Xujiahui Catholic History

This walk traces the centuries-old Jesuit heritage of Xujiahui, exploring its grand red-brick cathedral, historic library, and tranquil memorial gardens.

Listen to this tour in the Mira app →

1. Tou-Se-We Museum

The Tou-Se-We Museum stands out with a distinctive, ornately carved wooden archway standing right at its entrance. This site served as the primary workshop for the Jesuit mission in Shanghai for over a century. Skilled apprentices here…

2. 徐光启纪念馆

The Xu Guangqi Memorial occupies the former residence of a man who served as a high-ranking official under the Ming dynasty. It is a traditional wooden building, easily spotted by its dark, tiled roof and the quiet, walled garden that…

3. St. Ignatius Cathedral

St. Ignatius Cathedral displays twin bell towers rising over the Xuhui District, constructed entirely of red brick in the French Gothic style. Jesuit missionaries oversaw the building process, which concluded in nineteen ten after four…

4. Shanghai Library Xujiahui

The Shanghai Library in Xujiahui stands out with its massive, curved concrete facade that seems to hold the weight of its collection. Originally opened in nineteen ninety-six, this facility replaced several smaller municipal libraries to…

5. 徐家汇观象台

The Xujiahui Observatory stands out with its distinct grey brick facade and the tall, slender meteorological mast rising from its roof. Built by French Jesuits in eighteen seventy-two, this observatory served as the primary center for…

6. Xuhuigongxue Former Site

The Xuhuigongxue, or Saint Ignatius College, features a distinctive red brick facade with arched windows that contrast sharply against the surrounding concrete of modern Shanghai. Jesuit missionaries established this school in eighteen…

The audio tour continues in the Mira app →