Great Mosque in China, Xi'an resort
Rating: 8,3/10 (5404 votes)  This mosque is one of the largest Chinese mosques. It stands in the heart of the Muslim quarter. According to the inscriptions inside the mosque, it was built in 742 for travelers from Central Asia and merchants who, along with goods, brought religion and customs to China ... Many Arab merchants married Chinese women. The descendants of such unions are called Hui. They still live in the Xi'an Muslim quarter, there are about 30 thousand of them in the city. The mosque is very difficult to distinguish from a traditional Buddhist temple - it is made in the Chinese style, with curved cornices and tiled roofs. Only by looking more closely can one see the Arabian details, which give out the true purpose of this building. The railings and beams are decorated with ornaments, but you cannot find images of animals here - this is prohibited in mosques. The inscriptions inside the building are in both Chinese and Arabic script. In addition, the mosque differs from Buddhist buildings by the fact that it is oriented not from north to south, but towards Mecca - from west to east. The total area of the complex is 12 thousand square meters. It consists of four courtyards. In the first courtyard you can see a wooden arch, which is 9 meters high. Its roof is covered with glazed tiles. The arch was built during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor, in the 17th century. In the second courtyard there is a stone arch with steles on the sides. The inscriptions on these steles were made by the most famous Chinese calligraphers: Mi Fei and Dong Qichang. In the third courtyard, there is the Xingxin Tower and many ancient steles. The main prayer hall is located in the fourth courtyard. It is decorated with elaborate carvings and is topped with a blue roof. The hall can accommodate up to a thousand people at the same time. Non-Muslim visitors can enter the mosque from 8.00 to 19.30. However, only Muslims can enter the main prayer hall.    The Xingxin Tower and many ancient steles are located in the third courtyard. The main prayer hall is located in the fourth courtyard. It is decorated with elaborate carvings and is topped with a blue roof. The hall can accommodate up to a thousand people at the same time. Non-Muslim visitors can enter the mosque from 8.00 to 19.30. However, only Muslims can enter the main prayer hall. We also recommend reading Small Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an Resort, China Topic: Great Mosque in China, Xi'an resort. |
