
- Diocese of Citong
- Diocese of Ili-baluc alias Amaliaq alias Kulja
Pre-diocesan
- Apostolic Vicariate of Shansi
- Apostolic Vicariate of Kweichow
- Apostolic Vicariate of Kiangsi
- Apostolic Vicariate of Kokonur
- Mission sui juris of I-li
Dioceses according to the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association
The structure of dioceses of the CPCA is not the same one as that of the Holy See. First of all, the distinction between archdioceses, dioceses, apostolic prefectures and apostolic administrations is not maintained: only dioceses exist. Secondly, the dioceses are structured according to the administrative divisions of the PRC. Many dioceses have been merged; some provinces are only served by a single diocese. Except for the diocese of Kangding, which also covers Tibet, all dioceses are restricted to territory within a single province.In total the CPCA has 104 dioceses, whereas according to the Holy See, mainland China has 143 jurisdictions. In the course of time, the CPCA has established five new dioceses (the Diocese of Jincheng and the Diocese of Xinzhou in Shanxi, the Diocese of Bayannur and the Diocese of Baotou in Inner Mongolia, and the Diocese of Zhanjiang in Guangdong. Forty-four other jurisdictions have been merged with other dioceses. For example, according to the Holy See, Hunan province exists of one archdiocese, three dioceses and four apostolic prefectures. These eight jurisdictions have all been merged by the CPCA to form a single diocese of Hunan. Furthermore, many dioceses have been renamed or have had their seat relocated to a nearby city; most of the dioceses boundaries have also been redrawn to correspond with current PRC administrative divisions. In general, Chinese prefectures have no more than one diocese, but there are exceptions: the prefecture of Baoding is divided in the Diocese of Baoding and the Diocese of Anguo.
This results in the following list of dioceses:
The CPCA has abolished and merged:
3 jurisdictions in Anhui
2 jurisdictions in Fujian
3 jurisdictions in Guangxi
2 jurisdictions in Guizhou
4 jurisdictions in Hebei
3 jurisdictions in Heilongjiang
6 jurisdictions in Hebei
7 jurisdictions in Hunan
1 jurisdiction in Inner Mongolia
2 jurisdictions in Jiangsu
4 jurisdictions in Jiangxi
2 jurisdictions in Jilin
3 jurisdictions in Liaoning
2 jurisdictions in Shandong
In total, 44 Holy See jurisdictions have been abolished and merged. This includes 26 out of 93 dioceses and 18 out of 29 apostolic prefectures.
The CPCA has established:
1 jurisdiction in Guangdong
2 jurisdictions in Inner Mongolia
2 jurisdictions in Shanxi
In total, 5 new CPCA jurisdictions have been established, all dioceses. Apart from these 5, the CPCA has also established a new diocese in Hebei, the Diocese of Chengde, but this diocese was recognized by the Holy See in 2018.
In the following provinces, no new dioceses were established and existing dioceses were not abolished: Beijing, Chongqing, Gansu, Hainan, Henan, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shanghai, Sichuan, Tianjin, Tibet, Xinjiang, Yunnan and Zhejiang. In Guangdong and Zhejiang, no dioceses were abolished, but new diocese were established.
However, names of dioceses may have been changed, dioceses may have been elevated, and the boundaries of dioceses may have changed.