Religion constitutes a cultural system connecting humans with deities or supernatural/sacred entities, representing a special social ideology. Its manifestations encompass rituals, preaching, worship, deity veneration ceremonies, and other forms of religious expression. As a distinctive cultural phenomenon in human societal development, religion serves as a vital component of human civilization, profoundly influencing people's ideologies, living customs, and social norms.
China, as a multi-religious nation, has adherents primarily practicing Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism, and Christianity. The Constitution of the People's Republic of China explicitly guarantees freedom of religious belief as a fundamental civil right.
Religious practices are typically conducted in dedicated venues. These religious sites serve as spaces for believers to perform rituals, experience spiritual life, express faith, and foster religious communion. They also function as places for clergy to cultivate spiritual practice, pursue theological studies, serve congregations, and reside. The Regulations on Religious Affairs define religious activity sites as fixed locations including temples (寺院), Taoist temples (宫观), mosques (清真寺), churches (教堂), and other designated venues where believers collectively conduct religious activities.
CnOpenData presents geographical distribution data of Buddhist and Taoist religious sites to facilitate related academic research.
Temporal Coverage
Cross-sectional data:
- Taoist temples geographical distribution data: 8,300 records
- Buddhist temples geographical distribution data: 34,000 records
Field Description
Sample Data
Taoist Temples Geographical Distribution Data
Buddhist Temples Geographical Distribution Data
Data Update Frequency
Annual Update