Religious Street

　　  Catholicism was introduced to Yuanling in the 27th year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1901). The church was established by the Spanish Augustinian mission of the Yuanling Catholic Church, with 931 male and female parishioners. In 1925, the Yuanling Diocese was placed under the care of the American Vincentians. The diocese oversaw branch churches in Chenxi, Pushi, Zhijiang, Xupu, Longtan, Gao Village, Fenghuang, Wangcun, Yongshou, Huayuan, Anjiang, Baojing, Wo Stream, and Liulincha. At its peak, the number of parishioners reached 1,410. In 1950, the Yuanling Catholic Church was formally established. In 1952, six American missionaries including Weng Mingde, O'Connell, and Wu Pingyu were expelled for engaging in espionage, and the remaining missionaries returned to their home countries.

　　  Islam was introduced to Yuanling in the late Ming Dynasty. The mosque was built in the 8th year of the Jiaqing reign during the Qing Dynasty (1803). Currently, there are only about 30 Hui and Uyghur households, totaling over 120 residents, in Yuanling.

　　  Christianity was introduced to Yuanling in the 25th year of the Guangxu reign (1899). In the 33rd year of Guangxu, the American Revival Society used the indemnity from the "Chenzhou Missionary Case" paid by the Qing government to build the Eternal Life Church and began formal missionary work. Branch churches and preaching centers were later established in Huayuan, Chadong, Baojing, Guzhang, Qiancheng, Suoli, and within the county at Madiyi and Liangshuijing. There were more than 20 foreign missionaries and up to 1,184 parishioners.

　　  The White (Ziyuan) Temple was originally built during the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty and was formerly known as Yunqi Nunnery. The temple currently houses nearly 600 Buddha statues, three monks, and twelve ordained disciples. On the first and fifteenth days of each lunar month, worshippers flock to the temple in an endless stream.

　　  Although the four religious groups on Malu Lane have different beliefs and doctrines, they coexist peacefully as neighbors in the same lane, each promoting their respective teachings, making it a truly unique Religious Street.