Xujiahui Cathedral was once the largest cathedral in the Far East. (Photo : Wikimedia)
Xujiahui Cathedral, a century-old iconic structure in Shanghai, is set to undergo major renovation aimed at restoring its historic look, according to a Tuesday statement by the Xuhui District government, as reported by Shanghai Daily.
Work on the cathedral started last Monday and is expected to continue until Aug. 17, 2016. In the meantime, the cathedral will be closed, according to an official with the district government.
The cathedral has been closed since Aug. 24 for safety purposes.
The renovation will repair a leaking roof, as well as repair damage from wind abrasion. The tiles and wooden floors in the structure will also be replaced.
"The cathedral has suffered severe leakages while parts of construction material have been falling down, frequently in recent times, disrupting prayers and scaring off visitors," the cathedral management said in a statement.
The renovation project aims to restore the cathedral to its historic look from the 1950s, although some new materials will be used to protect the building from wind and rain.
The dome and interior wall will be repainted, and the floors and wooden handrails will be stabilized. Anti-termite paint will also be used to protect the building.
The original brick floors that were replaced by cement during the 1991 renovation will be restored.
For the exterior, the cross and bell tower will be repainted and stabilized.
Once known as the Saint Ignatius Cathedral, it was once the largest cathedral in the Far East.
Xujiahui Cathedral was designed by a British architect, and construction was financed by French businessmen. Construction began in 1906 and was finished in Oct. 1910.
