Description of the attraction
The Great Xi'an Mosque is located near the Drum Tower on Huajuexiang Street in Xi'an. The total area of the mosque is 130 thousand square meters.
One of the oldest and largest Muslim mosques in China was founded in 742. Then she served as a religious center for Arab traders in China. According to historical records, most of the mosque was built during the Ming dynasty, further expansion of the occupied territory took place during the reign of the Qing dynasty.
Unlike most mosques in the Middle Eastern countries, the architectural style of the mosque is traditionally Chinese, excluding some Arabic inscriptions and decoration, as evidenced by the lack of minarets and domes of the traditional Islamic style.
Five courtyards separated by high walls lead to the main prayer hall of the mosque. Non-Muslims are forbidden to enter there, as well as into other halls during prayers. The main prayer hall occupies 1279 square meters and is designed for a thousand people. Each courtyard has a gate or pavilion.
In the first courtyard, you can see a nine-meter wooden arch, which was built at the beginning of the 17th century. The tallest tower in the complex, called the "Tower of Meeting Your Heart", is located in the "Place for Reflection" - the third courtyard. In the fourth courtyard, the Phoenix Pavilion is located right in front of the entrance to the main prayer hall.
The Great Xi'an Mosque remains a fairly popular attraction today, and is still the main venue for Muslim religious events in China.
