Xujiahui Cathedral, a gem of historical architecture!

📍Address: Xujiahui Source, Xuhui District 🕰Business hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-16:00, closed on Monday and Sunday Visiting the Xujiahui Cathedral located in Xujiahui Source in person is simply stunning! The eye-catching appearance of the church makes it easy to find. This is the former residence of the Ming Dynasty scientist Xu Guangqi's family, where two rivers converge to form Xujiahui. Coming out of the subway station, you might be a bit dizzy from the surrounding skyscrapers, but the spires of the church immediately make you feel its presence. The two spires of the cathedral reach into the sky, typical Gothic architecture, which seems a bit out of place with the skyscrapers behind. But its historical value fills people with awe. The cathedral has strict religious etiquette. When visiting, be sure to pay attention to your dress. Don't wear shorts, skirts, off-shoulder or belly-baring outfits, otherwise you won't be allowed in. 👀 The service here is very humanized, the volunteers at the door will remind you that you can take pictures, but don't use flash. Really very considerate! The most worth seeing in the church are the rose window and the stained glass. These stained glasses usually depict a Bible story. If you have time to watch carefully here, it is also an interesting thing, you can learn more about Western religion. The rose window is also a symbol of Gothic architecture, named for the round glass windows on the wall that resemble roses. The day of the visit was a sunny day, and the sunlight through these huge stained glass windows left beautiful shadows in the hall, which was really beautiful. Xujiahui Cathedral was built in the early last century. At that time, the French concession had the largest area and the best development in Shanghai. Many of the existing historical and cultural blocks in Shanghai are located in the French concession at that time. This church is a Catholic church, built by French missionaries, because Catholicism occupies a dominant position in France, and the church worships the image of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. Coming here is not just a visit, but also a historical exploration and a spiritual baptism. I hope everyone can feel the weight of history and the solemnity of religion. 🙏