Wangfujing Catholic Church

　　Wangfujing Church is also known as Dongtang, also called St. Joseph’s Church or Bamiancao Church. This church was the second one built by Jesuits in Beijing after Xuanwumen Catholic Church. It is located at No. 74 Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing, and is one of the four major Catholic churches in Beijing.

　　Wangfujing Church was founded by two missionaries: the Italian Ludovico Buglio and the Portuguese João da Rocha. In the late Ming Dynasty, these two missionaries were preaching in Sichuan. In the early Qing Dynasty, they were captured by Qing soldiers and brought to Beijing, where they served at the Prince Su’s Mansion. In the 12th year of the Shunzhi reign, the Kangxi Emperor granted them a residence and a piece of vacant land, where they built today’s Wangfujing Catholic Church.

　　The church faces west and is oriented eastward, with the main Catholic hall in the center. The roof of the hall features three crosses—the central one large, and the two side ones smaller. Inside the hall hang several oil paintings depicting the Passion of Christ. Classrooms are located to the south and west of the church, while to the east there is a courtyard that includes flower beds, bungalows, and buildings that serve as the priests’ residences.

　　The church’s gray European-style spire exudes an ancient and mysterious aura. Against the backdrop of the surrounding modern architecture, Wangfujing Church has become a new highlight on this bustling street. The entire church square is raised over one meter above ground level, giving it a distinctive appearance. This Romanesque-style church is a fine example of the fusion of Chinese and Western architectural styles.

　　Source: Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development