The Cross by S. W. Zwemer:

When Portuguese traders, following the trail of the great explorer, Vasco da Gama, settled on the south coast of China, they built a massive cathedral on a hillcrest overlooking the harbour. But a violent typhoon proved too severe, and three centuries ago the great building fell, all except the front wall. The ponderous façade has stood as an enduring monument while high on its triangular top, clean cut against the sky and defying rain, lightning and typhoon is a great bronze cross. When Sir John Bowring, then governor of Hong Kong visited Macao in 1825 he was so impressed with the scene that he wrote the hymn beginning
In the cross of Christ I glory
Towering o’er the wrecks of time
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
The buildings of the ancient cathedral are forgotten but the cross they reared in memory of the crucified remains. China has seen stupendous changes. Old institutions have crumbled and dynasties disappeared. But the cross still stands.
S. W. Zwemer: from World Christian Digest April 1952