A guide to churches of Christianity in Sanya

Sanya has several unique Buddhist and Daoist temples, mosques, and churches that are a reflection of its history and diverse culture.

Sanya has two churches of Christianity, namely, Sanya Christian Church (Hongsha Church) and Fishing Village Church.

Whether you are looking for an outlet to connect with God and meet fellow believers, these two churches below provide the windows into Christianity in Sanya.

Sanya Christian Church 三亚市基督教堂 (红沙教堂)

Hongsha Church was founded by a Singaporean pastor named Chen Zhongyi in the 1940s. Before the church’s founding, Chen held Bible study sessions at his home, drawing a number of coworkers and acquaintances. When the number of attendees to Chen’s Bible study sessions grew, the missionary established the church. He continued to preach the Gospel there until the 1950s, when he entrusted the church to a parishioner whose family name was Tan. At the time of Chen’s departure, the church had over 100 parishioners.

The church was forced to shut down and demolished during the Cultural Revolution in China (the Cultural Revolution lasted from 1966 to 1976). After the Chinese government established policies that allowed the practice of several religions, in the 1980s, there were only a few of the church’s old parishioners left. In 1985, with the support of the government and the remaining parishioners, a new 200-square-meter church with a capacity of more than 400 was constructed. A 54-square-meter hostel was also built to receive guests.

Fifteen years after that rebuilding, the church was reconstructed again. Sunday service attendance reached 500, and Han Chinese and Li ethnic minority believers gathered in the main chapel and side chapel.

Currently, the church has four preachers, four deacons, two elders, and a pastor.

The congregation consists of a large percentage of people from outside town and a few locals; most service attendees are middle-aged people, and there are a few seniors and young people. The church holds only Sunday services and a meeting on Thursdays, because the majority of parishioners are migrant workers who have no time on other days.

Tel: +86-898-88237115
Address: 652 Yuya Road, Jiyang District, Sanya 三亚市吉阳区榆亚路652号
Transport: Bus Route 15, 17, 18, 19, 24 and 25 or taxi

Fishing Village Church 渔村教堂

It is said that the church has over 200 parishioners, most of whom are not fishermen, despite the church’s name. Most of the congregation are Han people. Normally, the church holds a Sunday service, a sharing meeting on Friday evenings, and two prayer meetings weekly, on Tuesday and Friday mornings.

Tel: +86-188 8991 8730
Address: 90 Lane 13, Yucun Road, Tianya District, Sanya 三亚市天涯区渔村路十三巷90号
Transport: Bus Route 3 or taxi