In China 22,104 people were newly baptized on just one Easter.
This is according to the statistics collected by the He Bei Centre for Studies in Faith as of 19 April.
The figures were published by Vatican Radio on the eve of the meeting in the Vatican of the cardinals and bishops of the Commission on China, set up by the Pope in 2007.
Agenda items include training for the laity and preparation for the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Ratzinger for next fall, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Second Vatican Council.
The Catholic community in mainland China counts over 6 million members, and the approximately 22,000 newly baptized equal 0.33% of that number.
In the Diocese of Hong Kong, which counts 360,000 faithful, there were 3,500 baptisms on Easter Day, equivalent to 0.97% of the total.
One significant finding is that, of the 22,104 baptized on Easter from 101 continental dioceses, 75% are adults.
In He Bei province, considered a stronghold of Chinese Catholicism, there were 4,410 new baptisms - 615 more than last year, three-quarters of which were adults.
But some dioceses (such as Shanghai) do not celebrate baptisms exclusively at Easter.