In 1608, a Jesuit priest named Lazzaro Cattaneo arrived in Shanghai. He sought out a prominent Catholic convert, Xu Guangqi. Xu Guangqi, also known by her baptismal name Candida, played a vital role in the early days of Catholicism in Shanghai. Jiangqiaopu Catholic Church owes its existence to the efforts of early believers like her. Cattaneo stayed at Xu’s residence for three days, then moved to a nearby residence. Xu Guangqi established a small chapel on her property. This small chapel provided a place for early Catholic services in the area. Over the next two years, Cattaneo baptized approximately 200 people in and around Shanghai. This initial group formed the first Catholic community in the area around Jiangqiaopu Catholic Church. Another early Catholic family, the Zhang family, also resided in the Pudong district. Their house served as another meeting place for the growing Catholic community. Around 1640, thanks to Xu’s daughter’s assistance, the Jesuit priest Francesco Sambiaso acquired land in Shanghai. He renovated an existing structure, formerly the Shichun Tang Hall, and transformed it into a Catholic church. This church, known as Jingyi Church, became a center for Catholic worship in Shanghai. It was also near the site of the future Jiangqiaopu Catholic Church. The church featured a distinctive Chinese architectural style and an astronomical observatory. Jingyi Church served as the main Catholic church in Shanghai for nearly a century. After the suppression of Christianity in the 18th century, Jingyi Church was seized in 1730 and converted into a Guandi Temple. Despite the ban on Christianity, Catholic worshippers continued to practice their faith in secret. After the ban on Christianity was lifted in the mid-19th century, Catholic churches began to reappear in Shanghai. Jiangqiaopu Catholic Church eventually arose in the area where early believers like Xu Guangqi and the Zhang family fostered the first Catholic communities.
Jishan Hill
High above the bustling city Jishan Hill stands proud. Its name echoes through time a testament to the renowned writer