TUNGCHOW, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE of. - In the centre of the province of Shensi (northern China).
It was erected as a mission sui iuris on 3 Nov. 1931, with 12 civil sub-prefectures taken ASIA (v.); on 8 Apr. 1935 it was raised to the status of apostolic prefecture and, as such, depends directly on the Holy See. From the outset it was entrusted to the Order of Friars Minor, which sends there, for missionary work, Italian religious from the regular province of St. James in the Marche.
Over an area of approximately 17,000 sq. km, it had, on 30 June 1950, approximately 1,370,000 inhabitants, of whom 6,650 were Catholics; 19 priests, including 7 indigenous priests, 9 nuns, all Chinese, 8 schools, and 6 charitable and welfare institutions.
Old Christian communities dating back two centuries are found in the sub-prefectures of Weinan, Pucheng, and Paishui, composed of faithful who had immigrated from Shantung. At the time of the erection of the mission, the city of T. had only 3 Christians. The greatest development occurred during the first five years of its independent existence, during which it was possible to work with relative tranquillity.