Travel tips

china hights

Great Mosque

The Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved
Islamic mosques in China and its location is northwest of the Drum Tower (Gu
Lou) on Huajue Lane. 

According to historical records engraved on a stone tablet inside, this
mosque was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).  This was a result of
Islam being introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers from
Persia and Afghanistan during the mid-7th century when some of them settled down
in China and married women of Han Nationality.  Their descendants became Muslim
of today.  The Muslim played an important role in the unifications of China
during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties.  Hence, other mosques were also built to
honor them. 

In Xian, it is really well worth a trip to see the Great Mosque, not only
for its centuries-old history but also for its particular design of mixed
architecture - traditional Muslim and Chinese styles. 

ccupying an area of over 12,000 square meters, the Great Mosque is divided
into four courtyards, 250 meters long and 47 meters wide with a well-arranged
layout.  Landscaped with gardens, the further one strolls into its interior, the
more serene one feels. 

The first courtyard contains an elaborate wooden arch nine meters high
covered with glazed tiles that dates back to the 17th century.  In the center of
the second courtyard, a stone arch stands with two steles on both sides.  On one
stele is the script of a famous calligrapher named Mi Fu of the Song Dynasty; the other is from Dong Qichang, a calligrapher of
the Ming Dynasty.  Their calligraphy because of such elegant yet powerful
characters is considered to be a great treasure in the art of handwriting. 

At the entrance to the third courtyard is a hall that contains many steles
from ancient times.  As visitors enter this courtyard, they will see the Xingxin
Tower, a place where Muslims come to attend prayer services.  A Phoenix placed
in the fourth courtyard, the principal pavilion of this great mosque complex,
contains the Prayer Hall, the surrounding walls of which are covered with
colored designs.  This Hall can easily hold 1,000 people at a time and according
to traditional custom, prayer services are held five times everyday respectively
at dawn, noon, afternoon, dusk and night. 

Mosques in China, this Great Mosque is the only one open to visitors from 8
a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Non-Muslims, however, are not admitted to the main prayer hall
or during times of prayer.