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Asia
Great Mosque of Xi'an
Muslim Quarter, Xi'an, China
China's oldest and largest mosque and the heart of the old Muslim quarter: a courtyard ringed by wooden Chinese arcades, the famous "Introspection" minaret-pavilion, and a mihrab inscribed with rare calligraphy — a unique fusion of Chinese and Islamic architecture.
Story & history
Muslim merchants on the Silk Road founded it in the Tang era; Ming rulers rebuilt it wholly in Chinese style with curved roofs and wooden galleries so that it resembles a temple of wisdom, yet its mihrabs and Quranic tablets reveal its Islamic heart. The quarter's Muslim families still memorise the Quran in Arabic, generation after generation.
Getting there
Pin the site on the map or head straight there with your maps app; opening hours and access vary by season.
Quick facts
- A singular Sino-Islamic style
- The Introspection Tower is its emblem
- Minutes from the Drum Tower through the Muslim Quarter
Visiting tip
Open to non-Muslims outside prayer times; entered through the bustling quarter's lanes.