[2025 Ningbo Attraction] Travel Guide for Jiangbei Catholic Church (Updated Mar)

Located in Jiangbei District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, Jiangbei Catholic Church is a historic church with significant historical, cultural, and artistic value. Originally built in the 11th year of the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1872) by Bishop Su, a French national from the Zhejiang Diocese, the church saw the addition of a bell tower in the 25th year of the Guangxu reign (1899). The entire structure, comprising the church, bell tower, bishop's office, scripture depository, and ancillary buildings, showcases a typical Gothic architectural style. Catholicism has a history of over 350 years in Ningbo, dating back to the first year of the Chongzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1628), when Portuguese missionaries arrived in Ningbo to preach and teach. The church has undergone several reconstructions and renovations, bearing witness to Ningbo's history as a port city and a center for missionary activities. Jiangbei Catholic Church's architectural style blends Roman Gothic and traditional Chinese elements, serving as a prime example of the fusion of Eastern and Western architecture. Its magnificent bell tower is hailed as the "Pride of Zhejiang." Well-preserved overall, the church holds high artistic value and is recognized as a nationally significant modern building. It is also listed as a key cultural relic protection site in Zhejiang Province and a sixth-batch national key cultural relic protection site.

In Ningbo, I saw two Catholic churches, one with a single tower and the other with two towers, both magnificent and luxurious. It turns out that Ningbo was one of the first port cities to open to foreign trade during the late Qing Dynasty, and it became one of the first places to be evangelized by Christians. The influx of foreign missionaries and merchants facilitated the spread of Catholicism, which gradually developed in Ningbo, leading to the establishment of several churches. The church in Laowaitan (Our Lady of Sorrows Church) is a national key cultural relic protection unit. Built in 1872, it adopts the Gothic architectural style and is also a model of the fusion of Chinese and Western architecture, influenced by traditional Chinese architecture. The Catholic Church on Yaohang Street in Tianyi Square (Assumption of Our Lady Church) was built between 1865 and 1866, with a bell tower added in 1918. Its exterior is modeled after Romanesque and Gothic styles, and its bell tower, at 66 meters high, is currently the tallest church bell tower in China. These Catholic churches are not only places for religious activities but also have important historical and cultural value, witnessing the exchange and integration of Chinese and Western cultures.

Didn’t know Ningbo had a historical Catholic Church. So cool!

Built by Bishop Su of French nationality from the Zhejiang Diocese. In the 25th year of the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1899), a bell tower was added. The entire bell tower (including the piano room), consists of the main hall, the bishop's office, the local parish, as well as bedrooms, dressing rooms, a library, the Hall of the Compassionate Mother, and a printing room. The church bell tower features Gothic style architecture. It is well-preserved.

Sharing the most Instagrammable photography spots in Ningbo. Besides the delicious tangyuan, Ningbo has many fun places to explore~ Before going to Ningbo this time, I made a travel guide in advance and listed the spots I wanted to visit, but I still encountered some mishaps. For instance, I missed two places, and another, the BOC Building, didn't light up even by midnight, which was quite disappointing. However, that's the nature of traveling, it's always changing~ Today, I'll share some photography spots with you all~ These spots, apart from being great for aerial photography, are also fantastic for shooting with a camera or smartphone from the ground. Since I mainly did aerial photography, I couldn't take pictures with a camera at the same time~ I'm missing some camera photos~ - Save these photography spots from the pictures~ Picture Tianfeng Pagoda Picture 2 Ningbo Jiayu Hotel Picture 3 Yaohang Street Cathedral Picture Jiangbei Catholic Church Picture BOC Building Picture Waitan Bridge Picture Waitan Bridge Picture 8 Pearl Shell (Hefeng Creative Plaza) Picture A guide that only I can understand~ Actually, there were two more spots in my guide that I didn't get to photograph. One is the Ningbo Chamber of Commerce International Trade Building in the southern business district, and the other is the Romon U-Park, both located in the same area. Since my trip was for aerial photography, and the southern business district is a no-fly zone, I couldn't photograph these two places. Of course, if you really want to take rooftop photos, you can go to the unfinished building next to the International Trade Building, which has over thirty floors and no elevator. Friends who want to climb can go up there and take photos with a camera. I arrived at Romon in the afternoon, intending to shoot the night scene, but it was pointless to enter the amusement park at that time, so I wasted three hours of travel and a perfect weather opportunity, doing nothing, which was quite sad. But I gained experience, and now I always check the no-fly map before going out, haha. Many places in Ningbo have a height limit of 120 meters, but that's generally enough for flying~

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows on the north bank of the river was built in 1876. It is the highest-level church building in Zhejiang! The church building adopts the form of a single bell tower and its plan is in the shape of a Latin cross. Its distinctive Gothic architectural style can be seen from the stained glass windows, arches and vaults. The internal structure has a pointed roof and stone brackets. The exterior is mainly made of blue bricks, with red bricks used for frames and lines, which proves that it also has Chinese characteristics. It has become an important example of the fusion of Chinese and Western architecture in the early period of existence...Jiangbei Catholic Church

The Ningbo Catholic Church has been recommended as a national-level excellent modern building and has been listed as a key cultural relics protection unit in Zhejiang Province. The Ningbo Jiangbei Catholic Church (originally French-owned) is located north of the Xinjiang Bridge in Ningbo City. It was built in the eleventh year of the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1872). A bell tower was added in the twenty-fifth year of the Guangxu era (1899). The entire building consists of the church, bell tower, and side houses. It features a typical Roman Gothic style and is well-preserved to this day. It holds significant historical, cultural, and artistic value; it is also a historical witness to the French Emperor's invasion of our country.