Xishiku Church

Xishiku Church

Xishiku Church is a cultural relic protection unit of Beijing.

The original site of Xishiku Church was by the lake of Zhongnanhai at Canchikou (now opposite the old Beijing Library), where it was first opened in 1703. It long served as the cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Beijing and is one of the largest and oldest churches in Beijing today. In 1984, Xishiku Church was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit of Beijing Municipality; in June 2006, it was included in the sixth batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level.

Xishiku Church, also known as the North Church, is located at No. 33 Xishiku Street. Built in the early Qing Dynasty, it was then called the “Church of the Savior.” Originally situated by the lake of Zhongnanhai at Canchikou (now opposite the old Beijing Library), it was first opened in 1703. In 1887, due to the expansion of Zhongnanhai, the church was demolished. Later, the Qing government allocated 450,000 taels of silver to rebuild it at Xishiku inside Xianmen. The church was further heightened during renovations in 1900.

Xishiku Church

The main floor became the solemn and beautiful North Church we see today. The North Church is a typical example of Gothic architecture. It was originally built by French Jesuit missionaries in 1693 (the 32nd year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty) at Canchikou inside Xianmen and completed in 1703. After the death of Emperor Kangxi, Emperor Yongzheng issued a ban on Christianity, and the church was abandoned until the Daoguang era. In 1872, it was confiscated and demolished by the Qing government. In 1860, after the invasion of Beijing by the Anglo-French Allied Forces, the Qing government returned the land to the church, and the new church was completed in 1866. In 1885, when Empress Dowager Cixi expanded the Western Gardens, the church was relocated to its current site in 1887 and completed in 1900. In 1985, national funds were allocated for renovation, restoring normal religious activities.

Its four tall spires, three pointed arch entrances, and the circular rose window in the center of the main nave create a dignified yet exquisite façade, which appears even more strikingly white and upright amidst the surrounding green pines and cypresses. The church’s floor plan is cross-shaped, covering a construction area of about 2,200 square meters, with a height of 16.5 meters and bell tower spires reaching approximately 31 meters. On either side of the façade stand traditional Chinese pavilions with yellow glazed tile roofs and four-tiered hip-and-gable roofs, each housing a stone stele inscribed with calligraphy personally written by Emperor Qianlong. The combination of Chinese and Western styles, with one high and one low, creates a wonderfully harmonious contrast. The statues of saints on either side of the main entrance are unique among all churches in Beijing.

The church’s interior features 300 massive pillars supporting a golden vaulted ceiling and 80 stained glass windows, often evoking comparisons to Notre-Dame de Paris. The overall architectural style blends Chinese and Western elements. In 1985, during the renovation of the North Church, the central altar of Jesus at the front of the nave and the altars of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph on the east and west sides were restored. The reopening ceremony was held on December 24, 1985. Xishiku Church became one of the most magnificent churches in Beijing.

Attraction Location

No. 33 Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

Further Reading:

· Third Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Relic Protection Units in Beijing

· Sixth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level