'Meet me at Wangfujing': Tales from a Beijing neighborhood

A favorite spot of mine for photography, or just to sit and relax, remains the beautiful St Joseph’s Catholic Church, also known as East Church (Dongtang). Originally founded in 1653 by Italian Jesuits it sits on land donated by the Qing Dynasty’s Shunzhi Emperor. The present structure, combining both European and Chinese features, dates from 1904. It is built in a "Romanesque Revival" style incorporating three bell towers. I first saw the church in 1996 from high up in the Beijing Peace Hotel on Jinyu Hutong. Then it was obscured from Wangfujing by an enclosing wall. As part of a major renovation completed in September 2000 the wall was removed, allowing for the creation of a large patio in front of the church. Today it is a popular location for wedding photography. One of my most beautiful memories outside St Joseph's was in the late 2000s, when an orchestra from Macao performed a selection of classical and modern works. A stunning experience to sit there listening under the evening stars!