The Sheshan Mountain Catholic Church



Sheshan Mountain Catholic Church, was the first Catholic church in the Far East, and is erected on the top of West Sheshan Mountain. It was originally constructed by French missionaries during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty and has been renovated several times.

The church today, is a European baroque style building which combines Greek, Roman and Gothic styles. The materials used are more traditionally Chinese and the effect of this combination of styles and influences is impressive. Viewed from afar, the red church seems to be an integral part of the mountain, blending in with the environment surrounding the building.

The church holds up to 4000 followers. The materials used inside the building include marble, colored glass and spectacular glazed tiles. There are eight gigantic bells in the bell tower, which are arranged according to their notes. On top of the 38-meter-high tower is an 8-meter high Madonna with Child and the entire building is shaped like a Latin cross.

In 1942, Sheshan Mountain Church was recognized by the Pope as a Holy Church and has since become a sacred place for Chinese Catholics. Along the path from the foot to the top of the mountain there are 14 small shrines, each of which has a relief sculpture depicting the suffering of Jesus.

A walk up the hill is a pleasant way to spend a day, and a nice break from the city. The local people here are fervent Catholics and there are many making the pilgrimage up the hill to the basilica.

Services only take place on Catholic festivals.

How to get there: Take a bus from Xiqu Bus Station. SheShan is about 30km southwest of Shanghai.

The Shanghai Museum

The Shanghai Museum was originally housed within the City Library on Nanjing Road until 1995. This spectacular building is now the centerpiece of People's Square. The Museum is a harmonious combination of square shapes and circular ones, epitomizing the Chinese traditional concept which imagines heaven as round and earth as square. The design is also in keeping with Feng Shui principles and this perfectly symmetrical building is said to resemble a large Chinese cooking pot with two handles protruding from either side. In the evenings, smoke bellows out of the vents in the building, making the museum literally appear to be simmering away in the center of the city.

As well as embodying the modern spirit of the city, the museum also houses a great permanent collection and hosts various exhibitions throughout the year. Even if you are not a big museum fan, this place is worth a visit. The displays are well presented and labeled in English and Chinese and it's an excellent indication of the cultural wealth existing in the city.The museum boasts over 120,000 pieces, including bronze, ceramics, paintings, calligraphy, sculpture, ancient Chinese coins, jade furniture, and western art.

Opening hours:Daily 9am-5pm

How to get The Shanghai Museum :Take the subway to People's Square station.

The Old City God's Temple

(Laochenghuangmiao)is a major yet relatively inactive, Taoist temple in Shanghai. It is located in the area south of Yan'an Road on the Fangbang Zhong Road.

During the Ming Dynasty, Zhangshouyue, the head of Shanghai County, dedicated a temple to the local city god. Since then, the City God's Temple has been destroyed several times and the current temple was built in 1926. During the the war of resistance against Japanese invasion during World War II, local merchants built a new City God's Temple in the Foreign Concession (between Lianyun Road and West Jinling Road). That area is now a highrise residence building. The "former" temple is known as the Old City God's Temple. The Old City God's Temple and the enclosed Yuyuan Gardens are not only famous tourist sites but also popular shopping attractions. There are boutiques, shops selling local specialties, as well as large jewelry stores, department stores and fabulous local snack restaurants to be found here.

How to get The Old City God's Temple :The Temple is situated in the heart of the Yuyuan bazaar area. Walk south along the Bund and bear left.