Xuanwumen Church

Also known as South Cathedral, Xuanwumen Church was originally built in 1605 (the 33rd year of the Wanli Emperor's reign in the Ming Dynasty). The first small chapel on this site was established in 1605 by the Italian missionary, Father Matteo Ricci. Later, in 1650 (the seventh year of the Shunzhi Emperor's reign in the Qing Dynasty), the German Jesuit priest, Father Johann Adam Schall von Bell, built the first large cathedral within the city of Beijing. The South Cathedral covers an area of 1,300 square meters, with an additional 400 square meters of annex buildings. South Cathedral is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Beijing, boasting a rich history. Xuanwumen Church consists of three courtyards. The main gate, built in a traditional Chinese style, occupies the first courtyard. The main church building is located in the eastern wing of the second courtyard, while the western wing houses living quarters. The South Cathedral faces south and features gray brick walls. The exterior, in the Baroque style, is divided vertically into three sections by four brick pillars. The ground floor has three entrances, the second floor has three arched windows, and the top of the pillars features horizontal cornices made of brick, with a gabled roof decorated with volutes and a central floral wreath in brick relief. The doors and windows are decorated with protruding brick carvings of flowers and leaves. The main hall is rectangular, with two rows of wooden pillars dividing it into a nave and aisles. The pillars are decorated with imitation marble paint, and the ceiling is an imitation marble vault. The roof structure is made of wooden trusses covered with gray tiles. A domed bell tower is located at the rear of the main hall. To the west, a row of single-story buildings with a porch serves as office space. The South Cathedral is a typical Romanesque building, with its facade built of gray brick and decorated with exquisite large brick carvings. The roof features arched vaults, and the windows are inlaid with stained glass depicting biblical stories. Beyond its religious function, the South Cathedral stands as a significant testament to cultural exchange between China and the West. It was here that Matteo Ricci initiated a trend among late Ming Dynasty scholars to study Western learning, introducing advanced scientific knowledge and philosophical thought. The history of the South Cathedral is closely intertwined with renowned missionaries like Matteo Ricci and Johann Adam Schall von Bell, figures who left a profound impact on Chinese history. On November 20, 1996, the South Cathedral was designated as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Site by the State Council. Address: 141 Qianmen West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing