CHINA

XI'AN. SIGHTS OF INTEREST. Huajue Mosque (Great Mosque)
 

One of the four famous mosques of China, the oldest, largest, and best preserved one. Situated on the Huajue Lane, to the northwest from the Drum Tower, it has a particular design – a mixture of the Muslim and Chinese traditional styles. It’s the main religious center for the 60 000 Muslims of Xi’an. 

The historical records engraved in the stone tablet of the Mosque say that it was built during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907) in 742 and renovated several times by the dynasties followed later. Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan brought Islam here in the middle of the seventh century: some of them settled down in China and married women of the Han nationality. Their descendants became Muslim. History says that the Muslim played an important role in the unification of China. 

The area of the Great Mosque is more then 4 000 square meters. It consists of four courtyards with a well - arranged layout. There is a s stone gateway with two sculptured dragon stone tablets in the second courtyard. You’ll find inscriptions of the famous Chinese calligraphers Mi Fu of the Song Dynasty and Dong Qichang of the Ming Dynasty on these stone tablets. Their calligraphy is a treasure of the handwriting art. 

Prayer services take place five times everyday in the Prayer Hall situated in the fourth courtyard. Non-Muslims are not admitted to this main prayer hall.