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Huajue Alley, Xincheng District, Xi'an, Shannxi Province, China
One of the oldest and best-preserved mosques in China
The Great Mosque of Xian, located near the Drum Tower, is one of the oldest and most renowned mosques in the country. Built in the Tang Dynasty (reign of Emperor Xuan Zong, 685-762), it still used by Chinese Muslims today as a place of worship.
Its four courtyards cover an area of more than 12,000square meters with an area of 4,000 square meters .The still intact wooden memorial arch with two sculptured dragon stone tablets on both sides in the second yard was built at the turn of the 17th century. With glazed tiles, spectacular corners and upturned eaves, it stands about 9 meters high and has a history of about 360 years. Unlike Arabian mosques with splendid domes, skyward minarets and dazzlig patterns, this mosque possesses much Chinese tradition in both design and artistic outlook. It assumes the striking features of Chinese pavilions, with painted beams and engraved ridgepoles.
The Great Mosque is located in Huajue Lane. It is the major spot for the religious activities of over 60,000 Moslems in Xian. It is also an important historical monument in Shaanxi Province.
Great Mosque Xi’an is the largest and best-preserved mosque in Xi’an, local people call it as East Great Mosque. Great Mosque Xi’an is one of China's four great mosque, and it is the earliest mosque in Xi’an that was built in Tianbao period of Tang dynasty (AD 742). It fuse with Chinese and western architectural elements of the unique architectural style, now it is an important attractions that both Chinese and foreign tourists will go to visit when travel to Xi’an.
Great Mosque located toward the east, the entire mosque is a rectangle of east-west direction surrounded by a green brick wall, covering an area of about 18 acres. The mosque is divided into four courtyards along the east-west axis of the mosque; the total construction area is about 4000 square meters. The one characteristic of Great Mosque Xi’an is that it mixes together with the traditional Chinese architectural style and Islamic architecture style perfectly. In architectural style, it strongly represents the traditional Chinese architectural style, but the articles and decorations of internal mosque are strictly following Islamism.
Existing Great Mosque Xi’an belongs to the Ming and Qing architectural style, main body construction is halls, Shengxin building, the phoenix pavilion, etc. Inside the mosque there are hand-written copies of the Koran in the Qing dynasty and a picture "Mecca figure” that portrayed Islam holy land Mecca, and 20 inscriptions written Arabic and Chinese.
Wooden Archway (木牌楼)
Built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty and renovated under Emperor Qianlong, this wooden archway has a history of over 300 years. Its architectural grade is second only to those found in the Forbidden City, reflecting the high status of the mosque during the feudal era. Such a structure is rare across the whole country, making it a unique highlight of the Great Mosque.
Five-Room Gatehouse (五间楼)
This gatehouse features a hard-gabled roof with five bays and a glazed tile roof, earning it the name “Five-Room Gatehouse.” The central section has a pair of red checkered doors, while its flanking walls are decorated with brick carvings of Arabic inscriptions of the Shahada (Islamic creed). Each corner bears Arabic names of the four archangels of Islam, blending religious symbolism with exquisite craftsmanship.
Shengxin Tower (省心楼)
Constructed with a combination of brick and wood, Shengxin Tower is a two-story octagonal pavilion topped with a three-tiered roof covered in turquoise glazed tiles. Locally known as the “Bongke Tower,” it serves as the place where Muslims are traditionally called to prayer, echoing with cultural and religious significance.
Prayer Hall (礼拜大殿)
The grand Prayer Hall stands on a raised platform, covered with a single-eaved hipped roof of turquoise glazed tiles. Its design is monumental and solemn. Shaped like the Chinese character “凸,” the front hall spans seven bays (32.95 meters wide) and nine rows in depth (38.5 meters). The two halls are joined with connected hipped roofs, and a smaller annex is attached at the rear. With a capacity for more than a thousand worshippers, the hall is the spiritual heart of the mosque and its most magnificent structure.
How to Get There
After exploring the Great Mosque, you can take a short 5-minute walk to the bustling Muslim Quarter (Hui Min Jie). Don’t miss the chance to try local specialties such as Yangrou Paomo at Lao Liu Jia restaurant or the famous Jiasan Soup Dumplings (灌汤包). The main food street stretches over 300 meters and offers a lively culinary adventure.
If you prefer a quieter experience, head west along Huajue Alley for about 10 minutes to Daxuexi Lane Mosque, a lesser-known site dating back to the Tang Dynasty. Its green-glazed main hall exudes a solemn atmosphere reminiscent of the voyages of Zheng He, and it is rarely crowded, with free entry.
For travelers with more time, consider extending your tour:
Take Metro Line 2 to Yongning Gate and rent a bike to ride along the Xi’an City Wall at sunset.
Visit the nearby Forest of Steles Museum (Beilin Museum) to admire stone inscriptions by renowned calligraphers like Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan.
If you enjoy architecture, a 15-minute taxi ride brings you to Guangren Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery whose red walls and golden rooftops form a striking contrast to the Sino-Islamic style of the Great Mosque.
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