The Catholic Churches of Lanzhou

Lanzhou, Gansu, China

Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu, is located on the corridor of Hexi, an old silk route. The province of Gansu, the gateway to Central Asia, houses a small Catholic community with a history linked to the missionaries of the Divine Word.

History of evangelization in Gansu

The province of Gansu was evangelized by the missionaries of the Congregation of the Divine Word (SVD) at the end of the 19th century. In 1878, the Apostolic Vicariate of Gansu was established, covering a vast region of north-west China.

Gansu's strategic position, as a gateway to Central Asia and the Silk Road, facilitated the spread of the Catholic faith. The missionaries established churches in the main cities and rural communities.

The Cathedral of Lanzhou

The cathedral of Lanzhou was built in the early 20th century by the missionaries of the Divine Word. The building, of a modest neo-Gothic style, has served as the center of Catholic life in the region. The cathedral has been restored after the damage of the Cultural Revolution.

Persecution and survival

During the Cultural Revolution, the cathedral of Lanzhou was closed and desecrated. However, the clandestine Catholic community kept faith alive. After the religious opening of the 1980s, the cathedral was restored.

Gansu today

The Catholic community of Gansu is still active. The cathedral celebrates regular masses and is the centre of Marian devotion for the faithful of the province.