Xiashan Catholic Church

Xiashan Catholic Church is the only Gothic church in Zhanjiang and one of the key churches in China. In 1900, the church was proposed by French priest van LAN and built in 1903. It was the largest Gothic church in South China at that time.

The church has a characteristic plant which has been more than 100 years old. The fork leaf tree (also known as the cross tree) has become a popular landscape. The shape of each leaf is similar to the cross shaped frame hung by Christians on the chest. The flowers and fruits grow directly on the trunk or branches. The flowers are purple, and the shape is like a goblet. The color is gorgeous and very strange.

The Catholic Church of Vidor

synonym

Xiashan Catholic Church generally refers to Victoria Catholic Church

Vidor Catholic Church is also called Xiashan Catholic Church

In the late Qing Dynasty, after the French imperialists invaded Guangzhou Bay (today's Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province), Catholicism came with them. In 1900, when French priests were in charge of academic affairs in Zhanjiang, they proposed to build the church, which was funded by the church in 1903.

address

Widor Catholic Church is located at 85 Lvyin Road, Xiashan District, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, also known as Xiashan Catholic Church. It is towering, solemn, surrounded by flowers and trees. It is the only Gothic church in Zhanjiang and one of the key churches in China.

Historical summary

Zhanjiang, with a long history, is the largest city in western Guangdong. Because it is close to the sea, it was ruled by western countries in modern times.

In 1899, Zhanjiang City was "leased" by France. At that time, it was called "Guangzhou Bay". Foreign trade flourished for a time. In 1943, Guangzhou Bay was occupied by Japanese army. After the victory of the Anti Japanese war in 1945, Guangzhou Bay returned to China and was named "Zhanjiang" since then.

Evolution history

After the French imperialists invaded Guangzhou Bay (today's Zhanjiang City), Catholicism came with them. In 1900, when French priests were in charge of academic affairs in Zhanjiang, they proposed to build the church, which was funded by the church in 1903. The church was built in the French leasehold of Guangzhou Bay under the leadership of the Vatican. It was under the jurisdiction of Beihai Church in 1925.

During the cultural revolution, the church was seriously damaged. After the cultural revolution, the church was recovered for repair, and the restoration ceremony was held on December 20, 1984. In 1990, the Catholic area of Zhanjiang was officially established with approval. As the Episcopal Church, the church became the missionary center of the Catholic Church in Zhanjiang.

Now it belongs to the management of the Catholic Church in Zhanjiang, and uses its original function to provide places for Catholics! Architectural features

Architectural features

The church is of brick and stone reinforced concrete structure, double pointed stone tower, and the hall can accommodate thousands of people. It was the largest Gothic church in South China at that time.

The Catholic Church is located at No. 85, greenway, today's Xiashan. Gothic style, sitting West to East, masonry, steel bar and soil mixed structure, wall imitation stone, similar to the stone chamber church. The foundation was laid in 1900 and completed in 1903, with a construction area of 985 square meters. It is a double peaked tower building, with 61 square meters of open space in front and square pillars and iron branches as fences.

Behind is the garden, the front of the building is a pair of towering double pointed stone towers, high refers to the sky.

Inside the church is an arched dome with intersecting pointed ribs. The granite lattices on the main entrance and around the arches are all in the palm type. The doors and windows are inlaid with colorful glass of deep red, yellow, blue and green, which is dazzling.

In 1991, the Catholic Church was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit in Zhanjiang City

Ancillary buildings

The original site of Chikan nunnery (Yuying Hall) is located in the north of the intersection of Xinhua Road and Dade road in Chikan District, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province. It is the nunnery affiliated to Xiashan Catholic Church. It was built in 1903 with two floors, Gothic doors and windows, and overlapped on the top of the hill. Chinese and western, unique style. The building covers an area of 152 square meters, with a nursery at the back. Due to the development of urban construction, the building has been demolished.

Rare ancient wood

In Zhanjiang Seashore Park, there are five Crescentia alata trees, also known as the cross tree, belonging to the small evergreen trees of Bignoniaceae. Four of the five trees are located in the North Central District of the park, and one in the entertainment city of the south district. One of the most spectacular plants in the Southern District is 8 meters high, 6.5 meters in crown width and 0.63 meters in chest circumference.

Cross tree, native to South America, is rare in China. These trees were introduced by the French. They were originally planted in the garden in front of Xiashan Catholic Church (the church was built in 1900). In the 1970s, due to infrastructure construction, four trees were transplanted to the front of the park office, and one tree was transplanted to the south district. The five old trees are over 100 years old.

The obvious characteristics of cross tree are: irregular growth, from stem to branch can germinate, generally two leaves in a cluster, the shape of each leaf is similar to the Christian hanging on the chest of the "cross", so it is deeply loved by Christians. It's said that believers worship these trees. Every time they meet them, they can't help but draw a "cross" on their chest with their fingers. Then they put their palms together and kowtow to recite incantations. What's more strange is that the flowers and fruits grow directly on the trunk or branches. The flowers are purple, like a small goblet. There are one pistil and four stamens in the goblet. The pistil is higher than the stamen. From a distance, it looks like a group of purple mushrooms are attached to it, and the color is gorgeous.

The fruit is large, oval and smooth. The cross tree has become a major landscape in the park. Visitors will stop here to enjoy it.

Due to the fact that the tallest cross tree in the south district is surrounded by buildings, its branches are wrapped with barbed wire and hung to dry clothes, and the growing place lacks light and ventilation conditions; the human disturbance in front of the park office is serious, and the growth of the cross tree has been affected. In recent years, it has stopped flowering and fruiting, and due to the need of public toilet renovation, the urban landscape Bureau has decided to replace it after research The other three were transplanted to the site. In the next step, after transplanting the plant in the Southern District, we should comprehensively implement systematic management, such as soil cultivation, slope protection and fence construction, properly protect the growth environment of ancient trees, set up signs, number registration, establish files, regularly carry out pest control, formulate and improve the management system, implement the responsibility of management and protection, and ensure that each ancient tree is managed by someone, and all damage to ancient trees is strictly prohibited The behavior of Mingmu.

The cross tree is suitable for local growth, with long life and high ornamental value. It is a rare plant in China and a green cultural relic in our city. It has become a famous ancient tree and excellent tree species with scientific significance and commemorative significance in our city. In order to save and protect these ancient and famous trees, the relevant authorities propose that units and individuals should adopt them. All adopters can erect steles in front of the trees.

In order to let the people understand the history and culture related to trees and enrich the tourism culture connotation of our city, the park should organize technical forces to carefully plant and cultivate, create a cross forest, and promote planting to the garden greening, one tree in front of the steps, and make the courtyard more beautiful.

Address: No.85, Lvyin Road, Xiashan District, Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province

Longitude: 110.39862989174

Latitude: 21.206945311281

Tour time: 1 hour

Traffic information: take No.30 inner ring road and No.30 outer ring road and get off at Guomao Station

Ticket information: Free

Opening hours: all day (appearance only)

Chinese PinYin : Xia Shan Tian Zhu Jiao Tang