The North Cathedral of Guiyang

A Hidden Artistic Gem in the City.🕍🕌📷 I enjoy strolling through the old city's alleys, where the air is filled with the scent of everyday life and the constant calls of street vendors. The passing vehicles and pedestrians seem to be performing an epic called life... There are many unexpected sights and stories in the alleys, such as the Guiyang North Cathedral, a surprising treasure hidden in a small lane. The church blends Western and Chinese styles; although it is a Western-style cathedral, the strong characteristics of ancient Chinese architecture are evident. One side features a grand archway that is eighteen meters wide and thirty meters high. The archway is covered with reliefs, all colorful Chinese paintings of landscapes, flowers, birds, and people in various poses, a spectacular sight with a strong ethnic artistic flavor. The top of the archway has three large oval windows, and there are three doors underneath, each paired with couplets; on the other side is a five-story pagoda-style bell tower with a door underneath, also paired with couplets. The archway and bell tower harmonize with the central hall, creating a natural transition and reflecting good spatial artistry. The church uses traditional Chinese building materials, construction techniques, and decorative patterns combined with Catholic doctrine, incorporating the traditional styles of Western ancient architecture and the modern hipped roof structure, as well as the basilica style. It was once made into postcards and stamps by France and distributed worldwide. The church was founded in 1774 and, despite the vicissitudes of time, still exudes endless charm in a corner of the old city... Basic Information 🕍Name: Guiyang North Cathedral 📍Address: No. 166 Shanxi Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province (near Hongbianmen Church) ⏰Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00 🚦Transportation: Subway🚇- Line 1 to Beijing Road Station, Exit F, walk 900 meters to the west gate of the church (side with the relief archway) Bus🚌 to Hongbianmen Bus Station, walk 200 meters to the east gate of the church (side with the bell tower) Basic Strategy 1. Tour Route: The church has two gates, the east gate is near the Hongbianmen bus stop, walk 200 meters from the stop to see the church gate tower, and from there you can see the five-story pagoda-style bell tower; the west gate is near Humen Alley, take the subway Line 1 to Beijing Road Station, Exit F, walk and navigate through Humen Alley to see the relief archway. It is recommended to start from the west gate, where the relief archway is an excellent spot for photos, then enter through the side door, take pictures of the church's exterior details in the small alley, then visit the interior of the church, and finally go to the east gate side for a wide-angle shot of the five-story bell tower (many people say the two gates are not connected, but when I visited, they were open, the small door to the left of the relief archway was open, enter through it, pass through the main body of the church to reach the bell tower side, for reference only) 2. Exterior of the Church: The church's exterior is very artistic, whether it's the relief archway at the west gate, the doors, the windows, or the outer walls of the main body of the church, or the bell tower on the east side... all are worth a detailed look. 3. Interior of the Church: You can enter to visit, the interior is also magnificent, with Catholic elements of murals, statues, and religious activities. 4. Photo Spots: On the west side, you can take pictures of the magnificent relief archway, the red doors, the colorful windows; on the side, you can shoot the walls, windows, and a side view of the main image of the church; on the east side, you can shoot the bell tower and a frontal view of the main image of the church. Tips 1. The church is a place of worship, please dress appropriately, keep quiet, and follow the instructions of the staff if there are religious activities. 2. If approached by missionaries, you can decline but please remain respectful. 3. A special tip, if you are coming from the subway to the west gate, there is a bookstore on the way called 'Ye Xian Bookstore', which is worth spending half a day leisurely, you can navigate there to sit for a while.

⛪️ Passing through Guizhou for a brief stop Not much time to tour extensively Then you must go to 'Guiyang Beizhuang Cathedral' Very photogenic～ The place is small, but there are many great spots for taking pictures And it's free to check in! - 📸【Photo Check-in Spots】 ☑️Bell tower (a combination of various styles of Chinese and Western architecture) ☑️Blue archway (many people haven't found it, go out from the left iron gate, it's behind the cathedral) ☑️Inside the cathedral (the sunlight shining through the stained glass into the hall is so beautiful) - ⚠️【Photo Tips】 ☑️There are more people in front of the archway, you can have the photographer shoot from below the stairs to avoid the crowd～ ☑️Keep quiet once you enter the courtyard, don't make loud noises; ☑️If you need to enter the cathedral for shooting, wait until the ceremony inside is over, respect the faith🙏🏻; - 🏷️ | Guiyang Travel Photo Check-in |

⛪️ After checking into the hotel, I immediately embarked on my Guiyang journey, with the first stop being the social media-famous trendy church. The classic architecture that combines Eastern and Western elements, along with its niche and mysterious colors, makes this trip to Guiyang full of anticipation. ————————— Name: Guiyang Catholic Church Address: No. 166, Shanxi Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province Opening hours: 08:30-17:00, no entry after 16:00 Admission: Free ————————— ⛪️ The history here dates back to 1774, which is quite a long time ago. The church exudes a simple elegance with an understated splendor, calm and filled with a sacred glow. Stepping inside, you are greeted with the breath of the years, beautiful and slow, inviting you to explore. 🌟 A quiet spot in the hustle The location of the Catholic Church is excellent, situated in the bustling city area, where an inconspicuous iron gate leads to a surprisingly open space. No matter how complicated the outside world is, entering here slows down your pace, and the world becomes much quieter. Entering the main hall brings a sense of tranquility to the soul. 🌟 East meets West From the front, the church has a Chinese-style bell tower, but from the back, it indeed has the classic Western church arch structure, majestic and solemn. The decorations on the exterior walls are of Western style, but they are carved with patterns and elements reminiscent of medieval blue and white porcelain, full of surprises. 🌟 High photo yield Taking photos here is fantastic. The main photo spot is the square in front of the arch at the back of the church, with a massive backdrop that makes for great photos. Next is the front with the unique interwoven sense of the Chinese-Western bell tower, and finally, you must go inside. The colored glass windows, the high-domed hall, the grand European sculptures and architecture, and the holy atmosphere quietly await your exploration. ⛪️ Whether you are religious or not, it does not affect your ability to feel the passage of time, the grandeur, and the serene temperament of the church. Sit quietly in the church for a while, watching the sunlight filter through the colorful glass into the room, and feel a profound sense of peace inside.

Guiyang Beitian Catholic Church is the oldest church in Guizhou's Catholic history, founded in 1798 (the third year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty), and has been rebuilt, renovated, and repaired several times in history. ✝️ The existing architectural style was completed in 1876, which is a combination of Chinese and Western styles. The facade of the church is a combination of a thirty-meter-high Chinese-style gate tower and a rose window. The archway is full of gray plastic reliefs, presenting a cyan color overall. This cyan color should originally come from blue and white inlaid porcelain, but after the renovation, it could not be fully covered, and colored paint was used, which is a bit regrettable. Behind the church is a unique thirty-two-meter-high five-story Chinese-style bell tower. 🚄Travel tips: No. 166, Shaanxi Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, free visit.