Holy Rosary Cathedral

The Holy Rosary Cathedral is located in Kaohsiung City's Lingya District. It was established in 1859, in the Hsianfong (Xianfong) reign period of the Ching (Qing) Dynasty, and is commonly known as the Chijin Cathedral.

Rev. Fernando Sainz coordinated the fundraising and construction of this Gothic-style church. Madonna is enshrined and worshiped in the middle of the main hall. The church was reformed in 1860 and named the Holy Rosary Cathedral. Reformed again in 1928 into a Renaissance-style architecture, it became Taiwan's most representative church of decoration art, with layers of decorative lines that display beautiful geometric patterns added for its arch ceilings. The shrine and holy table on the altar further manifest the artistry of Chinese carving. The current Holy Rosary Cathedral was completed in 1931 and is an excellent place to visit. It is Taiwan's first Catholic church and is recognized as a third-grade national historic site.

The church stands out among the adjacent high-rises in the business district, with unique design and hues of white and gray. Being the first Catholic basilica in Taiwan, it also plays a unique role in the history of Taiwan's architecture. According to scholarly studies, while the basilica presents a simplified Gothic style, it is also mixed with Roman design. The simplified Gothic style was presumably employed to cut down on the time normally required to build typical Gothic architecture, as observed in its rose windows and stained glass. Although the interior crossed reinforcing bars are more ornamental than functional, they still reflect a strong flavor of Gothic style. The series of short columns and arches in central tower are commonly seen in buildings emulating Roman architecture. The stone tablet reading held by two little angels on the porch are meant to prevent the basilica from disturbance.