The Ruins of St. Paul’s is the remains of the front wall of the Mother of God Church (St. Paul’s Church).
St. Paul’s Church is affiliated with St. Paul’s College. The college was founded in 1594 and ended in 1762. It was the first Western-style university in the Far East. In 1835, a fire destroyed St. Paul’s College and its affiliated church, leaving only the front wall of the church, most of the foundation, and the stone steps in front of the church. Since then, this has become the world-famous ruins of St. Paul’s Church. The locals call it the Ruins of St. Paul’s because the front wall of the church resembles a traditional Chinese archway. This stone wall that combines Chinese and Western elements is unique among Catholic churches in the world.
