Xuan Yi Rose Church

Xuan Yi Rose Church

Xuan Yi Rose Church is a Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Unit.

Situated in Huodi Gou, Huohua Community, Shaping Town, Lingang District, Yibin City, Xuan Yi Rose Church, also referred to as Rose Academy, stands as a testament to a distinctive historical era and ranks among the largest churches in southern Sichuan. In February 2011, it was listed in the fourth batch of Yibin Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units.

Constructed in the second year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1876 AD), it served as a comprehensive seminary for training Catholic priests in the southern Sichuan diocese. Xuan Yi Rose Church is a rare example of Sino-Western architectural fusion among the historic buildings that reflect Yibin’s modern history and the region’s heritage. The entire structure exhibits meticulous design, blending Chinese and Western architectural elements, and remains largely well-preserved. Having withstood over 130 years of history, the church has aged considerably. Originally built in 1876, the Rose Academy ceased all religious activities in the early 1950s when foreign missionaries gradually returned to their home countries. As one of the largest churches in southern Sichuan, this architectural complex showcases a distinctive blend of Chinese and Western styles—this is Xuan Yi Rose Church, also known as Rose Academy. In February 2011, it was included in the fourth batch of Yibin Municipal Cultural Heritage Protection Units; in July 2012, it was listed among the eighth batch of Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units announced by the Sichuan Provincial Government.

Protection boundary: 10 meters beyond the site’s actual footprint.

Construction control zone: 30 meters beyond the protection boundary.

Further reading:

· Eighth Batch of Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units