Villagers prepare for a performance on the Christmas Eve outside a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, China December 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A villager stands near a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A man cleans the carpet at a Catholic church ahead of the Christmas Eve on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers dance during a rehearsal before performing on the Christmas Eve, outside of a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A cross is seen behind a poster with the logo of Communist Party of China (CPC) near a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A villager walks near a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





72-year-old villager Zha Shuzhen prays at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A villager prepares for a performance on the Christmas Eve outside of a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers dance during a rehearsal befor performing on the Christmas Eve, outside of a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 23, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





74-year-old villager Wu Chongqing and his wife Zha Shuzhen, 72, drive to a Catholic church for a Christmas eve mass on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers walk at a square to pray, on the top of a hill, near a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A villager walks through a Catholic church's building to pray, on the top of a hill, near a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





People visit a square to pray, on the top of a hill, near a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





An elderly villager reads the Bible ahead of a Christmas eve mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A 5-year-old boy plays during a Christmas eve mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers dance to celebrate the Christmas Eve outside a catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers attend a Christmas eve mass at a Catholic church after midnight on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers pray during a Christmas eve mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A villager climbs up the steps toward a cross near a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A villager holding her son attends a Christmas mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 25, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers attend a praying ceremony on the Christmas Eve at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





Villagers attend a praying ceremony on the Christmas Eve outside a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A girl takes a nap during a Christmas eve mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)





A villager checks her coat before she leaves for a Christmas mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China's Shanxi province, December 25, 2016. (Photo by Jason Lee/Reuters)