Xuanwumen Catholic Church, also known as the South Church, is currently the Diocesan Cathedral. It is the oldest Catholic cathedral in Beijing. It was on this site that P. Matteo Ricci first built a small scripture hall in 1605 (Wanli 33rd Year of Ming Dynasty), which was later rebuilt by the German Jesuit priest J.A. Schall von Bell in 1650. This structure became the first church in Beijing city proper.

Address: 141 Qianmenxi Dajie, Xuanwu District

Tel: +86 10 6603 7139

Opening hours: 6:00-9:00 (3 hours for each day)

How to Get There: Take Bus 102, 105, 109, 15, 204, 209

Free Admission

(china.org.cn August 24, 2007)