Qingdao Catholic Church

Qingdao Catholic Church, originally called St. Michael Cathedral Church, was designed in a Gothic and Romanesque style by a German architect, Arthur Bialucha. The construction of the church started in 1932 by the Divine Word Missionaries (abbreviated “SVD”, from their Latin name: Societas Verbi Divini), and completed in 1934. The church was closed from the late 1960s and early 1970s, when was during the Great Cultural Revolution in China. And then it was reopened in 1982. Now the church holds weekend services and festive celebrations of Christian holidays such as Easter and Christmas.

The church grounds occupy an area of 11,480 square meters, of which about 6,300 square meters are building area. The body of the church is 56 meters high. The Catholic Church is the largest and most opulent church Qingdao.

The Church was mostly built with yellow granite and reinforced concrete, and carved with simple and beautiful textures in the surface. Windows are in semicircular arched shape with smooth lines, simple and solemn. Above the door sets up a huge rose window. On each side stands a clock tower with a height of 56 meters. Each conical spire of them covered red tiles stands with a 4.5-meter high huge cross. There are four large bells in side the tower. When the bell rings, the sound can reach a few miles away. Walking into the church, you will see a bright and spacious hall, which is 18 meters high and can accommodate thousands of people. Colorful glass windows reflect soft light lights. The hall has a corridor at the east and west sides. And there are two large altars and four small altars in the back of the hall.

The cool white interior is interestingly offset by garish pictures and life-size wax models of famous Christians, including a huge mural of a beatific Mary and some simple, tastily clothed Franciscans. The area around this church is also well worth a wander, with old 30s German buildings mixed in with modern Chinese concrete. The cobbled streets leading up to the church are normally filled with local Muslim vendors selling their wares, the meat and octopi on stick look intriguing, and are worth tasting.
 

Why Visit Qingdao Catholic Church

• The largest catholic church in Qingdao
• The largest gothic architecture in Qingdao
• The only episcopal ordination in China

Qingdao Catholic Church is a witness of Qingdao's modern history, a master of German architectural art, and an inseparable part of urban culture. Strolling in the square in front of the church, the gothic spire contrasts with the red tiles and green trees in old Qingdao, everyone who approaches it can touch the unique details of Qingdao's blending of Chinese and Western.
 

What to See at Qingdao Catholic Church

The Thick Granite Wall

The wall is made of light yellow granite, and each stone comes from Laoshan Mountain. Qingdao is windy, especially the cold wind from Siberia in winter drives straight through the Yellow Sea, and the thick stone wall is the best barrier. While designing, German architects specially referred to the wall thickness of local houses in Qingdao, and made adjustments on the basis of Gothic vertical lines, so that the building could not only resist the sea breeze erosion, but also maintain the solemn temperament of European churches.
 

The Red Steeples

On sunny days, the red steeples shine warmly in the sun, and blend with the large red roofs in the old city of Qingdao, but they stand out because of their unique shapes. During the colonial period, German urban planners stipulated that all the roofs of buildings in this area must use red tiles to form a unified and exotic urban landscape.

Internal Space

The sunlight filtered by the red, blue and green glasses casts many-hued's light and shadow inside the church. As the sun moves, these light and shadow move slowly on benches, columns and the ground like living spirits. Twenty-eight columns support the whole space, each of which is decorated with exquisite gold foil, shining faintly and firmly in the darkness.
 

Dome

Different from the ribbed vaults of most Gothic churches, St. Michael's Church adopts a Romanesque semi-circular vault with softer and fuller curves. Looking up, you will see Genesis, a mural painted in the 1930s. The scene of the moment when God extended his finger to give Adam life is still full of power. When the organ sounds, the sound waves reverberate and overlap under the dome, producing a wonderful resonance effect, as if the building itself is singing instead of the musical instrument.
 

The Square

The square in front of the Qingdao Catholic Church has become one of the most dynamic public spaces in the city. In the morning, old people practice Tai Ji Chuan here. In the afternoon, tourists hold cameras will find the best angle to photograph here. And in the evening, couples sit on benches and wait for the sunset. And Qingdao Catholic Church is the favorite place of wedding photographers. Almost every sunny weekend, you can see the bride in white gauze smiling in front of the church. This building is a beautiful background and has become a part of the daily scenery of citizens.
 

How to Get to the Qingdao Catholic Church

The church is centrally located in Qingdao. Taking a taxi is the most convenient way to get there if you have language difficulties.

By Subway: You can take the Qingdao Subway Line 3 and get off at the Qingdao Station. Then walk for 1 kilometer to get to the Qingdao Catholic Church.

Taxi: You can directly take taxi to get to the Qingdao Catholic Church.