Beitang (North Church)

Between Xisi and the former Beijing Library, there is a side street called Xishiku Dajie on Fuyou Street, in which the North Church stands. The church building is very noticeable with its white facade in the gothic style, because it was modeled on the Cathedral of Reims. It is probably the church with the longest history among Western churches in Beijing. The Jesuits wanted to have the church built in the centre of the city, but the Empress Dowager Cixi could not bear the idea of having a Western church near the Imperial Palace, and this is why it was built at the present site. In the old days, this place was quite far from the city center, though today it is considered very central.

The church stopped being used for services after 1949, and was at one time used as a warehouse and a school. Renovation started in the 1980s, and it was opened in 1985. Every day early morning mass is held from 6 to 7.