LandmarkOld Canton: Beijing Road, Yuexiu Park and the Nanyue King
SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (SHISHI, THE 'STONE HOUSE') · SHISHI SHENGXIN DA JIAOTANG
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Old Canton: Beijing Road, Yuexiu Park and the Nanyue King · 23.117°N 113.255°E
FreeClosure day
A French Gothic cathedral built entirely of granite on the site of the Viceroy's yamen the British and French burned in 1857: foundation stone 1863, finished 1888, twin spires 58.5 m, stained glass from France, gargoyles carved as Chinese lions. It is the seat of the Catholic diocese of Guangzhou and a working parish first — visiting hours are short (mornings and late afternoons on weekdays by current listings; closed Mondays and during Mass), and the diocese publishes nothing we could read from abroad, so check the notice on the gate. Free; dress covered.
EntranceMetro Line 6 Yide Lu station, Exit B, then about 300 m east along Yide Road; the forecourt gate is on the north side of the street
Last verified 2026-09-15Source: platforms and press
How to book
None; walk in during visiting hoursNot independently verified — check official channels before you go
Beat the crowds
Weekday afternoons 15:00-17:00 when the west light comes through the glass and the tour groups have gone; Sunday is Mass from early morning and visiting is a 90-minute window after lunch.
Language
Bilingual history board in the forecourt; Mass is in Cantonese, Mandarin and — by unofficial listings — English on Sunday afternoons and Korean on Saturdays. No official English page could be read.