Religious site
St. Joseph Cathedral (Tianjin)
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St. Joseph Cathedral, also known as Xikai Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the central commercial district of Tianjin, at the southern end of Binjiang Dao in Heping District. It is the largest Roman Catholic church in Tianjin and a protected historical relic. The building features a giant green copper dome, red and yellow checkered tile walls, and a Romanesque architectural style.
Don't miss
- The giant green copper dome, shaped like the Chinese character 'product', topped with a bronze cross
- Red and yellow checkered tile walls framed with white water masonry
- 14 large columns (two rows of seven) lining the long main hall
- Stained glass side windows with inlay painting and ornate Biblical murals
- A large pipe organ inside the church
- Two separate entrance doors originally meant for men and women
A bit of history
Construction began in August 1913, with each brick shipped from France, and was completed in June 1916. It became the main cathedral for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tianjin. In 1966, Red Guards attacked and destroyed three towers, which were rebuilt in the 1980s. The 1976 Tangshan earthquake damaged the front shock towers; repairs finished in fall 1980. In 1991, it was listed on Tianjin's cultural relics protection list.
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