[2025 Shanghai Attraction] Travel Guide for Sheshan Basilica (Updated Mar)

Sheshan Catholic Church, also known as the Church of Our Lady of Sheshan, is located on the top of Xishe Mountain in Sheshan National Forest Park. From a distance, the church on the top of the mountain is connected with the mountain as a whole. The red brick wall is in obvious contrast with the green mountain forest, which is dignified and majestic. The whole church is long in the south and short in the north, wide in the east and narrow in the west. It is a classic asymmetric building. Sheshan Catholic Church often has many newcomers here to hold weddings. Even if you are not a believer, you can enter and experience the sacred and solemn religious atmosphere. But please respect religious beliefs and do not take pictures in the church. This church is a European Baroque style building, but also combines various other architectural techniques, such as Romanesque vaults and corridors, Greek style colonnades, Gothic style spires, Israeli style olive-shaped bell towers, Spanish style The small dome at the east end has Chinese-style clear water walls, bucket corner floor tiles, and glazed tiles. At the same time, the building also adopts a structure without wood, nails, steel and beams, which can be called an architectural classic. Stepping into the church, you can see that two rows of tall and straight columns support the olive-shaped dome, neat benches are placed in the venue, the windows of the hall are inlaid with colorful glass, and the front of the hall is a large altar made of marble inlaid with gold and jade. The altar and the hall are separated by low white marble railings, and the floor is covered with flower tiles. Eight bells are arranged on the bell tower according to certain notes. The spire is 38 meters high. There is also a statue of the Virgin made of copper on the bell tower. The church was founded by French missionaries in 1871 and completed in 1935. The Pope of Rome designated the church as a basilica in 1942. Tens of thousands of people from all over come here for pilgrimage every year on the "Mother Month" in May and the "Christmas" in December. From the foot of the mountain to the top of the mountain, there are 14 pavilions of the Crucible, each pavilion has a crucifixion relief, 3 holy pavilions and the Church of Our Lady of Zhongshan halfway up the mountain. When the faithful go to Sheshan for pilgrimage, they must follow the twists and turns. The road of suffering goes up step by step.