Gothic church hidden gem tops the list of 100 historic buildings

By MOOK Traveler Christopher, compiled and reported

Taiwan is filled with various foreign elements, adding diversity and beauty to its culture. Hidden within the ancient streets of Qishan in Kaohsiung is an elegant and magnificent mock-Gothic structure — St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, built in 1959 by Father Tai Gangde of the Catholic Dominican Order, who commissioned an Italian architect to design it for missionary purposes.

The church has three floors, with a towering gable front, rendered in gray washed stone to present simplicity and elegance. Above the main façade is a statue of Jesus, flanked by two symmetrical tall towers. It features round arch windows and rose window reliefs, with intricate and varied gables and arcades interwoven to showcase exquisite craftsmanship. The sides are lined with continuous pointed arch windows to create a soaring visual effect.

The church’s altar features magnificent, lifelike murals depicting stories of God and saints, complemented by the lofty wooden beam structure, adding a sacred and ethereal atmosphere to the religious hall. The classical elegance of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church won first place in then-Kaohsiung County and 21st place nationwide in the 2001 “100 Historic Buildings in Taiwan” competition organized by the Council for Cultural Affairs, making it a must-see for travelers who appreciate historic architecture.