Xiashan Catholic Church

　　Introduction       Xiashan Catholic Church is situated on Lüyin Road in Xiashan. Also known as the Verdier Catholic Church, it stands tall and solemn, surrounded by lush flowers and trees. It is the only Gothic-style church in the city and one of the key churches in China. The front wall of the main building extends 20 meters outward to Lüyin Road; the back wall extends 6.8 meters to the enclosing wall; the left wall extends 6.1 meters to the enclosing wall; the right wall extends 23 meters to a bungalow. The total area is 2,607.66 square meters. The construction control zone: extending 20 meters outward from the protection boundary line on the left, right, and rear sides, and ending at Lüyin Road in the front.

　　    After the French invasion of Zhanjiang, Catholicism was introduced along with it. In 1900, during his tenure overseeing religious affairs in Zhanjiang, French priest Father Fan Lan proposed the construction of the church. It was funded and completed by the church in 1903. The structure is made of brick, stone, and reinforced concrete, featuring twin spired stone towers. With a floor area of about 600 square meters, the nave can accommodate nearly a thousand people, making it the largest Gothic-style church in South China at the time. It was listed as a municipal-level key cultural relics protection unit in 1991.

　　 Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province