Great Mosque

The
Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved
Islamic mosques in China and its location is northwest of the Drum
Tower (Gu Lou) on Huajue Lane.

According to historical records engraved on a stone
tablet inside, this mosque was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty
(618-907). This was a result of Islam being introduced into Northwest
China by Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan
during the mid-7th century when some of them settled down in China
and married women of Han Nationality. Their descendants became Muslim
of today. The Muslim played an important role in the unifications
of China during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Hence, other mosques
were also built to honor them.

In Xian, it is really well worth a trip to see
the Great Mosque, not only for its centuries-old history but also
for its particular design of mixed architecture - traditional Muslim
and Chinese styles.

The Great Mosquee of Xi'an,located near the Drum tower,on Hua Jue lane,in a district of Xi'an inhabited mainly by Muslim Hui minority, is one of the oldest and largest Mosquee in the country.Looking nothing like a Mosquee but like a large Chinese garden separated into sections by Chinese gateways,pagodas and pavilions,the construction and architecture style are completely Chinese except for islamic decorative patterns.
Said to have been founded in the 8th century during the Tang dynasty,at the Eastern end of the Silk Road,the present buildings are mostly from the Ming and Qin dynasties.
It is said that Islam was introduced there by Arab merchants and travellers from Afghanistan and Persia.

The largest Chinese Mosquee,facing West(towards Mecca),still used, occupies an area of 12000 square meters and it is divided into 4(there is another one behind the prayer hall) courtyards leading to the Prayer hall;
In the first courtyard,there is a 17th century's wooden arch or pailou,9 meter high, with glaze-covered tiles.Furniture from the Ming and Qing dynasties is displayed in the rooms standing by each side of the arch.
In the second courtyard stand three connected stone memorial gateways with Chinese calligraphy reading The Court of the Heaven ,on the top of the main gate.There are there,like in the third courtyard,stone tablets with Arabic inscriptions.
The prayer hall,at the western end of the fourth courtyard is reserved for the worship of Islam and cant'be seen.