St. Joseph's Cathedral (Xikai Cathedral)

　　Officially known as St. Joseph's Cathedral (Xikai Cathedral), it is also called the Old Xikai Church or the French Church. Located on Dushan Road, Binjiang Avenue, Heping District, it faces northeast from the southwest. It was constructed in 1916 under the direction of French missionary Bishop Paul-Marie Dumond. During the Anti-Japanese War, nearly 34 hectares of Chinese land in the Old Xikai area were annexed by the French Concession. The Xikai Church, situated within the French Concession and built by French missionaries, was thus referred to by locals at the time as the French Church. The church covers a construction area of 1,891.95 square meters and has a cruciform layout. Designed in the Romanesque architectural style of France, it stands 45 meters tall, with a construction area of 1,585 square meters and a long cruciform plan. At the front and rear, three emerald-green large domed bell towers rise prominently in a triangular formation. The walls are built from red and yellow patterned bricks, topped with bulbous green spires, and feature semi-circular arched windows beneath the eaves. The interior follows a three-aisle nave design, with richly decorated murals covering the walls.

　　When the Tianjin Diocese of the Catholic Church was first established, the bishop’s residence was located at the Wanghailou Church. Between 1913 and 1916, a bishop’s residence (relocated here from Wanghailou in 1914), along with a seminary, Xikai Church, a church hospital, and the Franco-Chinese School, were built in the Old Xikai area west of the Qiangzi River. The Xikai Church thereby became the center of Catholicism in Tianjin. The main hall features two rows (seven columns each, totaling 14 columns) lining both sides of the entrance and extending to the altar at the far end, forming a three-aisle nave structure. The central nave is supported by tiered compound square column arcades bearing various-sized semi-circular vaults. The large central dome is connected via an octagonal drum to the supporting arches and arcade columns. The lofty central dome and side windows are adorned with stained glass paintings. The interior walls feature elaborate painted murals, luxurious decorations, and a strong sense of religious mystique. Bell towers are built on either side of the church entrance. All three domes are slightly elongated upward, supported by wooden frameworks, and covered with green copper plates, topped with crosses. During the major earthquake of 1976, the bases of the domes on the two front towers suffered severe damage. Renovation began in 1979, was completed in the autumn of 1980, and the church officially reopened to the public with religious activities resumed. Xikai Church is the largest Catholic cathedral in Tianjin and serves as the cathedral church of the Tianjin Diocese. Religious services are held every morning. On Sundays and Catholic holidays, services are held in both the morning and evening. The full name of the Xikai Church is St. Joseph's Cathedral (Xikai Cathedral), located in the eastern section of Xining Road, Heping District. The church covers a construction area of 1,891.95 square meters and has a cruciform layout. The main hall features two rows of 14 columns lining both sides of the entrance and extending to the altar at the bottom, forming a three-aisle nave. The entire building is designed in the Romanesque style. As the largest Catholic cathedral in Tianjin and the cathedral church of the Tianjin Diocese, it was designated as a municipal cultural heritage site in 1991.