Sacred Heart Cathedral, Roman Catholic cathedral in Guangzhou, China
The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a Roman Catholic house of worship in Guangzhou, built from grey granite in the Gothic Revival style. Two slender towers flank the main facade: one displays the time, the other houses bells, and both rise roughly 58.5 meters above ground.
Construction began in 1861 under Bishop Philippe François Zéphirin Guillemin and lasted a quarter century. Work ended in the mid-1880s, creating the first large Gothic Revival church building in southern China.
The building is known locally as Shishi or Stone House, reflecting its solid granite blocks brought from Hong Kong. Services take place several days a week and draw both residents and visitors into a space that blends European forms with Cantonese building traditions.
The building opens daily, usually from early morning until late afternoon, and entry is free. The nearest metro stations on lines 2 and 6 lie within a short walk.
Builders combined European techniques with Chinese methods: sticky rice strengthened the mortar, and regional bricks provided moisture protection. This material choice links French planning with Cantonese craft in a 19th-century structure.
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