EIGHT religious leaders were arrested in Henan last month, Christian sources say.
Among them was Peter Xu Yongze, head of the New Birth house church in Zhengzhou. House churches are unofficial religious groups which meet in private homes.
Sources said police detained Xu and seven other church leaders last month when they met an overseas Chinese couple.
They said the couple were held for several days in a hotel before being released.
Xu and the other Christians were still being held early this week, they said.
A prominent house-church leader, Xu commanded strong influence in the Zhengzhou area. Henan Christians are known for evangelism.
Xu was a controversial figure and his followers - said to number millions - were often criticised for their radical teachings.
