The Sheshan Catholic Church, also known as the Sheshan Basilica, is located on the top of Xisheshan Mountain in Sheshan National Forest Park. From a distance, the church on the top of the mountain forms an integral whole with the mountain. The red brick wall contrasts obviously with the green mountain forest, presenting a solemn and majestic appearance. The whole church is longer in the south and shorter in the north, wider in the east and narrower in the west.
It is a classic asymmetrical building. Many new couples often hold weddings here. Even if you are not a believer, you can enter and feel the sacred and solemn religious atmosphere. However, please respect religious beliefs and do not take photos inside the church. This church is a European Baroque-style building. At the same time, it also combines various other architectural techniques, such as Romanesque vaults and corridors, Greek-style colonnades, Gothic spires, Israeli olive-shaped bell towers, Spanish-style small domes at the east end, and more Chinese-style clear water walls, corner-fighting floor tiles, and glazed tiles. In addition, this building also adopts a structure without wood, nails, steel, or beams, which can be called a classic in architecture. Entering the church, you can see two rows of tall and straight columns supporting the olive-shaped dome. Neat benches are placed in the venue. The church windows are inlaid with colorful glass. At the front end of the hall is a large altar made of marble inlaid with gold and jade. The altar and the nave are separated by a low white marble railing. The floor is paved with flower tiles. Eight large bells are arranged according to certain musical notes on the bell tower. The spire is 38 meters high. There is also a statue of the Virgin made of copper on the bell tower. The church was first built by French missionaries in 1871 and completed in 1935. The Pope of Rome canonized this church as a basilica in 1942. Every year during the ‘Month of the Virgin’ in May and ‘Christmas’ in December, tens of thousands of people from all over come here to make pilgrimages. There are 14 stations of the cross pavilions on the winding path from the foot of the mountain to the top. Each pavilion has a relief of Jesus’ suffering. There are also three holy pavilions and the Zhongshan Church of Our Lady on the mountainside. When believers make pilgrimages to Sheshan, they have to follow the winding stations of the cross and go up step by step.
