Touring the Church

As a contrast to the many temples in Beijing the Xishiku Cathedral, usually referred to as Beitang (North Cathedral), located in Xicheng district, stands out as a landmark of the Christian religion. It is the largest and one of the most magnificent catholic churches in Beijing with an impressive architecture and an interesting history. Many China tours offer the opportunity to see different religious sites and to learn about cultural differences. When you're planning to go on some Beijing tours you should consider stopping by for a short visit. It was first built by Jesuits on grounds close to the Forbidden City granted by the emperor of that time. It was completed in 1703, called the 'Savior Church', but in 1827 the new Qing emperor Daoguang ordered its demolition. It wasn't until 1866 that a new cathedral was built only to be relocated 21 years later. Following the request of the emperor, the church was moved to its current location in 1887. Then in 1990, during the anti-imperial and anti-Christian Boxer Uprising, it came under siege but could be protected by a small group of French and Italian marines. They successfully defended the church and the 3000 Chinese Christians holed up inside, seeking shelter from the Boxers. Though the cathedral could be defended it was severely damaged and had to undergo major renovation in the following years. With this history in mind the view when you enter the gate is even more impressive. Following a path lined with trees you walk straight towards the front façade of the cathedral with its white marble doors and window frames and in total eleven smaller towers. When you walk inside it seems a little smaller compared to the majestic outer appearance but has a nice decoration with colorful windows and statues of saints. In front of the church there are two Chinese pavilions, one on either side. It makes the impression as if not only different architectural styles blend in but also the different religious believes found a harmony after hundreds of years of difficulties. To Catholics this church might not be the biggest or most impressive cathedral they have ever seen in their lives. But what makes it special is the location in the center of Beijing with an environment that doesn't seem to match with the architecture. And in contrast to  busy places and crowds of visitors this place has a very quiet and personal atmosphere, leaving room for prayer and consideration. The grounds of the Church are surrounded by walls, so the only way to enter is the gate in the south. It is easy to get there by subway, the closest station is Xisi station (line 4) and from there it's not even a ten minute walk. If you want to see the cultural diversity of the city when you travel to Beijing, the North Cathedral is a great place to visit that doesn't necessarily come to your mind when you think about Asian culture. from China Travel Blog http://blog.chinatraveldepot.com

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