Route: Xuanwumen Catholic Church (Southern Church) - Zhushikou Christian Church - Dongjiao Minxiang Catholic Church - Chongwenmen Christian Church - Wangfujing Catholic Church (Eastern Church) - Kuanjie Christian Church - Xishiku Catholic Church (Northern church) - Gangwashi Christian Church - Xizhimen Catholic Church (Western Church)
Beijing, the capital of China, has so many famous highlights that are worth visiting. Once you have chance to this very ancient and cultural metropolis, you are advised to either visit this city accompanied by a guide, or explore it by yourself. Today we would like to offer you a bike tour to the famous churches in the city.
This one-day bike tour starts from the oldest Catholic Church in the city – Xuanwumen Catholic Church, which is also known as the Southern Church. Situated in the northeast corner of Xuanwumen crossroad, this church has gone through several restorations during the past hundreds of years. The current existing triplex architecture of baroque style was reconstructed in 1904. The most memorable contributors were the Italian missionary P. Matteo Ricci who first built this Cathedral in 1605 (Ming Dynasty) and the German Jesuit priest J.A. Schall von Bell who rebuilt it to be the largest cathedral in Beijing in 1650 (Qing Dynasty). Now this Cathedral becomes the diocesan Cathedral in Beijing, where you can appreciate the precious religion artwork such as the Mural of the Notre Dame and the icon of the Jesus.
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Qianmen Street
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Bicycle Store
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Head for south along Xuanwumen Street about 1.2 kilometers to reach Caishikou, then turn left to Zhushikou crossroad, you will see a Gothic architecture on your left side. That’s our second stop, which is called Zhushikou Christian Church. Being one of the churches built by the American Methodist Union, the most distinguished feature for Zhushikou Christian church lies in the management of the Chinese priest from the first beginning. It was first built in 1904 (Late Qing Dynasty), and later expanded into the present scale with three floors in 1921. You can see it locates in the intersection of Guang’an Street and Qianmenwai Street. When the government mended Guang’an Street, they paid great attention to this historical relic and made the road curved to reserve this building. Now it is quite splendid after several remedies.
After finishing the trip to Zhushikou Christian church, please ride to east along Zhushikou East Street to get to Qinian Street with the distance of 1.6 kilometers. Turn left and head for north for less than one kilometer, we would reach the intersection of Qianmen Street and Taijichang Street. Please turn right to reach Dongjiao Minxiang Alley after170 meters’ ride along Taijichang Street, now we are at our third stop, Dongjiao Minxiang Catholic Church, which is also known as the St. Michael's Church. The first distinguished feature lies in it exquisiteness. It is quite a small church, but it has combined the advantages of the other four largest churches in Beijing. Another highlight of this church is the delicate Angel statue above its main gate. This small but exquisite church was first built in 1901 (Late Qing Dynasty) with the style of Gothicism. Having more than one hundred years of history, it is the best preserved Catholic one in Beijing.
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Shichahai Area
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Hutong
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Our next stop is Chongwenmen Christian Church, the largest Christian church in downtown area so far. Please ride towards east about 500 meters along Dongjiao Minxiang Alley to the end and then head for south to reach the first crossroad named Chongwenmen Inner Street. Ride east along this street for about 20 meters, you will see there are two roads in front of you, one is Beijingzhan West Street, and the other is Chongwenmen East Street. Please go along Beijingzhan West Street for about 90 meters to reach the first turnoff, now we are at Hougou Hutong. Ride along this Hutong for about 170 meters, you will arrive at our fourth stop. Welcome! This was the first meeting house built by the American Methodist Union in 1870, even in the northern part of China. It was in a small size and was destroyed during Yihetuan uprising in the summer of 1900. Two years later, the Qing Dynasty appropriated funds to rebuild this building which has been preserved till now. The former American President William Jefferson Clinton brought his wife and daughter to do chapel here in 1998.
Continue your bike tour to another biggest church - the Eastern Church, which was originally called Saint Joseph's Church. Now it is well known in the name of Wangfujing Catholic Church to natives since it locates in Wangfujing Street. First, let’s find how to get there when getting out of Chongwenmen Christian Church. We will need to get back to Chongwenmen Inner Street by riding along the Hougou Hutong to the end and then ride to west for about 20 meters to reach the crossroad. Then we need to go directly to north by riding about 1600 meters and stop at the second big crossroad. On your left side is Jinyu Hutong. Heading west about 420 meters and turn right, the church will come to your sight. It was first built in 1655 and was awarded as the residence for two foreign priests. After the great damages by earthquake and wars for three times, it was rebuilt in 1905 with bricky timberwork structure. This church was a combination of ancient western and Chinese architectural styles to present a peaceful and elegant environment decorated with strong historical precipitates. It is an ideal place to peace your soul when listening to the sound from pipe organ and music from choir. This is a pure land among the prosperous zone.
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Wangfujing Avenue
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City Center
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The famous Kuanjie Christian Church is also one of the churches built by the American Methodist Union. This is our sixth stop. After getting out of the Eastern Church, we can ride northward along Wangfujing Street about 780 meters to reach Wusi Street. Ride towards west for about 380 meters to reach the Beiheyan Street. Continue riding to north along the Beiheyan Street to the end with the distance of one kilometer, and then turn left. After 430 meters’ riding, we finally get there. There is a significant event related with this church in 2008 when China hosted the Olympic Games. Three days after the opening ceremony, former U.S. President George W. Bush and his whole family came here and pray. There is limited historical information about this church, so we need to appreciate its beauty and its treasure by ourselves. Enjoy it.
We have visited the Southern Church and the Eastern Church; now let’s appreciate the Northern Church, which is also named as Xishiku Catholic Church. This is the most beautiful church in Beijing. It is quite easy to get to this church from our last stop. Just ride to west along Dianmen West Street for about 1.4 km, turn south after about 1km’s ride to reach Xishiku Street and go head to west for about 100 meters’ ride, we are at our destination. This church was opened in 1703 and has become the oldest church in Beijing. It is said that the site was favored by Emperor Kangxi to two priests who had healed the emperor’s illness in the Qing Dynasty. Later in the period of Emperor Guangxu, this church was moved to Xishiku Street. In 1900, the church had been badly destroyed by the war during the Yihetuan Uprising. Now the form of the architectural complex we have seen were rebuilt by the Qing Dynasty after rebellion. You can see the church is in typical Gothic style with the unique Saint statues assigned on the two sides of the main entrance. In 1985, it was repaired, focusing on the betterment of the Jesus Altar and the statues of Mother Maria and Father Joseph. After the reopening ceremony held on Dec 24, 1985, this church has been the most magnificent one in Beijing.
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Xishiku Church
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Xishiku Church
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Please get to Xi’anmen Street in the south from our last stop and head west for about 450 meters to reach Xisi South Street. Turning left and riding southward about 100 meters, you will see the Gangwashi Christian Church in the opposite side of the road. It was built in 1863 by the London Missionary Society and was regarded as the oldest Christian church in Beijing. In 1900, this church was burnt in Yihetuan Uprising. In 1903, the London Missionary Society restored it and divided it into two parts. The southern part was later made as Renji Hospital and the northern part as a primary school, which made the area an integrated pattern of church, school and hospital. The former US President George W. Bush used to attend a religious service in this church during his visit to China in 2005. In 2008, this church was renovated and expanded to be a better place for orison.
Our one day bike tour will end at the Western Church (Xizhimen Catholic Church), the youngest and smallest church among these four biggest churches in Beijing. After getting out of the Gangwashi Christian Church, riding to north with distance of 230 meters, we could reach Fuchengmen Inner Street. Turn west and go along the street for about 700 meters, you will see a crossroad. Then head for north about 1.9km to reach the Xizhimen Inner Street. About 240 meters away on your left side, you will see the Western Church. It was first built in 1723 during the period of Emperor Yongzheng but has been dismantled in the period of Emperor Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty. In 1867, this church was restored under the agreement made by the foreign countries and the Qing Dynasty during the Second Opium War. But the church was destroyed at the period of Yihetuan Uprising. In 1912, it was made the third time restoration. There is no specialty in exterior but the delicate pillars and Gothic peaked arches inside the church make it grand and solemn.
This bike tour is a golden opportunity to appreciate the fusion of the west and orient countries from the aspect of culture, art, religion and belief. These churches are all live books to witness the precious historical fortune. Hope you will have a wonderful day trip!
