 China 's constitution guarantees freedom of religion , yet also provides a caveat specifying that only " normal " religious activities are permitted . In practice , religious freedom is granted only within the strictly prescribed parameters of the five officially sanctioned " patriotic " religious associations of Buddhism , Taoism , Islam , Protestantism and Catholicism . Groups falling outside the state @-@ administered religions , including " underground " or " house church " Christians , are subject to varying degrees of repression and persecution . 
