St. Michael's Church (also known as French Legation Church and Dongjiaominxiang Church) in Beijing posts up a banner that reads "Merry Christmas" in Chinese on Dec. 25, the Christmas Day. St. Michael's Church is mostly famous for the statue of Michael the Angel. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The statue of Michael the Angel, the guardian angel of St. Michael's Church (also known as French Legation Church and Dongjiaominxiang Church) stands in Beijing's winter coldness on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The statue of Michael the Angel, the guardian angel of St. Michael's Church (also known as French Legation Church and Dongjiaominxiang Church) stands in Beijing's winter coldness, facing an iron cross on top of the church gate on Dec. 25, Christmas Day. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

St. Joseph's Church (also known as Wangfujing Church, Dongtang, or the East Cathedral) posts up a banner that reads "Joy to the World, Jesus Christ is born" on Dec. 25, 2013, the Christmas Day. St. Joseph's Church also holds an English-language mass on the Christmas Day's afternoon to accommodate the neccessity of foreign Christians in Beijing, the Chinese capital. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

St. Joseph's Church (also known as Wangfujing Church, Dongtang, or the East Cathedral) in Beijing holds an English-language mass on the Christmas Day's afternoon, Dec. 25, 2013 to accommodate the neccessity of foreign Christians in Beijing, the Chinese capital. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

St. Joseph's Church (also known as Wangfujing Church, Dongtang, or the East Cathedral) in Beijing holds an English-language mass on the Christmas Day's afternoon, Dec. 25, 2013 to accommodate the neccessity of foreign Christians in Beijing, the Chinese capital. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing posts up characters that read "Merry Christmas" on rooftop to celebrate the Christian festival on Dec.25, 2013. The South Church was founded in 1605, with the assistance by the renowned Italian missionary, Jesuit member Matteo Ricci, making it the oldest Catholic church in Beijing. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The bronze statue of Fr. Matteo Ricci, an Italian missionary and Jesuit member who helped found the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing stands outside of the church gate on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2013. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The bronze statue of St. Francis Xavier, who contributed to the growth of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing stands outside of the church gate on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2013. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing places a handful of Christmas-themed toys on the treee twigs before the church gate on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing sets up a huge Christmas tree with a miniature of nativity that overlooks a smaller statue of Virgin Mary in its yard on Christmas Day, Dec. 25. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing plans to hold an evening mass on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2013. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

Believers pray before the statue of Jesus Christ in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing on the afternoon of Dec. 25, 2013, the Christmas Day. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

Believers pray before the statue of Virgin Mary in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (colloquially known as the Xuanwumen Church, the South Church, or Nantang) in Beijing on the afternoon of Dec. 25, 2013, the Christmas Day. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

Church of the Saviour (colloquially referred to as Xishiku Church, or Beitang -- the North Cathedral) in Beijing posts a banner that reads "Merry Christmas" written in Chinese characters on the entrance's lintel on Dec. 25, 2013, the Christmas Day. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

Church of the Saviour (colloquially referred to as Xishiku Church, or Beitang -- the North Cathedral) in Beijing posts a huge Christmas tree on Dec. 25, 2013, the Christmas Day. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

Church of the Saviour (colloquially referred to as Xishiku Church, or Beitang -- the North Cathedral) in Beijing is fully decorated with ribbons and banners to commemorate Christmas on Dec. 25, 2013. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The Church of the Saviour (colloquially referred to as Xishiku Church, or Beitang -- the North Cathedral) in Beijing sets up a nativity miniature that features the story of Jesus Christ's birth in a manger in Bethlehem, blessed by the three orient saints. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

A Christian volunteer (L4) recounts the story of nativity to new comers in the Church of the Saviour (colloquially referred to as Xishiku Church, or Beitang -- the North Cathedral) in Beijing on the afternoon of Dec. 25, 2013, the Christmas Day. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)

 

The Gangwashi Protestant Church in Beijing takes on a festival look on Dec. 25, 2013, the Christmas Day. The church was founded by London Missionary Society 1863, making it the oldest Protestant church in Beijing. (Photo by Chen Boyuan / China.org.cn)