Xi'an Mosque

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Pavilion serving as a minaret
Entrance to the prayer hall
Calligraphy in the mosque

The mosque of Xi'an or the Great Mosque of Xi'an ( Chinese  西安 清真寺 , Pinyin Xī'ān qīngzhēnsì or 西安 大 清真寺 , Xī'ān Dà qīngzhēnsì ) is located near the Drum Tower ( Gulou ) in Huajue Alley ( Huajue xiang ) from Xi'an , Shaanxi Province , China . It is one of the oldest and most famous mosques in the country.

It was built in the Tang Dynasty (during the time of Ruler Xuanzong , 685-762) at the eastern end of the Silk Road and was renovated in later times (particularly during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty ). It is an attraction for tourists and is still used today by Chinese Muslims (mainly Hui Chinese ) as a place of prayer. Unlike most mosques in the Middle East or other Arab countries, the mosque of Xi'an is completely Chinese in its construction and architecture . The only exceptions are some Arabic lettering and decorations, as the mosque has neither domes nor minarets.

The mosque at Xi'an has been on the list of monuments of the People's Republic of China since 1988 .

Web links

Commons : Mosque at Xi'an  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 34 ° 15 ′ 48 ″  N , 108 ° 56 ′ 11 ″  E