Shanghai Minhang Historical Architecture | Maqiao Catholic Church (2838)

| Maqiao Catholic Church (2838). The Maqiao Catholic Church, also known as the "Immaculate Conception Church," is located at No. 25 Maqiao East Street, Maqiao Town, Minhang District, Shanghai. It was originally built during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty (1851–1861), making it more than half a century older than the famous Xujiahui Catholic Church. Maqiao Catholic Church originally had jurisdiction over 11 subordinate churches in the Maqiao, Beiqiao, and Zhuanqiao areas. It covers an area of approximately 2,070 square meters, with a total construction area of 1,084 square meters. While the overall style is predominantly Western church architecture, Chinese elements are incorporated into the details, such as the courtyard layout and brick carvings, reflecting the diversity of church architecture in modern Shanghai. The main church faces south, with a slightly elongated rectangular plan. It is a single-story brick and wood structure, with a porch in front of the main facade and three pointed arched doorways on the facade. Inside, two rows of longitudinally arranged columns support the beams and frames with flying arches, dividing the main church into three aisles. A new bell tower has been built on the north side of the main church, and a two-story Western-style annex is located on the east side, featuring a red tile double-sloped roof and a clean exterior wall of red and green bricks. A row of auxiliary bungalows is built on each side of the square in front of the main church, and the entire courtyard is enclosed by brick walls and iron fences. Despite its history of over 160 years, Maqiao Catholic Church has undergone several renovations and remains in good condition today, with both the building and courtyard layout exhibiting considerable scale and character. On September 30, 2000, Maqiao Catholic Church was designated as a cultural relic preservation unit in Minhang District.