The Great Mosque of Xi’an, located within the alleys of the Muslim Quarter, was established during the Tang Dynasty under Emperor Xuanzong, boasting over 1,200 years of history. Its architecture follows traditional Chinese styles with flying eaves and dougong brackets, devoid of Arabic domes or minarets, and features classic Chinese wooden pavilions.
Inside the mosque, many wooden doors and brick walls showcase Islamic artistic styles through intricate wood and brick carvings. The wooden plaques and inscriptions are adorned with Arabic script. The mosque’s brick carvings are particularly notable for their fine craftsmanship, depicting various motifs like flowers, birds, fish, and Arabic script, making them highly valuable.
Travel Informaiton about Great Mosque of Xi’an
Ticket Price and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: 25 RMB during peak season, 15 RMB during off-peak season.
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Getting There
Address: No. 30 Huajue Lane, Lianhu District, Xi’an.
Transportation: Take Metro Line 2 to “Bell Tower” Station and walk to the mosque.
Attraction Ratings
- Cultural Value: ★★★★★
- Special Features: ★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★
- Beauty: ★★
- Romance: ★
- Excitement: ★
Layout of the Great Mosque of Xi’an
The mosque’s layout is modest, following the traditional Chinese axial symmetry and courtyard style with landscaped features. The central axis begins with the screen wall and leads through a sequence of structures including the wooden pagoda, five-room building, stone archway, imperial hall, and various pavilions.
To access the main prayer hall, visitors pass through four courtyards and nine gates, highlighting the hall’s revered status in both the mosque and the Muslim community. The prayer hall is the mosque’s most significant building and a key site for local Muslims. It features a striking peacock-blue glazed tile roof and exquisitely painted ceiling, though non-Muslims and women are not permitted inside, so most visitors can only glimpse the interior from the entrance.
The central feature of the first courtyard is a wooden pagoda with a high, intricately carved structure and a glazed tile roof, creating a grand and impressive sight.
The second courtyard of the Great Mosque of Xi’an features a five-room building with a prominent “清真寺” plaque. At the center of this courtyard stands a stone archway with three rooms and four columns. The central beam is inscribed with “天监在兹” (Heavenly Vigilance Here), while the side beams bear the inscriptions “钦冀昭事” (Imperial Edict for Restoration) and “虔诚省礼” (Devout and Respectful Ceremony). Flanking the archway are two stone steles set into brick niches. One stele, inscribed in 1606 by Feng Congwu, features calligraphy by Mi Fu reading “道法参天地” (The Dao is in Harmony with Heaven and Earth). The other, from 1772, bears a calligraphy by Dong Qichang, stating “敕赐礼拜 寺” (Imperial Edict for the Prayer Hall).
The third courtyard houses the Shengxin Pavilion, a two-story, octagonal structure with three eaves. Adjacent to it is the “Jiangjing Hall,” which contains a Ming Dynasty manuscript of the Quran and a map of Mecca. The entrance is marked by the “Imperial Edict Prayer Hall,” a Ming Dynasty gate with a gold plaque inscribed by Dong Qichang. Inside the hall is a moon-shaped stele detailing the Islamic lunar calendar.
In the fourth courtyard stands the Phoenix Pavilion, designed like a bird with outstretched wings, leading to the mosque’s central space—the main prayer hall. Covering about 1,300 square meters, the hall can accommodate over a thousand worshippers. It features over 400 Quranic illustrations and a ceiling adorned with 600 geometric patterns in Arabic script. Additionally, there are 30 four-meter-tall wooden carvings of Quranic verses. The walls of the hall are richly decorated with colorful carvings interwoven with Quranic text.
The Great Mosque of Xi’an is renowned for its serene beauty and profound atmosphere. Its ancient stone structures and elegantly subdued pavilions seem to have traveled from the distant Tang Dynasty, carrying a sense of timeless solitude and reflecting the passage of time.
Other Mosques in Xi’an
In addition to the Great Mosque of Xi’an on Huajue Alley, the ancient city is home to several other notable mosques:
Daxuexi Alley Mosque (大学习巷清真寺): Located on the west side of Daxuexi Alley, this mosque is also known as the “West Great Mosque” due to its proximity to the Huajue Alley Great Mosque. According to a stone stele within the mosque, it was established during the Tang Dynasty’s Shenlong period (705 AD) and is one of the oldest mosques in Xi’an.
Guangji Street Small Mosque (广济街小清真寺): Believed to have been established in the late Ming Dynasty (around 1600), this mosque is known as the “Small Mosque” due to its location in Guangji Fang and its proximity to the Huajue Alley Great Mosque. It is humorously referred to by locals as the “Scout Gate” of the Great Mosque.
Xiaoxuexi Alley Military Mosque (小学习巷清真营里寺): As the name suggests, this mosque was originally located in a military camp. The earliest records of this mosque date back to the An Lushan Rebellion during the Tang Dynasty.
Sajin Bridge Western Mosque (洒金桥清真西寺): Situated at the Sajin Bridge intersection, this mosque was originally a Buddhist temple known as “Haihui An” before being converted into a mosque. The current mosque features a blend of traditional Chinese and Arabic architectural styles.
Sajin Bridge Ancient Mosque (洒金桥清真古寺): Also referred to as the “Northern Mosque,” this mosque has a long history, with records suggesting its existence during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, approximately six to seven hundred years ago. A venerable locust tree, believed to have been planted by the first Imam, stands at the entrance, adding to its historical significance.
Dapi Alley Mosque (大皮院清真寺): Established in the ninth year of the Ming Yongle period (1411), this mosque features classical Chinese architectural style. Surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery, it serves as a sacred place for local Hui Muslims to conduct religious activities.
Xiaopi Alley Northern Great Mosque (小皮院清真北大寺): Located north of the Huajue Alley Great Mosque, it is also known as the “Northern Great Mosque.” Along with the Huajue Alley (Eastern Great Mosque) and Daxuexi Alley (Western Great Mosque), it ranks among the three major ancient mosques in Xi’an. It is renowned for its long history and its role in nurturing numerous accomplished Islamic scholars.