Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is located in central Hangzhou, China. It is currently the only Catholic church in the city. The temple was designed in Romanesque style and built in 1691 by the Italian Jesuit Martino Martini. In the church hall were erected two rows of columns with three naves between them, two side altars with towering statues of Saints Peter and Paul, and a central altar, lavishly decorated and designed to worship Christ. Large, fascinating frescoes were made by Chinese artists based on standard Western images.

During the reign of Emperor Kangxi in 1691, all books were ordered to be burned. For many years the church stood in oblivion, badly damaged by fire. In 1730 the monastery was restored and transformed into a Taoist temple. The temple has undergone many changes over the years, and only in December 1982 it passed into the power of the city administration. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was restored and opened to parishioners. Tourists from around the world come to this place to admire the unique beauty and uniqueness of the Catholic Church in Hangzhou.