Christ Church (Jiangsu Road Protestant Church, once called the Gospel Church) was built by the Germans in 1910 to a design by architect Curt Rothkegel. Its Romanesque-Gothic, castle-like form – granite walls, steep red roof, green spire and a bell tower of about 39 m – served the German community of Qingdao. After 1949 the building was put to other uses and reopened for worship in the 1980s. Today it is one of the signature images of the old town.
Visitors praise the colours, the round stained-glass window behind the simple cross, the organ placed in the gallery above the entrance, and above all the climb up the tower to see the large mechanical clock, which still keeps accurate time. Many prefer it to St. Michael's Cathedral because it is far less crowded. The square in front is popular for wedding shoots. Some note that the interior is not large and rather dim, so the exterior and the clockwork are the real highlights.
- Ticket: 10 yuan, which covers the grounds, the hall and the bell tower.
- Getting there: metro line 4 goes nearby; the church sits up a small lane off Jiangsu Road opposite the hospital and is easy to miss.
- Time: about an hour is enough; combine with Signal Hill Park and the Signal Hill Guest House next door.
- Photos: sunny late afternoon gives the warmest light on the facade; last entry is at 16:30.
The main complaints are the hidden entrance and a modest interior. Look for the lane uphill from Jiangsu Road, and do not skip the tower – it is what makes the ticket worthwhile.
