Spring Festival Road Trip to Ancient Mosques in Sichuan (Part 12): Qingxi Ancient City in Qingchuan County, Guangyuan
<p>During our Spring Festival journey, we drove from Dayuan Hui Township in Qingchuan County, Guangyuan to Qingxi Ancient City to break our fast. Although there were only two tables with ten people at the Qingxi Mosque, the atmosphere was incredibly welcoming, making us feel right at home. <b>The warmth of the community was palpable</b>, with a sister cooking fresh dishes right at the mosque and elders bringing homemade food to share.</p>
<p>We were treated to the traditional Qingxi Hui Muslim "Nine Great Bowls" (Jiu Da Wan), a standard banquet feast. The spread was hearty and wholesome, featuring clear-stewed meat, crispy fried pork (prepared in the halal manner with beef or mutton), steamed meat with rice flour, braised chicken, and stir-fried cabbage with kelp. <b>The balance of meat and vegetables offered a deeply comforting, home-cooked flavor.</b> After the meal, the elders and the Imam generously packed stewed meat, fried dough cakes (Youxiang), and fruit for me to eat during Suhoor (the pre-dawn meal).</p>
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<p><b>Qingxi Ancient City is a vital pass along the historical Yinping Route</b>, historically known as the "Gateway to Northern Sichuan and the Throat of Western Shu." It has always been a bustling hub for merchants and a fiercely contested strategic military point. Since the Ming Dynasty, Hui Muslims from Shaanxi and Gansu have settled in Qingxi along this ancient route. The Qingxi Mosque was formally established in 1546 (the 25th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty). The current structure reflects its scale after being rebuilt in 1982.</p>
<p>A majestic Chinese honeylocust tree, standing for over 400 years in the courtyard, serves as a silent, powerful witness to the mosque's enduring history.</p>
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<p>The Youxiang and chicken prepared for Suhoor.</p>
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<p><b>The ancient city of Qingxi comes alive at night.</b> The streets are lined with numerous Hui Muslim eateries, offering a rich variety of foods ranging from fried cakes and crispy pastries to restaurants serving stir-fries, braised meats, and twice-cooked dishes. There are also snack shops selling beef and flatbread soup (Niu Rou Hui Mo) and wontons, as well as places famous for traditional copper hotpot. <b>Sichuan boasts several ancient towns and cities with abundant Hui Muslim culinary delights</b>, such as Dujiangyan, Songpan, and Langzhong, all of which are highly worth a visit. In my experience, Qingxi Ancient Town is less crowded with tourists, making it an ideal, serene summer retreat deep within the Qinba Mountains.</p>
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<p>The area outside the east gate of Qingxi Ancient City is the main residential district for the Hui community. It has recently been developed into a Hui cultural street, bustling with numerous halal restaurants and snack stalls where one can enjoy authentic beef copper hotpot and the traditional Hui "Nine Great Bowls."</p>
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<p><i>This article is a translated repost from the original source.</i></p>
