Guiyang North Cathedral | A Hidden Artistic Gem in the City

A Hidden Artistic Gem in the City.🕍🕌📷 I enjoy strolling through the old city's alleys, where the air is filled with the scent of everyday life and the constant calls of street vendors. The passing vehicles and pedestrians seem to be performing an epic called life... There are many unexpected sights and stories in the alleys, such as the Guiyang North Cathedral, a surprising treasure hidden in a small lane. The church blends Western and Chinese styles; although it is a Western-style cathedral, the strong characteristics of ancient Chinese architecture are evident. One side features a grand archway that is eighteen meters wide and thirty meters high. The archway is covered with reliefs, all colorful Chinese paintings of landscapes, flowers, birds, and people in various poses, a spectacular sight with a strong ethnic artistic flavor. The top of the archway has three large oval windows, and there are three doors underneath, each paired with couplets; on the other side is a five-story pagoda-style bell tower with a door underneath, also paired with couplets. The archway and bell tower harmonize with the central hall, creating a natural transition and reflecting good spatial artistry. The church uses traditional Chinese building materials, construction techniques, and decorative patterns combined with Catholic doctrine, incorporating the traditional styles of Western ancient architecture and the modern hipped roof structure, as well as the basilica style. It was once made into postcards and stamps by France and distributed worldwide. The church was founded in 1774 and, despite the vicissitudes of time, still exudes endless charm in a corner of the old city... Basic Information 🕍Name: Guiyang North Cathedral 📍Address: No. 166 Shanxi Road, Yunyan District, Guiyang City, Guizhou Province (near Hongbianmen Church) ⏰Opening Hours: 08:30-17:00 🚦Transportation: Subway🚇- Line 1 to Beijing Road Station, Exit F, walk 900 meters to the west gate of the church (side with the relief archway) Bus🚌 to Hongbianmen Bus Station, walk 200 meters to the east gate of the church (side with the bell tower) Basic Strategy 1. Tour Route: The church has two gates, the east gate is near the Hongbianmen bus stop, walk 200 meters from the stop to see the church gate tower, and from there you can see the five-story pagoda-style bell tower; the west gate is near Humen Alley, take the subway Line 1 to Beijing Road Station, Exit F, walk and navigate through Humen Alley to see the relief archway. It is recommended to start from the west gate, where the relief archway is an excellent spot for photos, then enter through the side door, take pictures of the church's exterior details in the small alley, then visit the interior of the church, and finally go to the east gate side for a wide-angle shot of the five-story bell tower (many people say the two gates are not connected, but when I visited, they were open, the small door to the left of the relief archway was open, enter through it, pass through the main body of the church to reach the bell tower side, for reference only) 2. Exterior of the Church: The church's exterior is very artistic, whether it's the relief archway at the west gate, the doors, the windows, or the outer walls of the main body of the church, or the bell tower on the east side... all are worth a detailed look. 3. Interior of the Church: You can enter to visit, the interior is also magnificent, with Catholic elements of murals, statues, and religious activities. 4. Photo Spots: On the west side, you can take pictures of the magnificent relief archway, the red doors, the colorful windows; on the side, you can shoot the walls, windows, and a side view of the main image of the church; on the east side, you can shoot the bell tower and a frontal view of the main image of the church. Tips 1. The church is a place of worship, please dress appropriately, keep quiet, and follow the instructions of the staff if there are religious activities. 2. If approached by missionaries, you can decline but please remain respectful. 3. A special tip, if you are coming from the subway to the west gate, there is a bookstore on the way called 'Ye Xian Bookstore', which is worth spending half a day leisurely, you can navigate there to sit for a while.