Matteo Ricci built a small chapel on this site in 1605, during the 33rd year of the reign of the Emperor Wanli.(Ming dynasty).Small in scale, it was replaced by a larger building in 1610.

• 1605年，（明万历三十三年），利玛窦曾于该处建起北城内第一座经堂，但规模很小，虽然后来在1610年又建造了一座比较可观的小堂，但仍然不够宏伟壮观。