There is actually a Gothic Catholic church in a county town in southern Shanxi.
In the 48th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1620), an Italian priest built the first church in Jiangzhou, Shanxi Province. In 1937, Dutch priest Kong Zhaoming built a large Catholic church in Gothic style and named it Xinjiang Catholic Church. It is known as one of the four major Gothic churches in China along with the churches in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Qingdao.
Looking up, the church building is majestic and distinctive with its spire. The bell towers on both sides are about 43 meters high. Catholic crosses are erected on the triangular tops of the bell towers and the top of the church, which are particularly eye-catching among the blue sky and white clouds. The interior of the church is 52 meters long and 28 meters wide. The church is a huge arched building without any pillars in the middle. It has a bold, ingenious and beautiful design! The figures on the European stained glass windows are lifelike and vivid! Taking photos in front of the church feels like traveling in Europe!
Address: No. 18, Damen Road, Longxing Town, Xinjiang County, Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province.
Opening hours: Winter (October 1st to April 30th) 10:00-18:00, Summer (May 1st to September 30th) 10:00-19:00. Free admission.