Saint Joseph’s Seminary and Church

About

Saint Joseph Church was built in 1758, integrated on a complex of buildings including the Saint Joseph Seminary built earlier in 1728. It is located on top of the hill and accessible through a long staircase. The church is a rare example of Baroque architecture in China, based on a Latin cross layout it emphasizes the sense of verticality with a large central dome, profuse natural light and sophisticated detailing evident on the spiral columns of the altar and on the salomonic columns supporting the upper-choir. The Seminary of Saint Joseph was built earlier in 1728, as an austere neoclassical structure with a interior cloister, library and classrooms organized by an 80 meter-long corridor.