Jiaxing Catholic Church

Jiaxing Catholic Church

Jiaxing Catholic Church is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Jiaxing Catholic Church was built by Italian priest Father Han Rilu and took thirteen years to complete. The church is a modern imitation of Gothic architecture, featuring a cruciform layout with two bell towers on the main façade. Although the façade decoration primarily uses pointed arches, these have been simplified to suit modern materials and construction techniques. The church is built with a brick-and-concrete structure, and although the exterior features plain cement plastering, its imitation of Western-style capitals and pointed arches is extremely precise, demonstrating the exceptional craftsmanship.

The establishment of Jiaxing Catholic Church is an example of the increasing Westernization in culture, religion, and various other aspects of Chinese society in the modern era. Its display of modern building materials and construction techniques holds significant importance for the study of modern architectural development in China.

Further Reading:

· Fifth Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units