Xikai Cathedral (St. Joseph's Cathedral)

西开教堂

A Romanesque Catholic cathedral built by the French church in 1916. Its three green domes are a landmark of the Binjiang Road shopping district, and it is Tianjin's largest Catholic church.

Xikai Cathedral, officially St. Joseph's Cathedral, stands at the junction of Xining Road and Binjiang Road in Heping District. Built by the French Catholic Church between 1913 and 1916 on the edge of the former French Concession, it is the cathedral of the Tianjin diocese and the largest Catholic church in Tianjin. The building is in French Romanesque style, with three green copper domes about 45 metres tall and an exterior of alternating red and yellow brick. Inside, the three-aisled nave preserves stained-glass windows, an organ and dome murals in good condition. Admission is free, and opening hours follow the mass schedule. Outside mass times, you can enter quietly to look around. Masses are held every morning and on Sunday mornings, and there is a midnight mass on Christmas Eve (tickets must be obtained in advance). Suggested itinerary: combine the cathedral with the Five Avenues, Binjiang Road shopping street and Quanyechang for a half-day city walk. The square in front of the cathedral is the best angle for photographing the domes, which look even better once they are lit up in the evening. The Xikai Market beside the cathedral and the nearby small European-style cafés are also popular spots. Getting there: about a 5-minute walk from Exit C of Yingkou Road Station on Metro Line 1, or about a 15-minute walk from Minyuan Square in the Five Avenues. Note: keep quiet inside, and do not take photos or walk around during mass. Avoid revealing clothing.

Xikai Cathedral (St. Joseph's Cathedral)

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