The highlights of architecture in Tianjin for me were the churches scattered through the city. As interesting as it can be to visit Chinese temples of either the Buddhist or Daoist faiths, the architecture is so similar that some would say if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. The biggest variations come in the statuary and occasional other pieces of art. Christian churches, however, especially old ones, are unique even with their similar designs. The decorations, materials, and even building shapes and positioning are not dictated by age-old custom and tradition. They may be suggested, but they aren’t required. These features also change with time as tastes and styles come and go in society.
Tianjin’s Christian churches are no different. Each is different in its own way. They represent a handful of denominations and nearly 150 years of history in the city.
The oldest is a catholic sanctuary built by French missionaries in 1870 called Church Our Lady’s Victories (Wanghailou Church). This isn’t the most visited or the most beautiful of Tianjin’s houses of worship. The most visited is St. Joseph Cathedral, the home of the Catholic Church in Tianjin.
This Romanesque building is lovely. Its imposing façade with red and white striped brick stands at the end of a pedestrian plaza between two malls. The inside is very simply decorated with white walls and columns and pale blue vaulted ceilings. Simple decorative details accentuate the architecture and colorful stained glass filters light into the nave.
As I meandered the rainy streets of Tianjin, I came across a few other churches including my favorite, a small medieval-style building with accompanying parish building. They are not in current use but are beautiful. I reached them at dusk as I started my wanderings soon after I arrived in Tianjin, just as they were about to turn on the lights. With the flowerbeds in front, it was idyllic and a great first impression of the architecture I’d experience in Tianjin.
