List of mosques in China
This is a list of notable mosques in China. A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the religion of Islam. The first mosque in China was the Great Mosque of Xi'an, built during the Tang Dynasty in the 8th century CE. Today there are over 39,000 mosques in China, 25,000 of these are in Xinjiang, a north-west autonomous region.
In China, mosques are called Qīng Zhēn Sì, a name which was also used by Chinese Jews for synagogues. Other names include Huí Huí Táng, Huí Huí Sì, Lǐ Bài Sì, Zhēn Jiào Sì or Qīng Jìng Sì.
During the Qing Dynasty, at the Mosque entrance of Hui Mosques, a tablet was placed upon which "Huáng Dì Wàn Suì, Wàn Suì, Wàn Wàn Suì" was inscribed, which means, "The Emperor, may he live forever". Wansui means Ten thousand years, which means forever in Chinese. Westerners traveling in China noted the presence of these tablets at mosques in Yunnan and Ningbo.
Most mosques have certain aspects in common with each other however as with other regions Chinese Islamic architecture reflects the local architecture in its style. China is renowned for its beautiful mosques, which resemble temples. However, in western China the mosques resemble those of Iran and Central Asia, with tall, slender minarets, curvy arches and dome shaped roofs, as well as the unique multi-layered portals. In northwest China where the Chinese Hui have built their mosques, there is a combination of eastern and western styles. The mosques have flared Buddhist style roofs set in walled courtyards entered through archways with miniature domes and minarets.
The style of architecture of Hui Mosques varies according to their sect. The traditionalist Gedimu Hanafi Sunnis, influenced by Chinese culture, build Mosques which look like Chinese temples. The reformist modernist Yihewani build their Mosques to look like Middle Eastern Arab style Mosques.
List of mosques
Name | Images | City or District | Province or Municipality | Year | Remarks |
Niujie Mosque | Xicheng | Beijing | 996 | ||
Qingjing Mosque | Quanzhou | Fujian | 1009 | Qīng Jìng Sì | |
Dunhuang Mosque | Dunhuang | Gansu | 1917 | Dūn Huáng Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
Huasi Mosque | Linxia | Gansu | 1487 | Huá Sì Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
Huaisheng Mosque | Guangzhou | Guangdong | 627 | ||
Nanning Mosque | Nanning | Guangxi | 1707 | Nán Níng Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
Daowai Mosque | Daowai | Harbin | 1897 | Dào Wài Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
Bukui Mosque | Qiqihar | Heilongjiang | 1684 | Bo Kuí Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
List of mosques in Hong Kong | Hong Kong | ||||
Great Mosque of Hohhot | Hohhot | Inner Mongolia | 1693 | Hū Hé Hào Tè Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì | |
Macau Mosque | Our Lady of Fatima Parish | Macau | |||
Tongxin Great Mosque | Tongxin | Ningxia | ca.1400 | Tóng Xīn Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì | |
Dongguan Mosque | Xining | Qinghai | 1380 | ||
Jiezi mosque | Xunhua Salar | Qinghai | ? | ? | |
Great Mosque of Xi'an | Xi'an | Shaanxi | 742 | ||
Jinan Great Southern Mosque | Jinan | Shandong | 1295 | Jì Nán Qīng Zhēn Nán Dà Sì | |
Fuyou Road Mosque | Huangpu | Shanghai | 1870 | Fú Yòu Lù Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
Xiaotaoyuan Mosque | Huangpu | Shanghai | 1917 | Xiǎo Táo Yuán Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
Lhasa Great Mosque | Lhasa | Tibet | 1716 | Lā Sà Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì | |
Afaq Khoja Mausoleum | Haohan | Xinjiang | 1640 | Ā Bā Hé Jiā Má Zhá | |
Khotan Mosque | Hotan | Xinjiang | 1870 | Hé Tián Qīng Zhēn Sì | |
Id Kah Mosque | Kashgar | Xinjiang | 1442 | ||
Najiaying Mosque | Yuxi | Yunnan | 1370 | Nà Jiā Yíng Qīng Zhēn Sì |