Church & Religion Sites
Church & Religion Sites in Shanghai
After four years of construction (1906-11), this Neo-Romanesque style church was opened to the public. Situated in the southern part of Shanghai, Xuiahui district, it is one of the largest local Catholic churches, and can accommodate a congregation of up to 3000 people. Service time: Sun.7:00am, 8:00am, 10:00am
Although not as old as many Chinese shrines, Jing An Si, the Temple of Tranquility, can boast the longest history of any religious structure in the city of Shanghai. Housed in the temple are a Ming Dynasty copper bell (the Hongwu Bell) that weighs in at 3,175 kilograms (3.5 tons) and stone Buddha sculptures from the Northern and Southern States period. Prior to 1949, the temple was Shanghai's richest Buddhist monastery, presided over by the Abbott of Bubbling Well Road (an imposing figure who k ...
Read More...
Baiyun Guan was originally built in a different location in 1863; in 2004, it was moved to its present location. The temple is one of only two Taoist temples in China (the other is in Beijing) to possess the precious Ming Dynasty Taoist scripture, Daozang. Today, the temple is the headquarters of the Taoist Association, and is considered the top Taoist temple in Shanghai. Seven unique Ming Dynasty bronze statues are also housed in the temple.
In ancient times, every Chinese city had a ''Temple of the Town God'', the central shrine for Taoist worship. Shanghai's version dates to 1403, though the name itself dates back only to 1929. During the Cultural Revolution, the temple was destroyed. In the early 1990s, the temple and surrounding bazaar area, which encircled part of Yu Yuan, were extensively restored. The temple's main courtyard is usually jammed with worshippers praying before the statues of Huo Guang, a local military hero, in ...
Read More...
Established in 1871, this European style church was constructed by French Catholic missionaries. It is located approximately 40-minutes from the city center in Songjian County, and serves as a important place of pilgrimage for Catholics from all over China. Service tiem: Sat. 7:00am (6:30am in summer), Sun. 8:00am (7:30am in summer)
In 1934, Master Yuanying, the first president of the Chinese Buddhist Association of Shanghai, established Yuanming Buddhist Rites Hall.
Once the largest church in Shanghai, Dongjiadu Catholic Church was established in 1853. The Spanish Baroque style church has arched roofs, thick pillars, and lotus-shaped bas-reliefs inside. Chinese couplets are inscribed on both inside and outside walls, and four of the church's bells are said to be original. Service time: Mon-Sat 7:00am; Sun 6:00am, 8:00am
Songjian is one of the oldest Mosques in Shanghai, boasting well-preserved Islamic architecture built during the Yuan and Ming dynasties.