China Demolishes ‘Jerusalem of Christians’ with Bulldozers; Complete Destruction of Yazong Church After Months of Siege

In continuation of China’s increasing pressure on independent churches, local authorities in Wenzhou city (known as “China’s Jerusalem”) demolished the building of the Protestant “Yazong” church with heavy machinery after months of security siege and widespread arrests of its members. Reports from international religious freedom organizations indicate that this action was taken following the church’s refusal to install government symbols in the worship space, marking a fresh sign of intensified control policies by the Communist Party against independent Christians not affiliated with the state.

In the latest wave of pressure on independent Christians in China, local authorities in Zhejiang Province completely demolished the building of the Protestant “Yazong” church in Wenzhou city; an action that religious freedom organizations describe as part of Beijing’s escalating policy to suppress and eliminate churches outside government control.

This church was located in the “Yayangqu” district, a suburb of Wenzhou; a city in eastern China that has been known for years in media and religious circles by the title “China’s Jerusalem” due to its large Christian population.

According to a report by the Christian organization “China Aid,” which advocates for religious freedoms, operations against this church had begun months earlier. In December 2025, Chinese security forces conducted extensive dawn raids and arrested over 100 church members, taking complete control of the building. Simultaneously, severe security measures and communication restrictions were imposed around the site.

Reports indicate that in mid-May 2026, heavy construction machinery entered the area and demolition operations began from the highest part of the building. By the following morning, the multi-story church building had been reduced to a heap of rubble. Local sources say security forces also arrested several other church members at the same time, and families were prohibited from making any public announcements.

According to sources close to the church, the dispute between Yazong members and Communist Party authorities reached a critical phase when the Chinese government demanded the installation of a national flag inside the worship space and the erection of a flagpole on the church grounds; an action that many believers saw as direct government interference in the sacred worship space.

Last June, government officials forcibly entered the church premises, demolished part of the outer wall, and installed the Chinese flag; an incident that led to protests by church members and intensified tensions.

Yazong Church was affiliated with the movement known as the “Local Church,” a Christian movement whose roots trace back to the renowned Chinese preacher Watchman Nee. Like many of China’s house churches, this church had refused to join the formal structure approved by the government.

In China, only churches that operate under the supervision of the government body “Three-Self Patriotic Movement” are permitted to conduct formal activities. In recent years, pressure on independent churches, particularly in Zhejiang Province, has increased and has included the arrest of religious leaders, destruction of crosses, and closure of places of worship.

Bob Fu, president of “China Aid” organization, responding to the demolition of this church, said: “What grieves me more than the destruction of a building is the ongoing persecution of believers in the region who are known to be faithful to Christians.”

He also warned: “Recent actions demonstrate that the persecution of Christians by Chinese authorities has become more severe, institutionalized, and targeted.”