YUNGPING, DIOCESE of. - In the north-eastern part of the province of Hopeh (northern China).
It was erected, under the name of Eastern Celi, on 23 Dec. 1899, by division of the apostolic vicariate of Northern Celi (or Peking), and entrusted, like the mother mission, to the Lazarists of the Dutch province. On 3 Dec. 1924 it received its present name of Y., and on 11 Apr. 1946 it was raised to the rank of a diocese suffragan to Peking.
Area approximately 42,000 sq. km., with approximately 4 million inhabitants, of whom 35,405 are Catholics; priests 43 (20 Chinese); sisters 47 (43 Chinese); 1 hospital, 3 dispensaries, 3 orphanages, 5 schools (30 June 1947).
The evangelization of Y. dates back to approximately 1670, but persecutions prevented the stable formation of Christian communities; only later were the scattered faithful sought out and gathered together by the missionaries of Peking. At the time of its erection, Y. had 3,200 Catholics.