Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Shamian Our Lady of Lourdes Church is a small Catholic church located on Shamian Island in downtown Guangzhou, China. Built in 1889 within the 60-acre area of the former French Concession in Guangzhou, it served the expatriate community. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, and its entrance features a Gothic Revival style.

The Shamian Our Lady of Lourdes Church is located at No. 22 Tongren Road, Shamian, Guangzhou (now No. 14 Shamian Avenue). Originally established in the 16th year of the Guangxu reign (1890) for French consulate staff and local Catholic faithful to practice their religion, it covers an area of 839.75 square meters. It derives its name from the Our Lady of Lourdes statue housed on a grotto-like hill in the church garden to the south.

In November 1996, the Shamian architectural complex was designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit by the State Council, and this church is one of the structures within it. Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the parish priest was usually a foreign missionary, with few Chinese priests serving here. On the eve of the founding, Father Chen Huimin, a Chinese priest, served as the parish priest.

After 1951, Father Lin Bingliang became the parish priest. Religious activities were suspended during the Cultural Revolution. On December 8, 1982, the church reopened after renovation, with Father Liu Lingsi serving as the parish priest.

National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit

Era: Established in the 16th year of the Guangxu reign (1890)

Service Times: Daily starting at 7:00 AM

Transportation: Take bus routes 1, 9, Guangfo Intercity Bus 19, 25, Night 26, Night 37, 57, 64, 75, 81, 105, 123, 181, 188, 208, 209, 217, 219, 236, 270, 281, 297, 530, 538, 552, 556, or Foshan Special Line 2218 to Liuer San Road Station, then cross the overpass to reach the church.

Attraction Location

No. 14 Shamian Avenue, Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province

Shamian Subdistrict: Shamian Subdistrict is a subdistrict under Liwan District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The administrative area it governs is a small artificial island on the Pearl River, known as Shamian Island, or simply Shamian. Located opposite Liuer San Road, it sits to the north of Bai’etan and faces the mainland of Guangzhou across Shaji Channel, covering an area of about 0.3 square kilometers. It currently hosts consulates of two countries in Guangzhou and is a hub for foreign residents in the city. Shamian Subdistrict administers two communities: Cuizhou and Etan. The subdistrict office is located at No. 8 Shamian Avenue.

History: Historically, Shamian Island was once a... More details about Shamian Subdistrict++