As in most parts of PRC, most residents are non-religious or atheists. Some claim that around 80% of Wenzhou residents who are religious are Buddhist, with numerous Buddhist temples scattered over the landscape. But recently there has been a rapid growth of Christian community, one source claims that between 15 and 20% of the city's population is Christian. These numbers are further incompatible due to local family churches now saying 30% of the population is

Christian. Before the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, there were 70,000 Christians in Wenzhou, representing 1/10 of the Christian population of China. There is no question that there are a number of religious families in the cities. Due to the ambitious Wenzhou business people, English is in high demand and some house churches are now offering English services and Bible studies.

Between late 2000 and early 2002 the government began destroying or closing churches and temples. This affected Christians, Buddhists and Taoists.