St. Ignatius Cathedral

St. Ignatius Cathedral is located at 158 Puxi Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai. It is a famous Catholic church in China and the largest center for Catholic activities in Shanghai. Due to its magnificent Gothic architecture, significant historical significance, and geographical location in the heart of Xujiahui, it is known as the "Vatican City of Shanghai".

Architectural model: A standard twin tower Gothic building with red brick exterior walls and two bell towers towering into the clouds, known as the "largest cathedral in the Far East" (when it was built).
Historical coordinates: Founded in the 30th year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1904) and completed in 1910. Witnessing the spread history of Catholicism in East China, it is the core landmark of Xujiahuiyuan Historical and Cultural District.
Religious Center: The cathedral of the Shanghai Diocese, which undertakes important religious functions.

The symbol of the origin of Xujiahui: the church, adjacent Xujiahui Observatory, the former site of Xuhui Public School (now Xuhui Middle School), the library, etc., together constitute the "Xujiahui Source" of modern Chinese and Western cultural exchange, and are one of the important birthplaces of Shanghai style culture.
Restoration and Rebirth: It was severely damaged during the Cultural Revolution and was restored and reopened in the 1980s. After 2000, a large-scale overall restoration was carried out.