It was erected as a mission *sui iuris* on 3 November 1931 with 12 civil sub-prefectures of the apostolic vicariate of Sian (q.v.); on 8 April 1935 it was raised to the status of an apostolic prefecture and as such depends directly on the Holy See. From the beginning it was entrusted to the Order of Friars Minor, who, for missionary work, send Italian religious of the regular province of St James in the Marches.
Over an area of approximately 17,000 sq km, it had, as of 30 June 1950, approximately 1,370,000 inhabitants, of whom 6,650 were Catholics; 19 priests, of whom 7 were indigenous, 9 sisters, all Chinese, 8 schools and 6 institutions of charity and benevolence.
Old Christian communities dating back two centuries are found in the sub-prefectures of Weinan, Pucheng and Paishui, formed by faithful who had migrated from Shantung. The city of T. at the time of the erection of the mission had only 3 Christians. The greatest development occurred in the first five years of its independent existence, during which it was possible to work fairly peacefully.