Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is a Gothic Revival structure with pointed arches, tall spires, and stained glass windows that lets light filter through in colorful patterns. The building sits in the Kaifu District and shows how European architectural traditions were adapted to a different setting.

An Italian Franciscan missionary named Weng Mingde founded this place in 1902 during the Qing Dynasty as a space for Christian worship. It was destroyed in 1910 but was later rebuilt and has stood since then.

The cathedral stands as a place where people of different backgrounds gather to worship in a city that once restricted Christian practice. It represents how foreign religious traditions eventually became part of the local landscape.

You can visit during the week when the building is open for regular services and welcomes guests respectfully. Keep in mind that this is an active place of worship, so modest dress and quiet behavior are expected.

The Hunan provincial government designated it as a Historical and Cultural Protected Site in 2002, acknowledging its importance to the region. This official recognition marks it as a structure worth preserving for future generations.