Church
Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Caijiawan
蔡家湾玫瑰圣母堂cài jiā wān méi guī shèng mǔ táng
Founded in 1734, the earliest church the Qingpu gazetteer dates; it was demolished in 1972 and rebuilt in 1991-92.
Directory and photographs supplied by 中二halo君. Photographs used with permission. · Xiaohongshu · Bilibili
- Built
- 1991–1992
- Architect
- Not recorded
- Style
- Not recorded
- Heritage listing
- Not recorded
- Status
- Visitor access not yet confirmed
The pale facade with a slender central spire, round window and flanking pinnacles, seen from the entrance drive.
Photo: 中二halo君 · used with permission · Xiaohongshu · BilibiliWhat you're looking at
- A modern rebuild on a very old Catholic site
- Any display about the orphanage and the old Rosary Church
The church at the end of a long paved approach.
Photo: 中二halo君 · used with permission · Xiaohongshu · Bilibili
The nave looking toward the crucifix, with dark stone columns and a patterned tile aisle.
Photo: 中二halo君 · used with permission · Xiaohongshu · Bilibili
A white Pieta statue in a railed enclosure beside the church wall.
Photo: 中二halo君 · used with permission · Xiaohongshu · Bilibili
The church's dark roof and spire seen across a canal, among low houses.
Photo: 中二halo君 · used with permission · Xiaohongshu · BilibiliThe story
Our Lady of the Rosary Church (蔡家湾玫瑰圣母堂, Càijiāwān Méiguī Shèngmǔ Táng) stands on the oldest Catholic site in the Qingpu area. The church you see today is a rebuild of 1991-92, but the parish goes back to 1734.
Where Qingpu’s Catholic story took hold
The Qingpu County Gazetteer says that after imperial limits on missionary work in 1724, French Jesuits came back to Caijiawan (蔡家湾, Càijiāwān) in Xujing in 1734 and built a small church, which they called the ‘Mother of Mercy’ (慈母堂). More than a thousand Catholics lived in the county by then,
An orphanage, a destroyed church, a new one
In 1850 the church added an orphanage, which took in 66 children. In 1860 the church was destroyed and the orphanage closed; the Jesuits built a ‘Cross Church’ in its place. In 1909 that was enlarged into a bigger Rosary Church with a bell tower. A school, Dade, opened in 1938. In 1940 Caijiawan became a parish of its own, with nine outstations and over 730 Catholics.
Closure and rebuilding
The Xujiahui sisters’ house opened a branch here in April 1959 with 30 sisters. Activity ended in October 1960 and the church was demolished in 1972. In 1991 the Shanghai diocese spent over 100,000 yuan on a new church, which opened in October 1992. By 2000 the site covered 3,714 m2, with 416 m2 of buildings.
What to look for
The church is on Qingsong Highway, Gaojing Village. Nothing of the Rosary Church of 1909 remains; what to see is a small modern church on a very old Catholic site. Ask at the parish about any display of the orphanage and school.
How to visit
- Status
- Visitor access not yet confirmed
- Opening times and prices not yet confirmed; check before you go.
- Nearest metro
- Metro directions will be added after a site visit.
Chinese address — show this to a taxi driver
徐泾镇高泾村青松公路185号
185 Qingsong Highway, Gaojing Village, Xujing Town, Qingpu District, Shanghai
The exact map position has not yet been confirmed. Use the Chinese place name and address when checking the location.
No map position yet; use the Chinese address.
Sources
- 1.Qingpu County Gazetteer, Catholicism (青浦县志 · 天主教), Shanghai Local Chronicles Office — 天主教; 蔡家湾天主堂; 蔡家湾天主堂; 天主教gazetteer
- 2.Qingpu County Gazetteer 1985-2000, Catholicism (青浦县志1985-2000 · 第四节 天主教), Shanghai Local Chronicles Office — 蔡家湾天主堂gazetteer
- 3.Photographs of Shanghai churches and their signs, by 中二halo君 (上海教堂实拍照片（中二halo君）), 中二halo君, 中二halo君, 2026 — sign photographed at the churchfieldwork