Sacred Heart Cathedral Tours and Activities

In the heart of Guangzhou stands the twin spires of the Gothic Sacred Heart Cathedral, an impressive if incongruous sight in the middle of the shopping district of Haizu Square. When visitors step inside the cathedral, the quiet and peaceful atmosphere they instantly experience has a calming effect after the clamour of the city.The cathedral dates back to the 19th century and stands on the site of the original residence of the Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. The land was eventually ceded to a group of French Catholics who built the cathedral upon it, which was mostly funded by Napoleon III. The granite structure was built by hand and took 25 years to complete. So much granite went into the construction of the walls, pillars and arches that the building is locally known as Shishi, or stone house in Mandarin.The cathedral covers an area of 2750 square metres, and its two massive towers are 59 metres tall. Its façade was based on the Basilica of St. Clotilde in Paris, and the resulting cathedral is one of the largest in China. Two of the highlights are the 98 fantastic stained-glass windows that are decorated with scenes from the Bible: the gargoyles originate from Europe but have a Chinese flavour here. Most of 19th century stained glass was damaged during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, so what you see today is mostly new stained glass that was made by a Philippine company specialising in church glass. There are services held in Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean and English and all are welcome. Be aware though, that visitors are expected to dress modestly, and men and women not dressed appropriately will be given a sheet to wrap around themselves. />Located on the north bank of the Pearl River in Haizu Square, the Sacred Heart Cathedral is easily accessible by bus or subway.