The spirit of Christmas

Jingling Church.

The best choir:

Jingling Church 景靈堂

The choir at this Christian church is of a high standard and is well known within the church community. The choir has more than 100 members. Only those who have excellent singing skills and can memorize popular hymns are allowed to join the Sunday service.

Madam Soong Mei-ling used to be a member of the choir and her father was once a priest at this church. The Soong family, one of the most powerful families of 20th century China, attended Sunday service here.

The church was established in 1924 and was named after Young John Allen, a missionary from the United States. It was the largest Christian church in Shanghai in its day. Its name was changed in the 1980s.

Tel: 021-6324-3021

Address: 135 Kunshan Road, Hongkou district 虹口區(qū)昆山路135號

Christmas worship: 7:00 pm on Dec 24, 9:30 am and 7:00 pm on Dec 25

The largest Catholic church:

Xujiahui Catholic Cathedral

徐家匯天主堂

This landmark cathedral, of which the official name is St Ignatius Cathedral, at the bustling Xujiahui commercial area, is known as "the small Vatican in Shanghai".

The cathedral of French gothic style can hold 3,000 people. It was built in 1905, and was the largest of its kind at that time in Asia. There were more than 10,000 believers registered with the cathedral, many of them orphans raised in the church.

The two bell towers on both sides of the main hall are 54 meters high and the church is decorated with delicate portraits, statues and colorful glass windows.

It underwent major repairs 30 years ago after many of its musical instruments, sacrificial altars and holy statues were destroyed during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76).

Tel: 021-6438-2595

Address: 158 Puxi Road, Xuhui district 徐匯區(qū)蒲西路158號

Christmas mass: 7:00 pm, 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm (English) on Dec 24, and 7:00 am, 10:00 am and 6:00 pm on Dec 25