Experience European and American architectural styles at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Guangzhou

The Sacred Heart Cathedral is a very typical example of Gothic architecture, characterized by its towering spires. In its design, it utilizes cross vaults, flying buttresses, slender columns, and a new framework structure to increase the support for the top, giving the entire building a vertical line, a majestic appearance, and a vast space inside the church. Combined with the long windows inlaid with colored glass, it creates a strong religious atmosphere within the church. Such Gothic cathedral architecture of this scale is relatively rare in China, while internationally famous churches of the same type include the Milan Cathedral, Cologne Cathedral in Germany, and the damaged Notre-Dame de Paris, among others. In the culture of the European Middle Ages, Christianity's influence was dominant, shaping the social lifestyle and ideological consciousness of the time, and art inevitably bore a strong religious hue, serving as a spokesperson for God and the church. The twin-towered facade of the Sacred Heart Cathedral features a pair of soaring pointed stone towers, symbolizing ascension to heaven and conversion to God; the spire on the bell tower of the facade is characteristic of Gothic church architecture and also represents the charm of architectural modeling. The spires are hollow octagonal cones made of stone, with three floors of buildings below them. The spires become steeper as they rise, eventually piercing the sky like the tip of a cone. In typical Gothic architecture, stone columns are generally called clustered columns, giving the impression that a bundle of columns is tied together. From the outside, the stone columns of the cathedral seem to differ from ordinary clustered columns, as each column here is made from whole blocks of granite, tightly joined with precise mortise and tenon joints, and the stones are bonded with tung oil and glutinous rice paste. The church's facade and east and west sides each have a nearly 7-meter diameter circular rose window. All doors and windows are inlaid with French-made deep red, yellow, blue, green, and other colored glass. This glass prevents strong outdoor light from entering, keeping the indoor light soft all year round, creating a kind and solemn religious atmosphere. This is one of the characteristics of Gothic churches. Based on the characteristics of Gothic architecture, the Sacred Heart Cathedral also incorporates many Chinese elements. The entire church was built using Chinese traditional methods, with glutinous rice and tung oil instead of cement, which is both waterproof and sturdy. The dome stones are also chiseled with double holes and threaded with iron rods for added strength. The water outlets on the church roof are also made in the shape of Chinese lions, the floor was changed from the originally designed stone to Guangdong large step bricks for better moisture resistance, and the doors are carved with Guangzhou-style wood carvings. Navigate to the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Guangzhou Closed on Mondays, so don't make a wasted trip. It is recommended to wear long pants and long sleeves to avoid being denied entry.