Xishiku Cathedral, Beijing

Xishiku Cathedral, Beijing

One of the most ornate and grand churches in China, the Xishiku Cathedral is located in the Xicheng District. This Catholic Church affiliated to the Patriotic Catholic Church of China and is home to the Beijing Cardinal Bishop Office.

The Jesuits built this church in 1703 on a land near Zhongnanhai given to them by Qing Dynasty Emperor Kangzi. He gifted the Jesuits with the land in gratitude for treating and curing him of a serious illness. The plaque and calligraphic couplets you find on the door of the cathedral was written by the Emperor.

Emperor Guangxu wished to create a park at Zhongnanhai and moved the cathedral in 1887 to its present location. The park area went on to function as a residence of popular communists such as Zhou Enlai, Deng Xiaoping and Chairman Mao and is today the Chinese Communist Party headquarters.

Today the Xishiku Cathedral stands in all its glory with a rich marble façade. It was redesigned in Gothic style by Bishop Pierre Favier. When the cathedral was besieged by 10,000 boxers during the 1900 Boxer Uprising, Bishop Favier played a major role in successfully defending the church and over 3000 converts. Enjoy the grandeur and soak in the intrinsic essence of this popular Cathedral on your trip to Beijing.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Beijing. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Xishiku Cathedral on Map

Sight Name: Xishiku Cathedral
Sight Location: Beijing, China (See walking tours in Beijing)
Sight Type: Religious

Walking Tours in Beijing, China

Create Your Own Walk in Beijing

Create Your Own Walk in Beijing

Creating your own self-guided walk in Beijing is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Beijing City Center Walking Tour

Beijing City Center Walking Tour

A political, cultural, and economic center of China for the past eight centuries, Beijing is the newest of the country's Four Ancient Capitals.

The city boasts the grandest and best preserved imperial palaces, gardens and temples, including seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, Zhoukoudian, and parts of the Great Wall...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Beijing's Historical Temples Tour II

Beijing's Historical Temples Tour II

The places of worship are some of the best links to the city's history. The unique churches, Buddhist and Taoist Temples, and beautiful Muslim Mosques all tell great tales of the history of Beijing. Despite that many of them have been partially or completely destroyed over the years either by wars or by the changes of political power, a good number of them still remain. You can visit a few...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Beijing's Historical Temples Tour I

Beijing's Historical Temples Tour I

Chinese temples are of unique beauty and have withstood many dynasties. However because the temples have always been connected to the imperial families, many of them were destroyed when the last dynasty ended in 1911. Nevertheless, a great number of beautiful temples with great history still stand in Beijing. Take this self-guided walking tour to discover a few famous temples in the northern part...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Olympic Park Walking Tour

Olympic Park Walking Tour

The Olympic Park in Beijing was built for the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2008. This modern complex represents a contemporary architectural approach as compared to the more traditional buildings that dominate the city. Among its signature items are the iconic Bird's Nest, otherwise known as the main Olympic stadium, and the beautiful Water Cube – the Aquatics Center for water sports.
...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


Shopping in Beijing: 18 Travel Mementos

Shopping in Beijing: 18 Travel Mementos

Today, it is safe to assume that 9 out of 10 souvenirs worldwide (regardless of the country) are made in China, the workshop of the world. But how about shopping for souvenirs in China itself and Beijing, in particular? Presented here are some of the traditional Chinese-made goods, initially...
Top 10 Foods to Try in Beijing

Top 10 Foods to Try in Beijing

Centuries went by and the regional Chinese, Manchurian, Mongol and Muslim cuisines boiled together to produce what's now known and loved as traditional Beijing cooking. Whenever you're in the Chinese capital, don't leave without tasting at least some of the key local meals or your...
Best Street Foods to Try in Beijing

Best Street Foods to Try in Beijing

China's passion for food – long in history as The Great Wall of China itself – is clearly manifested in its street food culture. This is particularly noticeable on the streets of Beijing, teeming with numerous vendors and thick with aromas. Whether you're a vegan, vegetarian or a...
Most Popular Desserts and Drinks in Beijing

Most Popular Desserts and Drinks in Beijing

No meal is complete without a sweet touch and a proper drink to wash it all down. Beijing's food scene is rich and colorful in many ways, and the dessert & drink areas are no exception. Some of the signature Beijing delicacies have gained popularity across Asia over the centuries, whereas...