[2025 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Beijing Xuanwumen Church (Updated Mar)

Beijing | Another Spring Scene in the Capital Xuanwumen Church is located at No. 141, West Qianmen Avenue. With its back to the south, it is also known as "South Church". This church is said to have been the first in the city.

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

1️⃣Xidan New Culture Street The history of New Culture Street can be traced back to the Ming Dynasty, and it has a history of more than 580 years. The buildings and courtyards on both sides of the street are of high historical value. For example, the Prince Keqin's Mansion was one of the "Eight Iron-hat Princes" in the early Qing Dynasty. It was once the residence of Yuetuo, the eldest son of Daishan, Prince Lilie, the eldest grandson of Nurhaci, the founding emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Today, Prince Keqin's Mansion is relatively well preserved, with an imposing gate and relatively intact buildings inside. In addition, Xinwenhua Street was once the location of Lu Xun Middle School, where Mr. Lu Xun once taught. Free attractions ▶️Just walk south along Xuanwumen Inner Street 2️⃣Fanxing Theater Village, Fanxing Theater Village is a cluster theater located on Xuanwumen Inner Street in Beijing. Watch a play... 3️⃣The South Church of Xuanwumen Catholic Church in Beijing Diocese is the oldest Catholic church in Beijing. It was first built in the 33rd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1605). In 1605, the 33rd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, Father Matteo Ricci built the first scripture hall there, but it was very small. Later, in 1650, the German Jesuit Father Johann Adam Schall von Bell built the first cathedral in Beijing. Free Attractions

📍Address: Xuanwumen Church is located at No. 141, Qianmen West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing. 🚗Transportation: Shared bikes are convenient. 👍️Must-visit attraction: The South Church, also known as Xuanwumen Church, is the oldest Catholic church in Beijing. It was first built in 1605, when the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci presided over the construction of a small chapel in Xuanwumen. Five years later, a small chapel was added, named "Catholic Church." On the west side of the church is the priest's house, which was built during the reign of Emperor Chongzhen of the Ming Dynasty. It was originally the Western Calendar Bureau, which was built in 1622. In 1650, the South Church was rebuilt by the Jesuit missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell, who was in charge of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau at that time. In 1900, the South Church was destroyed again during the Boxer Rebellion, and was rebuilt in 1904. 🎟️Tickets: No reservation or ticket is required.

❤️ You can only see the beautiful and romantic Christmas tree at this time of year. The church looks even more beautiful in the strong Christmas atmosphere. ⛪ The opening hours of the church are not very clear. I read that you can enter before 8 pm. I went in at 7:30 pm on a weekday. My friend arrived at 7:50 pm and found the door closed. We called and asked them to open the door from the inside, so I'm not sure about the exact opening hours. 💡 There are many word card lights in the courtyard, which are very beautiful. There are also some goods for sale. The shop is not big. The fridge magnet is CNY 20, which is quite suitable. I bought a fridge magnet of the church. 🎄 The Christmas tree is very beautiful. You can take a photo with the church in the same frame. There are not many people, and the photos are very beautiful. --------------Practical Information--------------- 🍭 Name: Beijing Xuanwumen Catholic Church 📍 Address: No. 141, Qianmen West Street, Xicheng District, Beijing (northeast corner of Xuanwumen intersection)

Yesterday, I strolled past Xuanwumen⛪️, Sometimes it’s just such a coincidence☺️, the Christmas tree🎄 was lit up This time I really don’t have to go to the crowded Xizhimen⛪️ ‼ ️There will be a 🆓Christmas concert at the South Hall at 19:00 on December 15th‼ ️ . Although it was Sunday, there were not many people, and there was a mass. In addition to the strong atmosphere of the whole courtyard, ❤️Blues time takes super big photos 🎄 and the church ❤️The poetry hanging lights in the courtyard are set against the church, 👸a dreamy feeling ❤️As soon as you come in, there are holy objects, refrigerator magnets, etc. on the left ❤️Across from the church 🎄 is Matteo Ricci Coffee House, which is also decorated for Christmas ❤️The dome inside the church and the colorful artistic windows on both sides 🪟 are very photogenic . 📌Tips: 🚇: Exit B of Xuanwumen on Line 2⃣, and you will see it when you get out of the subway ⛪️ ⏰️: Mass time Saturday 18:30 Sunday 10:00 pm 17:00 There is no visiting time for the South Church. If you want to come, you can come around the mass time

📍Attraction address: No. 141, Qianmen Street, Xicheng District, Beijing 🚗Attraction transportation: Shared bikes are convenient 👍️Must-see attraction: South Cathedral, also known as Xuanwumen Church, was first built in the 33rd year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1605). In the 33rd year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1605), Father Matteo Ricci built the first church here, but it was very small. Later, Father Johann Adam Schall von Bell, a German Jesuit, built the first cathedral in Beijing in the 7th year of the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty (1650). The South Cathedral has a building area of about 1,300 square meters, and the affiliated buildings are about 400 square meters. The South Cathedral is the oldest Catholic church in Beijing. On November 20, 1996, the South Cathedral was announced by the State Council as the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. 🎟️Ticket information: No reservation required, free admission

Beijing South Church - "The Oldest Catholic Church in China" is located on Xuanwumen Inner Street, Beijing. It was founded by the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci during the reign of Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty (1573-1619). At that time, it was a small church called "Xuanwumen Catholic Church" or "Church of the Immaculate Conception," built inside the Shoushan Academy. It is the oldest Catholic church in China. It finally opened this year, with a lighting ceremony on December 7. There were many people at the event, according to the official account.

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Chinese: 圣母无染原罪堂), colloquially known as the Xuanwumen church or Nantang (Chinese: 南堂; lit. 'the South Church') to the locals, is a historic Catholic church located in the Beijing, China, Xicheng District. While the original foundation of the cathedral was in 1605, making it the oldest Catholic church in Beijing, the current building in Baroque style dates from 1904.

Beijing. South Church, also known as Xuanwumen Catholic Church, was built in the 33rd year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1605). In the 33rd year of the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty (1605), Father Matteo Ricci built the first church here, but it was very small. Later, Father Johann Adam Schall von Bell of the German Jesuits built the first cathedral in Beijing in the 7th year of the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty (1650) with the land and silver granted by the emperor.

"Xuanwumen Cathedral" is located at No. 141 West Street, Qianmen, Beijing. It is commonly known as the South Cathedral because it is located in the southern part of the city. It was originally built as a chapel in the thirty-third year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1605) and became the first large cathedral in Beijing in the seventh year of the Shunzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (1650). The cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, with the current structure being a remnant of the reconstruction in the thirtieth year of the Guangxu era (1904). The South Cathedral faces south from the north and is a typical example of Romanesque architectural style. Its facade is built of clear bricks and decorated with exquisite sculptures, and its doors and windows are inlaid with stained glass depicting religious stories. Xuanwumen Cathedral is also the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Beijing.