Christianity is a minority in the Chinese province of Sichuan (formerly romanized as Szechwan or Szechuan; also referred to as "West China" or "Western China"). Eastern Lipo, Kadu people and A-Hmao are ethnic groups present in the province. History East Syriac Christianity A presence of the East Syriac Christianity can be confirmed in Chengdu during the Tang dynasty (618–907), and two monasteries have been located in Chengdu and Mount Emei. A report by the Tang-dynasty writer Li Deyu included in the states that a certain Daqin cleric proficient in optometry was present in the Chengdu area. According to the Southern Song essay collection, by Wu Zeng, during the Tang dynasty, Persian missionaries built a (East Syriac Christian church) into the existing ruins of the former Castle of Seven Treasures () at Chengdu, which was constructed by ancient Shu kings of the , with pearl curtains installed as decorative applications. It was later destroyed by the Great Fire of during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (141 BC – 87 BC). The temple consisted of a gatehouse, halls and towers, just like the former castle, its doors were decorated with curtains made of gold, pearls and green jasper, hence known as the 'Pearl Temple' (, formerly written as , 'Pearl House' or 'Pearl Tower'). The name Bakos, of a priest from Chongqing, is recorded on the left side, second row, at the very top of the "Nestorian" Xi'an Stele. A pilgrim cross and several crosses of Syrian design were identified by a Syriac Orthodox priest Dale Albert Johnson in Ciqikou, Chongqing, dated to the 9th century. The pilgrim cross embedded in a stone on Ciqikou street has a simple style as the type carved by pilgrims and travelers. Of the Syrian-designed crosses, one was found on the same street as the pilgrim cross, is fundamentally identical to crosses found in Aleppo, Syria. The icon consists of a cross within a circle touching eight points. Two points on each end of the four ends of the cross touch the inner arch of the circle. Each arm of the cross is narrower near the middle than at the ends. The center of the cross draws to a circle at the center. The rest are crosses within Bodhi leaves carved on a round granite stone base sitting in front of a curio shop on a side street in Ciqikou. According to Johnson, crosses