Sacred Heart Cathedral of Yangzhou, Roman Catholic cathedral in Yangzhou, China.
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Gothic Revival Roman Catholic church at 25 Beihe Xia, Yangzhou, covering 357 square metres. It faces east and has two 17-metre bell towers. Inside are ten red-lacquered columns, a Gothic timber roof frame, stained-glass windows, and an altar with an image of the Sacred Heart. A Chinese-style gatehouse and spirit wall stand in front.
In 1873 the French Jesuit Henri Le Lec bought land inside the Quekou gate and began building the church, which was largely finished by 1875 and completed in 1900. Adrien Languillat consecrated it on 1 January 1876. In 1949 the Roman Curia made it the cathedral of the new Apostolic Prefecture of Yangzhou; in 1966 Red Guards removed the bell towers and cross and smashed the altar, and the building became a factory until it reopened in 1982.
Locals call it Quekou Catholic Church because it stands near the old Quekou city gate. The interior keeps ten red-lacquered columns and a Gothic timber roof frame, and the altar holds an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A Chinese-style gatehouse and spirit wall stand in front of the Gothic facade.
Visitors can reach the cathedral easily by public transportation nearby and should dress respectfully for a religious site. The best time to explore is when services are not taking place to avoid disrupting others.
The church is popularly called Quekou Catholic Church because of its location near the Quekou city gate. Its front also has a Chinese-style gatehouse and spirit wall, built in front of the Gothic facade.
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