Notre Dame Des Victoires Tianjin A Symbol Of Faith Amidst The Turbulence Of Chinas Modern His

The coast city of Tianjin ranks among the largest cities in China

, located at the confluence of five of Haihe Rivers tributaries. The city, whose name translates into Heavenly Port of the Capital, is infused with both the dreaming charm of ancients and the busy bustle and hubbub of a thriving industrial metropolis. Although it is perpetually overshadowed by its more vibrant cousin Beijing, Tianjin harbours some of the most interesting attractions in the region.

Apart from the better-known attractions such as the Haihe River, the Tianjin TV and Radio Tower and the Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall, certain pockets of the city hold their own urbane charms. The downtown area in particular is architecturally intriguing, reflecting the influence of Westerners to whom the section was ceded after the Treaty of Tientsin in 1858. One of the buildings that exemplifies this un-looked for European influence is the Notre Dame des Victoires cathedral.

The imposing cathedral belies its sombre faade of dark walls and sparse outer adornment, towering over the surrounding buildings upon the northwest riverbank of the river. This 19th century construction holds a special place among the citys cultural heritage-scape as it is the first cathedral ever built in Tianjin, following the spread of Catholicism within the ancient city.

The Notre Dame des Victoires cathedral is a simple building complex that stands out at first glance solely because of its distinctive European appearance with otherwise architecturally unremarkable blocky towers and tall arched windows. Just over 150 years old, its history may also be considered relatively short compared to the majesty of the ancient ruins that litter Tianjins cityscape. Its importance lies primarily in the realm of Chinas turbulent modern history.

Built in 1869, it has withstood both natural and man-made onslaughts, surviving some of Chinas most historic devastations. The first of these ravages occurred a scant year after its construction during the Massacre of Tianjin. Thirty years later, the building again suffered serious damage during the Boxer Rebellion, one of the bloodiest anti-Imperialist revolts ever to mark an epoch in world history. The most recent devastation to the building was wreaked by the Tangshan earthquake of 1976.

Being resurrected time and time again like a phoenix from the ashes, Notre Dame des Victoires has become a symbol of the endurance and resilient faith of Tianjins people. Its last major reconstruction following the earthquake took seven years to complete; the church was only reopened in 1983. Five years later, the cathedral was finally recognized as a proud heritage building not only of the city but the nation as a whole.

Today, the cathedral continues to be a state-protected site as a major national relic. Unlike the other Catholic churches of note found in Tianjin, the Notre Dame des Victoires cathedral is only open to visitors and sightseers during Sunday morning mass. Its peaceful premises and dignified backdrop is an ideal complement to a tourists leisure weekend exploration.

The little-known treasures of this ancient Chinese city open up to the discovery of travellers who make an extended visit to the city. For those seeking prime Tianjin hotels in the most centralized location obtainable in Tianjin, the Raffles Tianjin is highly recommended. This accommodation has the reputation of being the tallest penthouse hotel in Tianjin, located in the west tower of the Tianjin Centre situated at the heart of the citys Central Business District. Its palatial lodgings, state-of-the-art facilities and luxury shopping options are complemented by the trademark Raffles service, the ideal choice for the discerning traveller.

by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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