Rongchang Catholic Church

Rongchang Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is a house of worship full of European religious architectural artistry. It was constructed under the supervision of French Fathers Mo and Dong in 1913 and completed in 1915. Located in the county seat of Rongchang, the church stands 50 meters tall and covers an area of over 4,700 square meters. It is currently the tallest and best-preserved Catholic church in Southwest China. A spiral staircase winds up five levels to the bell tower, which soars 80 meters high. From the top, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the town’s streets and alleys. The church features Chongqing’s largest self-winding clock, imported from France, with a two-meter diameter — the century-old timepiece has kept accurate time for the entire city, its chimes audible for miles. In the church courtyard, there are five precious century-old ginkgo trees and two Alsophila spinulosa trees, providing a shaded, lush green space.