(Promulgated by Decree No. 426 of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on November 30, 2004, revised and adopted at the 176th Executive Meeting of the State Council on June 14, 2017, promulgated by Decree No. 686 of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on August 26, 2017, and effective on February 1, 2018)

Chapter Ⅰ General Provisions

Article 1 These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws for the purpose of protecting citizens’ freedom of religious belief, safeguarding religious and social harmony, regulating the management of religious affairs, and raising the level of the rule of law in religious work.

Article 2  Citizens enjoy the freedom of religious belief.

No organization or individual shall compel citizens to believe in or not believe in religion, or discriminate against citizens who believe in religion (hereinafter referred to as citizens with religious belief) or citizens who do not believe in religion (hereinafter referred to as citizens with no religious belief).

Citizens with religious belief and citizens with no religious belief shall respect each other and coexist harmoniously, so shall citizens with different religions.

Article 3  The principle of protecting lawful activities, stopping illegal activities, deterring extremism, resisting infiltration and cracking down on crime shall be observed in managing religious affairs.

Article 4 The State, in accordance with law, protects normal religious activities, encourages religions to be compatible with the socialist society, and protects the lawful rights and interests of religious bodies, institutions of religious education, religious venues and citizenswith religious belief.

Religious bodies, institutions of religious education, religious venues and citizens with religious belief shall abide by the Constitution, laws, regulations and rules, put the core socialist values into practice, and safeguard national unity, ethnic unity, religious harmony and social stability.

No organization or individual shall make use of religion to carry out illegal activities that endanger national security, disrupt public order, impair the health of citizens, and interfere with the educational system of the State or other illegal activities that jeopardize national or public interest as well as the lawful rights and interests of citizens.

No organization or individual shall create contradictions or conflicts between different religions or within one and the same religion, or between citizens with religious belief and citizens with no religious belief, propagate, support or fund religious extremism, or make use of religion to undermine ethnic unity, split the country or engage in terrorist activities.

Article 5  All religions shall observe the principle of independence and self-management. Religious bodies, institutions of religious education, religious venues and religious affairs are not subjected to the control of foreign forces.

Religious bodies, institutions of religious education, religious venues and religious personnel shall engage in external exchanges on the basis of mutual respect, equality and friendship. In external economic and cultural cooperation or exchanges, other organizations and individuals shall not accept religious conditions attached.

Article 6  People’s governments at all levels shall improve their work with respect to religions, establish sound mechanisms for such work and ensure sufficient staff and the necessary work conditions.

Religious affairs departments of the people’s governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with law, oversee religious affairs involving national or public interests, and other relevant departments of the people’s governments at or above the county level shall conduct relevant oversight within their respect functions and duties in accordance with law.

People’s governments at the township level shall oversee well religious affairs within their own administrative areas. Villagers’ committees and residents’ committees shall, in accordance with law, assist the people’s governments in overseeing religious affairs.

People’s governments at all levels shall solicit the opinion of religious bodies, institutions of religious education, religious venues and citizens with religious belief, thus to coordinate the oversight of religious affairs and provide public services to religious bodies, institutions of religious education and religious venues.

ChapterⅡ Religious Bodies

Article 7  The relevant provisions of the State on oversight of associations shall be observed in making registration for the establishment and alteration of religious bodies and their deregistration.

The articles of a religious body shall conform to the relevant provisions of the State on oversight of associations.  

Religious bodies that operate in accordance with their articles are protected by law.

Article 8  A religious body shall perform the following functions:

(1) assisting the people’s governments in implementing laws, regulations, rules and policies, and safeguarding the lawful rights and interests of citizens with religious belief;

(2) giving guidance to its own religious activities, formulating relevant rules and systems and supervising implementation of the same;

(3) carrying out research on religious culture, interpreting religious doctrines and cannons, and building up religious ideology;  

(4) carrying out religious education, training religious personnel, and designating and managing religious personnel; and

(5) performing other functions as prescribed by laws, regulations, rules and its articles.

Article 9  National religious bodies and religious bodies of the provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government may, based on the needs of their religions, select and send people for overseas religious study and accept foreigners for religious study in China. Other organizations or individuals shall not select and send people for overseas religious study and accept foreigners for religious study in China.

Article 10  Institutions of religious education, religious venues and religious personnel shall abide by the rules and systems formulated by religious bodies.

Chapter Ⅲ  Institutions of Religious Education

Article 11 Institutions of religious education can only be established by national religious bodies or religious bodies of the provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government. Other organization or individual shall not establish an institution of religious education.

Article 12  For establishment of a religious educational institution, an application shall be submitted by a national religious body to the religious affairs department of the State Council, or by a religious body of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government to the religious affair department of a people’s government of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government where the institution is to be established. The religious affairs department of the said people’s government shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving such an application, forward its proposal to the religious affairs department of the State Council for review.  

The religious affairs department of the State Council shall, within 60 days from the date of receiving an application submitted by a national religious body or from the date of receiving materials submitted by the religious affairs department of the people’s government of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government, decide whether to approve or not approve the application.

Article 13 The following conditions shall be met for the establishment of an institution of religious education:

(1) having well defined training objectives, school articles and curriculum plans;

(2) having sources of students who meet the conditions for training;

(3) having necessary funds for school-running and a stable source of funding;

(4) having the premises and facilities necessary for teaching and for the scale of the school to be run;

(5) having full-time people in charge, qualified full-time teachers, and an organization for internal management; and

(6) having a well-planned layout.

Article 14 An approved institution of religious education may apply for legal person registration in accordance with the relevant provisions.

Article 15 Where an institution of religious education intends to change its location, name, affiliation, goals, length of schooling or scale, or to merge with another school, set up branches or close down, it shall do so in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Article 12 of these Regulations.

Article 16  Institutions of religious education shall implement specific systems for checking the qualifications of teachers, evaluating academic titles and making appointment, and awarding degrees to students, and the specific measures in this respect shall be formulated by the religious affairs department of the State Council.

Article 17 To hire foreign professionals, an institution of religious education shall obtain the approval of the religious affairs department of the State Council and complete the formalities at the local department for administration of the work of foreigners.

Article 18 Where a religious body, or a Buddhist monastery, Taoist temple, mosque or church (hereinafter referred to as a monastery, temple, mosque and church) intends to train religious personnel for three months or more, it shall apply for approval to the religious affairs department of a local people’s government at or above the level of a city divided into districts.

Chapter IV  Religious Venues

Article 19 Religious venues include monasteries, temples, mosques and churches and other fixed locations for conducting religious activities.

The standards for defining monasteries, temples, mosques and churches and other fixed locations for conducting religious activities shall be formulated by the religious affairs departments of the people’s governments of the provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government, and shall be filed with the religious affairs department of the State Council.

Article 20  The following conditions shall be met for establishing a religious venue:

(1) The purpose of establishment is not at variance with the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 of these Regulations;

(2) Local citizens with religious belief have the need to conduct regular collective religious activities;

(3) There are religious personnel, or other persons that meet the requirements of its religion, who is meant to preside over religious activities；

(4) There are the necessary funds that are from lawful sources; and

(5) There is a well-planned layout that meets the requirements of urban and rural planning and does not interfere with the normal work or daily lives of the surrounding units and residents.

Article 21 Before preparing for establishing a religious venue, the religious body shall submit an application to the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the county level of the place where the religious venue is to be located. The said department shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving the application, put forward its proposal after review to the religious affairs department of the people’s governments of a city divided into districts.

The religious affairs department of the people’s government of the city divided into districts shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving relevant materials submitted by the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the county level, decide whether to approve or not approve the application for building an another fixed place for religious activities and, in the case of an application for establishing a monastery, temple, mosque and church, put forward its proposal after review to the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the level of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government for approval.

The religious affairs department of the people’s government at the level of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving materials submitted by the religious affairs department of the people’s government of a city divided into districts, decide whether to approve or not approve the application.

Preparations for establishing a religious venue may be made only upon the approval of the application to establish such a religious venue.

Article 22 After the approved preparation and construction of a religious venue is completed, an application for its registration shall be submitted to the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the county level of the place where it is located. The said people’s government shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving the application, conduct review of the management organization of and the rules and regulations of the religious venue, and shall grant registration to the religious venue that meets specified conditions and issue to it the Religious Venue Registration Certificate.

Article 23 Where a religious venue meets the conditions for legal person, it may, with the consent of the local religious body and the approval of the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the county level, register as a legal person at the civil affairs department.

Article 24 Where a religious venue intends to terminate or alter the items of its registration, it shall go through the formalities for deregistration or alteration of registration at the original registration authority.

Article 25  The religious venue shall set up a management team to conduct democratic management. Members of the team shall be recommended through democratic consultation and the result shall be filed with the registration authority concerned.

Article 26 A religious venue shall strengthen its internal management and, in accordance with the relevant provisions of laws, regulations and rules, establish sound management systems for personnel, finance, assets, accounting, security, fire control, cultural relics protection, and hygiene and disease control, and subject itself to the guidance, oversight and inspection of the relevant departments of the local people’s government.

Article 27 The religious affairs departments shall oversee the observance of laws, regulations and rules by religious venues, the establishment and implementation of their management systems, changes made to the items registered, and their religious and external-related activities. Religious venues shall subject themselves to such oversight.

Article 28 Articles for religious use, religious artwork and religious publications may be sold within a religious venue.

Article 29 A religious venue shall guard against the occurrence on its premises of major accidents, or violation of religious taboos and other incidents that are offensive to citizens with religious belief, and undermine ethnic unity or affect social stability.

If such an accident or incident mentioned in the preceding paragraph occurs, the religious venue concerned shall immediately report it to the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the county level of the place where it is located.

Article 30  Where a religious body or a monastery, temple, mosque and church intends to construct a large outdoor religious statue on its premises, it shall be up to a religious body of a province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government to submit an application to the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the level of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government concerned. The said department shall, within 30 days from the date of receiving the application, put forward its proposal to the religious affairs department of the State Council for approval.

The religious affairs department of the State Council shall, within 60 days from the date of receiving a report on construction of a large outdoor religious statue, decide whether to approve or not approve the report.   

No organization or individual other than a religious body or a monastery, temple, mosque and church shall construct a large outdoor religious statue.

It is forbidden to construct a large outdoor religious statue outside a monastery, temple, mosque and church.

Article 31 Where an organization or individual intends to set up business outlets, hold exhibitions, make films and television shows or carry out other activities in a religious venue, it or he shall obtain the consent of the religious venue in advance.

Article 32 Local people’s governments at all levels shall, in light of actual needs, incorporate the construction of religious venues in their general land use planning and their urban and rural development planning.

The general land use planning, the urban and rural development planning, and the laws and regulations governing project construction and the protection of cultural relics shall be observed in building a religious venue and a large outdoor religious statue.   

Article 33 Reconstruction or construction of a structure within a religious venue shall be subject to the approval of the religious affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level of the place where it is located, before the procedures for planning and construction are followed in accordance with law.

For expansion of a religious venue or for construction of a religious venue in a different area, the procedures prescribed in Article 21 of these Regulations shall be followed.

Article 34 Where a religious venue is located in a scenic area, the local people’s government at or above the county level shall coordinate and handle the relations involving interests between the religious venue and other related parties, including the scenic area management organization and the services for gardening, afforestation, cultural relics and tourism, and shall safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the religious venue, religious personnel and citizens with religious belief and protect normal religious activities.

The planning and construction of a scenic area where tours are centered around religious activities shall be in keeping with the style and environment of the religious venue.

Article 35  Where citizens with religious belief need to carry out regular collective religious activities, but do not yet meet the conditions for applying to establish a religious venue, the representative of such citizens shall submit an application to the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the county level. The said department may, after consulting with local religious bodies and the local township people’s government, designate a temporary place for them to conduct such activities.

Under the guidance of the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the county level, the local township people’s government shall oversee the religious activities conducted at the temporary place. When conditions for establishing a religious venue are met, the relevant procedures for approval and registration shall be followed.

The relevant provisions of these Regulations shall be observed in conducting religious activities at a temporary place.

Chapter V  Religious Personnel

Article 36  Religious personnel who are designated by religious bodies may engage in operation of their own religion’s activities after their designation is filed with the religious affairs department of the people’s government at or above the county level.

The succession of a living Buddha of Tibetan Buddhism shall be conducted in accordance with the religious ritual and historical conventions under the guidance of Buddhist organizations, and shall be reported to the religious affairs department of the people’s government at or above the provincial level or to a people’s government at or above the provincial level for approval. The result of designation of Catholic bishops shall be filed with the religious affairs department of the State Council by the national Catholic organization.

Those who fail to obtain or lose the qualifications of religious personnel shall not engage in activities as religious personnel.  

Article 37 Where a member of religious personnel is appointed to, or leaves, the chief position at a religious venue, the matter shall, after obtaining the consent of the religious body concerned, be filed with the religious affairs department of the people’s government at or above the county level.

Article 38 Religious personnel are protected by law in presiding over religious activities, holding religious ceremonies, collating religious scriptures, conducting research on religious culture, and carrying out charitable activities.

Article 39 Religious personnel have the right to participate in social security schemes in accordance with law and enjoy due benefits. Religious bodies, institutions of religious education and religious venues shall provide social insurance to their religious personnel in accordance with relevant provisions.

Chapter VI  Religious Activities

Article 40 Collective religious activities of citizens with religious belief shall generally be held in a religious venue. Such activities shall be organized by religious venues, religious bodies or institutions of religious education and presided over, in accordance with religious doctrine and rules, by religious personnel or other personnel who meet the requirements of the religion concerned.

Article 41 Non-religious bodies, non-institutions of religious education, non-religious venues and non-designated places for temporary activities shall not organize or hold religious activities or accept religious donations.

Non-religious bodies and non-institutions of religious education shall not provide religious education and training and make arrangements for citizens to attend religious training, conferences or activities abroad.

Article 42 Where a large religious event to be held across provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central Government exceeds the capacity of a religious venue, or a large religious event is to be held  outside a religious venue, the religious body, or the monastery, temple, mosque and church, that sponsors the event shall, 30 days prior to the date arranged for the event, submit an application to the religious affairs department of the people’s government of a city  divided into districts where the event is to be held. The said department shall, within 15 days from the date of accepting the application and after consulting with the public security organ of the people’s government at the same level, decide whether to approve or not approve the application. If the application is approved, the matter shall be filed with the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the provincial level.

A large religious event shall be held in accordance with the religious ritual as required by the notification of approval, and not in violation of the relevant provisions of Articles 4 and 5 of these Regulations. The religious body, or the monastery, temple, mosque and church, that sponsors such an event shall take effective measures to guard against the occurrence of accidents and to ensure that the event shall proceed in a safe and orderly way. The township people’s government and the relevant departments of the people’s government at or above the county level, where the event is held, shall carry out the necessary administration and provide the necessary guidance in compliance with their respective functions and duties.

Article 43 The national Islamic organization is responsible for making arrangements for Chinese Muslims to pay pilgrimage abroad.  

Article 44  It is forbidden to propagate religion, conduct religious activities, establish religious organizations and set up religious venues in schools and other educational institutions other than institutions of religious education.

Article 45 A religious body, an institution of religious education or a monastery, temple, mosque and church may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State, compile, print and distribute internal publications on religious information. Religious publications to be distributed to the public shall be handled in accordance with the provisions of the State on administration of publications.

Publications involving religions shall comply with the provisions of the State on administration of publications and shall not contain the following contents:

(1) content that undermines harmonious relations between citizens with religious belief and citizens with no religious belief;

(2) content that undermines harmony between different religions or the internal harmony of a religion;

(3) content that discriminates against or humiliates citizens with religious belief or citizens with no religious belief;

(4) content that advocates religious extremism; or

(5) content that contravenes the principle of independence and self-management of religion.

Article 46 Bringing of religious publications and printed materials that exceed the amount for personal use or the reasonable amount or importing of the same to China by other means shall be handled in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.

Article 47 To provide online religious information service, approval by the religious affairs department of the people’s government at or above the provincial level shall be obtained, and the relevant provisions of the State on online information service shall be observed.  

Article 48 The content of online religious information services shall comply with the relevant provisions of laws, regulations and rules as well as the provisions on religious affairs.

Online religious information services shall not be at variance with the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 45 of these Regulations.

Chapter VII Religious Property

Article 49 A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue shall, in accordance with law and the relevant provisions of the State, manage and use State-owned and collectively owned property that they legally possess. They have rights of ownership or other property rights to other lawful property in accordance with law.

Article 50 Land legally used by a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue as well as the buildings, structures and facilities they legally own or use and their other legal property and income are protected by law.

No organization or individual shall encroach upon, plunder, covertly divide, damage or illegally seal up, impound, freeze, confiscate or dispose of the legal property of a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue, nor shall it or he damage cultural relics possessed or used by a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue.

Article 51 Religious bodies, institutions of religious education or religious venues shall apply to the immovable property registration department of a local people’s government at or above the county level for registration of all the immovable property, including buildings owned and land used by them, in order to obtain immovable property rights certificates. When property rights are to be altered or transferred, such alteration or transfer shall be registered in a timely manner.

For matters involving alteration or transferring of the land use right of a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue, the immovable property registration department shall consult with the opinion of the religious affairs department of the people’s government at the same level.

Article 52  Religious bodies, institutions of religious education and religious venues are non-profit organizations; their property and income shall be used for activities consistent with their purposes and for public welfare and charitable undertakings, and shall not be divided up.

Article 53 No organization or individual that donates money to build a religious venue shall have the right of ownership or use of the venue or derive any economic benefit from it.

It is forbidden to make investment in, or contract out the running of, a religious venue or a large outdoor religious statue, and it is forbidden to carry out commercial publicity in the name of religion.

Article 54 The buildings and structures used by a religious venue and the houses for the affiliated religious personnel to live in shall not be transferred, mortgaged or used as physical investment.

Article 55 When for public interests, there is need to expropriate the buildings of a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue, such expropriation shall be done in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State on building expropriation. The organization, institution or venue concerned may choose between cash compensation in cash and swapping or reconstruction of buildings.

Article 56 A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue and its religious personnel may conduct public welfare and charitable undertakings in accordance with law.

No organization or individual shall make use of public welfare and charitable activities to propagate religion.

Article 57 A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State, accept donations from organizations and individuals at home and abroad, to be used for activities consistent with its purposes.

A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue shall not accept donations from organizations or individuals abroad that are attached with provisos; where the donations exceed 10,000 yuan, the matter shall be subject to the approval of the religious affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level.

A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue may, in accordance with religious customs, accept donations from citizens, but shall not compel people to make donations or apportion the donations among them.

Article 58  A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue shall implement unified national financial, assets and accounting systems, and submit reports of their financial conditions, details of their revenues and expenditures and the acceptance and use of donations to the religious affairs department of the local people’s government at or above the county level. It shall make such information available to citizens with religious belief in an appropriate way. The above-mentioned religious affairs department shall share its management information with the relevant government authorities.

A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue shall, in accordance with the relevant financial affairs and accounting systems of the State, establish sound systems for accounting, financial statement and making financial affairs public, etc., and set up complete financial management bodies to be staffed with the necessary financial and accounting personnel, in order to strengthen financial management.

The relevant government departments may conduct joint inspection and audit of the finances and assets of a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue.

Article 59 A religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue shall register for paying tax in accordance with law.

A religious body, institution of religious education, religious venue or member of religious personnel shall declare its or his payment of taxes in accordance with law, and shall enjoy preferential tax treatment in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.

Taxation departments shall, in accordance with law, conduct taxation administration with respect to religious bodies, institutions of religious education and religious venues as well as religious personnel.

Article 60 When a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue is to cancel its registration or terminates its operation, its assets shall be liquidated and the remaining assets shall be used for undertakings consistent with its purposes.

Chapter VIII  Legal Liability

Article 61 Where, in the course of oversight of religious affairs, a State staff member abuses his power, neglects his duty or commits illegalities for personal gain and thus deserves punishment, he shall be punished in accordance with law; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Article 62 Anyone who compels citizens to believe or not believe in a religion or interferes with the normal religious activities of a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue shall be ordered by the religious affairs department to make corrections; if a violation of public security administration is committed, a punishment for administration of public security shall be imposed in accordance with law.

Anyone who infringes upon the lawful rights and interests of a religious organization, institution of religious education or religious venue or a citizen with religious belief shall bear civil liability; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Article 63  Anyone who advocates, supports or funds religious extremism, uses religion to engage in activities that endanger national and public security, undermine ethnic unity or split the country, or to engage in terrorism activities, infringes upon the personal and democratic rights of citizens, disrupts public order, or infringes upon public or private property, etc., which constitutes a crime, shall be investigated for criminal liability in accordance with law; if it does not constitute a crime, an administrative penalty shall be imposed on him by the relevant  department in accordance with law; if losses are caused to a citizen, legal person or other organization, he shall bear civil liability in accordance with law.

Where a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue commits one of the acts specified in the preceding paragraph, and the circumstances are serious, the relevant department shall take necessary measures for rectification. If it refuses to undergo rectification, the registration authority or the organ granting its establishment shall revoke its registration certificate or establishment license.

Article 64 Where, in the course of a large religious event, a situation occurs that endangers national or public security or seriously undermines public order, the relevant departments shall, in accordance with relevant law and regulations, deal with the situation and mete out punishment. Where a religious body, or a monastery, temple, mosque and church, that sponsors the event is held responsible for the situation, the registration authority shall order replacement of its principal leader; if the circumstances are serious, the registration authority shall revoke its registration certificate.

Where a large religious event is held without authorization, the government religious affairs department, together with the relevant departments, shall order that the event be ended and impose a fine of not less than 100,000 yuan but not more than 300,000 yuan; illegal gains or belongings, if any, shall be confiscated. In the case the large religious event is held by a religious body or religious venue without authorization, the registration authority shall order the religious body or religious venue to replace the person in charge with competent accountability.

Article 65  If a religious body, institution of religious education or  religious venue commits one of the following acts, the relevant religious affairs department shall order it to make corrections; if the circumstances are relatively serious, the registration authority or the organ granting its establishment shall order the said body, institution or venue to replace the person in charge with competent accountability; if the circumstances are serious, the registration authority or the organ granting its establishment shall order it to cease its daily operation, restructure its management and  make rectification within a time limit, and if it refuses to make rectification, its registration certificate or establishment license shall be revoked in accordance with law, and its illegal gains, if any, shall be confiscated:

(1) failing to have its alteration registered or filed;

(2) in the case of an institution of religious education, acting against its training objectives, school associations or curriculum requirements ;

(3) in the case of a religious venue, failing to establish the management system or to have its management system meet the requirements, in violation of Article 26 of these Regulations ;

(4) in the case of a religious venue, transferring, mortgaging or making physical investment of the buildings or structures used for religious activities or the attached buildings used as living quarters by its religious personnel, in violation of Article 54 of these Regulations;

(5) in the case of a religious venue, failing to promptly report the occurrence of a major accident or incident that causes serious consequences;

(6) in violation of Article 5 of these Regulations, contravening the principle of independence and self-management of religion;

(7) accepting donations at home or abroad in violation of the relevant provisions of the State; or

(8) refusing to accept supervision and administration exercised by the administrative authorities in accordance with law.

Article 66 Where an activity at a temporary place is conducted in violation of the relevant provisions of these Regulations, the religious affairs department shall order that the activity be rectified; if the circumstances are serious, the said department shall order that the activity be ended and close the place; and the illegal gains or belongings, if any, shall be confiscated.

Article 67 Where a religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue violates the relevant provisions of the State on finance, accounting, assets and taxation, the finance or taxation department or other departments shall mete out a punishment in accordance with the relevant provisions; if the circumstances are serious, the registration authority or the organ granting its establishment shall, according to the proposal made by the finance or taxation department, revoke its registration certificate or establishment license.

Article 68 Where a publication involving religions or an online religious information service contains one of the content prohibited by the second paragraph of Article 45 of these Regulations, the relevant department shall, in accordance with law, impose an administrative punishment on the unit or person to be held responsible; if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Where unauthorized online religious information services are provided or such services are provided beyond the scope approved or filed, the matter shall be dealt with by the relevant department in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations.

Article 69 Where a religious venue is established without authorization, or a religious venue continues to engage in religious activities despite the revocation of its registration or registration certificate, or an institution of religious education is established without authorization, the religious affairs department shall, together with the relevant departments, impose a ban on it, and confiscate the illegal gains or belongings, if any, and if the specific amount of the illegal gains cannot be determined, a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan shall be imposed; and if a violation of public security administration is committed, a punishment for administration of public security shall be imposed in accordance with law.

Where a non-religious body, non-institution of religious education, non-religious venue, or non-designated place for temporary activities organizes or holds religious activities or accepts religious donations, the relevant religious affairs department shall, together with the relevant departments of public security, civil affairs, construction, education, culture, tourism and cultural relics, order it to stop such activity, and the illegal gains or belongings, if any, shall be confiscated and a fine of not less than one time but not more than three times the amount of illegal gains may also be imposed; if the specific amount of the illegal gains cannot be determined, a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan shall be imposed; and if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Article 70 Where anyone, without authorization, makes arrangements for citizens to attend religious training or conference or make the pilgrimage abroad, or conduct religious training, the relevant religious affairs department shall, together with other relevant departments, order it or him to stop the activity and may impose on it or him a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan but not more than 200,000 yuan concurrently; the illegal gains, if any, shall be confiscated; and if crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Where anyone propagates religion, conducts religious activities, establishes a religious body, or sets up a religious venue in a school or educational institution other than an institution of religious education, the organ granting that approval, or a relevant department, shall order it or him to make corrections within a specified time limit and give it or him a warning; the illegal gains, if any, shall be confiscated; if the circumstances are serious, the said organ or department shall order it or him to stop recruiting students and revoke the school license; and if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Article 71 Where anyone aides illegal religious activities, the religious affairs department shall give it or him a warning; the illegal gains or belongings, if any, shall be confiscated, and if the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan shall be imposed concurrently; if illegal buildings or structures are involved, the matter shall be dealt with by the planning, construction or other departments in accordance with law; and if a violation of public security administration is committed, a punishment for administration of public security shall be imposed in accordance with law.

Article 72  Where a large outdoor religious statue is constructed in violation of these Regulations, the religious affairs department shall, together with the departments of land, planning, construction and tourism, order discontinuation of construction, set a deadline for its removal, and confiscates the illegal gains, if any; and if the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than 5 percent but not more than 10 percent of the cost of construction shall also be imposed.

Where anyone invests in or contracts out a religious venue or a large outdoor religious statue, the religious affairs department shall, together with the departments of business, planning and construction, order it or him to make corrections and confiscate all illegal gains; and if the circumstances are serious, the registration authority shall revoke the registration certificate of the religious venue and investigate for the responsibility of the persons concerned.

Article 73  Where a religious personnel commits one of the following acts, the religious affairs department shall give him a warning, and confiscate his illegal gains and belongings; if the circumstances are serious, the said department shall put forward a proposal to the relevant religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue concerned to suspend him from presiding over religious activities or deprive him of the title as religious personnel, and shall investigate for the responsibility of the person in charge of the religious body, institution of religious education or religious venue concerned; if a violation of public security administration is committed, a punishment for administration of public security shall be imposed in accordance with law; and if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

(1) propagating, supporting and funding religious extremism, undermining ethnic unity, splitting the country and engaging in terrorist activities, or participate in related activities;

(2) under the control of foreign forces, accepting without approval a religious post appointed by a foreign religious body or institution, or committing other acts that violate the principles of independence and self-management of religion;

(3) accepting donations at home or abroad in violation of the relevant provisions of the State ;

(4) organizing or presiding over a religious activity outside a religious venue without approval; or

(5) other violations of laws, regulations and rules .

Article 74 Where a person passes himself off as a religious personnel to conduct religious activities, or gets money by fraud or commits other illegal activities, the religious affairs department shall order him to stop such activity, and confiscate his illegal gains or belongings, if any, and concurrently impose a fine of not more than 10,000 yuan; if a violation of public security administration is committed, a punishment for administration of public security shall be imposed in accordance with law; and if a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be investigated for in accordance with law.

Article 75 Where a person refuses to acceptthe decision of the religious affairs department, it or he may apply for an administrative review in accordance with law and, if refusingto acceptthe administrative review decision, it or he may file an administrative action in accordance with law.

Chapter Ⅸ  Supplementary Provisions

Article 76 Religious exchanges between the mainland of China on the one hand and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Taiwan region are governed by laws, administrative regulations and the relevant provisions of the State.

Article 77 These Regulations shall be effective as of February 1, 2018.