The first floor of the Catholic Major Seminary, which was the official location of the local people's procuratorate, opened to its first visitors after being restored to its original look following a renovation that began in 2013 in Xuhui District, Shanghai.
Built from Nov. 20, 1928 to Oct. 30, 1929, the four-storey Catholic Major Seminary at No. 40 Nandan Road is used as the official location of local government in Xuhui District.
After a nearly two-year renovation based on original design sketches, the first floor has been restored to its former look with features that include gothic windows and mosaic tiles.
While the other three floors are still used as offices, the gothic auditorium on the first floor is expected to become a venue for Western-style wedding ceremonies.
The first floor is accessible during this "soft" opening, as only group reservations are taken on weekdays, while individuals can visit on weekends.
Xuhui District is home to many historic sites, and one of them is St. Ignatius Cathedral of Shanghai, once known as the grandest church in the Far East and now undergoing a face-lift.
Credit: China Daily
