The Great Mosque of Xi’an is one of the oldest and most significant mosques in China. It is located in the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an, the capital city of Shaanxi province in central China. The mosque was built during the Tang Dynasty, which was a golden age of cultural and economic prosperity in China, and is believed to have been founded in 742 CE.
The mosque was originally constructed under the direction of Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas, one of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions, who traveled to China in the 7th century to spread Islam. The mosque was later expanded during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, resulting in a unique architectural style that combines traditional Chinese elements with Islamic features.
The mosque covers an area of more than 13,000 square meters and is built in a traditional Chinese style with a central courtyard surrounded by buildings. The mosque has four courtyards, with the first courtyard containing a wooden archway that leads to the second courtyard. The second courtyard features a large prayer hall with a beautiful wooden roof and pillars decorated with Arabic inscriptions.
The third courtyard contains a stone archway, which leads to the fourth courtyard, where there is a wooden pavilion and a well-preserved Ming Dynasty stele that records the mosque’s history. The mosque also features a number of other buildings, including a lecture hall, a library, and a minaret.
Over the centuries, the Great Mosque of Xi’an has played an important role in the development of Islam in China and has become a symbol of the rich cultural and religious heritage of the Muslim community in China.