China Mosque Travel Guide: Dachang Hui Muslim Mosques, Halal Food and Community Heritage
Reposted from the web
Summary: This mosque travel guide follows a halal trip east of Beijing through Yanjiao and Dachang, covering traditional Hui Muslim mosques, local halal food, village communities, and practical travel details.
When we mention Jingdong, we usually mean the area east of Beijing, typically referring to Langfang in Hebei. This is the birthplace of meat pie (roubing). Yanjiao and Dachang both belong to Langfang, about 50 kilometers east of Beijing's city center by car. Dachang is an autonomous county for Hui Muslims, where the Hui Muslim population makes up 20 percent, or about 20,000 people.
To get to Dachang from Beijing, you pass through Yanjiao first. Yanjiao is a small town bordering Dachang and is the most densely populated area in Langfang. Most people here work in Beijing, and nearly half the cars on the street have Beijing license plates. Yanjiao follows the same traffic restriction policies as Beijing, so if your car is restricted in Beijing, it is also restricted in Yanjiao. Friends (dosti), please take note if you are driving.
This article is a bit long. We will introduce the mosque first, then the halal restaurants.
Yanjiao
Starting from Beijing, you first reach Yanjiao Town. Currently, Yanjiao has only one mosque, located on Qingyuan Street in Sanjie Village. The original mosque was built in the Qing Dynasty but was destroyed.
Yanjiao Mosque
Yanjiao Mosque
The newly built mosque is very small and can hold 20 to 30 people for Jumu'ah. Next to the mosque are a few scattered halal restaurants with small storefronts selling traditional snacks. Although Yanjiao is crowded, there are few Hui Muslims. Aside from noodle shops, halal restaurants with local specialties are rare in the town.
However, I did find a few delicious places in Yanjiao, such as the halal light meal shop below.
Yanjiao Halal Food
Yunshang Light Meal
Beijing does not have halal light meal shops yet. This shop is run by Hui Muslims from Zhengzhou and is located in the commercial area at the bottom of the Shangshangcheng Phase 3 building on Yanshun Road. It has been open for over three years and business is stable. Light meals are low-calorie, simply cooked, and nutritionally balanced foods suitable for people who are dieting or exercising. This shop does not serve alcohol.
Chicken steak rice, buckwheat noodles, and black pepper beef sets are all around 20 yuan each, and you can add sauces yourself.
The drinks in the shop are also homemade soy milk and fruit tea, and you can taste the real ingredients with one sip.
Yezi Barbecue
Yezi Barbecue is a halal Qiqihar-style restaurant. It is quite popular in Yanjiao. Many people from Northeast China live in Yanjiao, but this is the only halal Northeast-style barbecue place.
People from Qiqihar are said to start eating barbecue from the day they are born and keep eating it until they are old.
After trying it, I found the meat quality and dipping sauces here are excellent. The steak and beef cubes are very tender. You come to a Qiqihar barbecue shop to eat beef, as grilled beef is the core of the meal.
Of course, a busy restaurant is not just about good barbecue; the seafood, fried rice, and cold noodles are also worth recommending.
Yanjiao is separated from Tongzhou, Beijing, only by the Chaobai River, but the prices are much cheaper. A hearty barbecue feast like this costs less than 100 yuan per person.
Mengxiang Steamed Dumplings (shaomai) / Hohhot Steamed Dumplings (shaomai)
These are two shops opened by people from Inner Mongolia. The Hohhot steamed dumplings here basically recreate the authentic Inner Mongolian taste, especially the lamb offal soup (yangza), which feels no different from what I have eaten in Inner Mongolia. Mengxiang Steamed Dumplings is the first shop, and Hohhot Steamed Dumplings is the second. I have been to both, but I think Mengxiang is better. The owner says the ingredients and seasonings are the same, so if you think the taste is different, it might be due to the preparation technique.
Inner Mongolian lamb offal soup is a clear broth with very generous portions. A bowl is packed with offal, and it feels like there is more meat than soup. It makes you feel warm all over after eating.
Authentic Hohhot steamed dumplings can be eaten in two ways: steamed or pan-fried. I love both, but pan-fried dumplings are not easy to find. Locals seem to prefer the pan-fried ones, and I recommend trying both.
Oat noodles (youmian) are also a specialty of Inner Mongolia. They are made from naked oats. The noodles are quite sticky, so you pick them up and mix them with sauce while eating.
These are the halal elements I have seen in Yanjiao so far, but there is much more to eat and explore in Dachang. After all, it is a Hui Muslim county, and it is a 15-kilometer drive from Yanjiao to Dachang.
Records show there are 16 mosques in Dachang, but a new one was built in Xiadian Village, so there are actually 17. I have visited all of them except for the North Wu Women's Mosque.
Dachang
1. Xiadian Mosque
Xiadian Mosque was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995. Xiadian Village is a village where Hui Muslims and Han people live together.
2. Xiadian Village Mosque
The imam of Xiadian told us about the hardships he faced while preaching in Xiadian. Fortunately, after years of effort, he managed to secure two mosques for Xiadian.
3. Xiaochang Mosque
Xiaochang Village Mosque was first built during the Ming Dynasty by Chang Yuchun and Hu Dahai under imperial order. It was rebuilt in 2006.
The imam at Xiaochang Village is from Yunnan. He is young but is said to be a very talented preacher. He has helped many villagers who were drifting away from their faith become firm in their beliefs, and he is highly respected by everyone in the area.
4. Dachang Mosque
Dachang Mosque was first built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. It did not look like this when I visited in 2017. It was recently renovated, and the dome was removed. Now, all 17 mosques in Dachang are built in a traditional style.
Dachang Mosque before 2017
Dachang Mosque before 2017
5. Dongchang Mosque
Dongchang Mosque in Dongchang Village was first built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. This "Dongchang" is not the same "Dongchang" run by the eunuchs in history.
The mosque is currently undergoing repairs. I met the resident imam, who is from Cangzhou.
6. Nanwangzhuang Mosque
Nanwangzhuang Mosque was first built during the Jianwen period of the Ming Dynasty by the Wang brothers, who followed the Prince of Yan on his northern military campaign. It was rebuilt in 2009.
7. Yangxinzhuang Mosque
Yangxinzhuang Mosque was first built in the second year of the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty and reopened in 1983.
8. Weizizhuang Mosque
The mosque in Weizizhuang Village was first built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 1997.
9. Chenxinzhuang Mosque
Chenxinzhuang Mosque was first built during the Ming Dynasty. It was rebuilt in 2004 and is currently undergoing repairs again.
10. Manxingying Mosque
Manxingying Mosque was first built in 1927 and rebuilt in 1992.
11. Liangzhuang Village Mosque
Liangzhuang Village Mosque was first built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 2002.
12. Huogezhuang Mosque
Huogezhuang Mosque was first built in the early years of the Republic of China. It was destroyed in the Tangshan earthquake and rebuilt in 1992.
13. Luzhuang Mosque
Luzhuang Mosque was first built during the Zhengde reign of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1999.
14. Damazhuang Mosque
Damazhuang Mosque was first built in the early Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995.
15. Nantitou Mosque
Nantitou Mosque was first built in 1403, funded by the Yang family of Muslims. It is currently undergoing renovations, so the main prayer hall is closed and namaz has been moved to the side hall.
16. Beiwu Mosque
Beiwu Mosque was first built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, as proven by the stone inscriptions inside. It covers 6,000 square meters. Beiwu is a village for Hui Muslims. Several imams at the Niujie Mosque came from Beiwu, so the tone of their chanting here is passed down from the same tradition as Niujie.
The Beiwu women's mosque is right next to the men's main hall.
Beiwu Women's Mosque
Dachang Halal Food
Zhenwei Grilled Fish Bar
Zhenwei Grilled Fish is at the entrance of Nansitou Village. I went for lunch and they grill live fish to order, so it is very fresh.
You can choose two flavors for the grilled fish: spicy or scallion-scented. The Qingjiang fish costs 48 yuan per jin. Besides the fish, their freshly baked scallion pancakes (cong huabing) are also delicious.
TR Pizza Master
I have tried three pizza shops in Dachang County and think Pizza Master is the best. The shop is on the west side of Rongchang South Street, near the Dachang Mosque.
I personally tested the chicken cutlet rice and it is very tasty and cheap. We tried two pizza flavors, and I liked the Margherita beef sausage pizza better.
Margherita beef sausage pizza
Durian pizza
Meizhoujia Pizza
Meizhoujia Pizza is in the ground-floor shops of the Yongxiangyuan residential area on Yongan Road. Their pizza crust is thicker and has more toppings than Pizza Master, but the flavor is stronger and saltier.
Three-topping pizza
Chicken cutlet rice
Guozhiyi Italian Handmade Pizza
Guozhiyi Pizza is not far from Pizza Master, located on Yanling Road. This shop has the lowest prices, with a fruit pizza costing only 9.9 yuan.
Super Supreme Pizza
The pizza ingredient list specifically notes the use of Yuehua beef sausage. Yuehua is a well-known Hui Muslim enterprise in Dachang, and it is said the owner is very devout.
Halal Dicos
There is a halal Dicos near the street where Pizza Master is located. I ordered takeout, and I can confirm it tastes just as good as the Dicos in Xining.
Yuehuachun Barbecue City
Yuehuachun and Yuehua are different brands. A young owner started Yuehuachun, and it is the most popular barbecue brand in Dachang. If you come to Dachang for barbecue, Yuehuachun is the top choice.
Marbled beef steak (xuehua niupai)
The beef quality at Yuehuachun is truly good, and the barbecue dipping sauce is fragrant. There is a reason why business is so good.
Cold noodles (lengmian)
Cold noodles are also a signature dish at Yuehuachun. People in Dachang love cold noodles, and they even eat them for breakfast, though they use hot soup for the breakfast version.
Blooming steamed bun (kaihuamo)
For staples, I also recommend the stone pot bibimbap (shiguo banfan) and the blooming steamed bun. The blooming steamed bun is soft and fluffy, with a texture like bread. It is rare to find a restaurant that makes both its signature dishes and snacks taste so delicious.
Stone pot bibimbap (shiguo banfan)
Nanyuan Beijiao Chongqing Hot Pot
Dachang netizens recommended this place to me. When I said I wanted to eat something special, they suggested Chongqing hot pot.
This restaurant is also very popular in Dachang, and you need to wait for a table during meal times.
I chose a two-person set meal called the "Mercedes-Benz Pot" (benchi guo) for 135 yuan, and the taste was good.
This restaurant offers great value for money. It still cannot compare to the Huiwei Chuanyu hot pot I had in Chongqing, but since you cannot quench your thirst with water from afar, coming to Dachang for halal Chongqing hot pot is a good local option.
Tongxingshun Snack Shop
To try a traditional Dachang breakfast, I specifically met up with a Dachang friend (dost) and came to this old shop just to eat a bowl of hot cold noodles.
The cold noodles are topped with hot soup, and the noodles are quite chewy. Pair them with two sesame flatbreads (shaobing); the lighter-colored one has a meat filling. This is the standard breakfast for a person from Dachang.
Dehaozhai Snacks
You have to eat Jingdong meat pie (Jingdong roubing) when you visit Jingdong, but how do you choose from so many small shops? I heard the viral shop Damaqi charges 100 yuan per jin for their meat pie. My friend told me that place is just a trap for Beijingers, so I was not going to walk right into it.
We went to this old shop called Dehaozhai that locals visit often. People say it has been around for over ten years.
We ordered two pies, one beef and green onion and one chive and egg. The meat pies cost 15 yuan each. They had thin crusts and plenty of filling. The taste was just right and it was a great value.
My trip to Dachang helped me meet several devout friends (dosti). They invited me to their home for dinner. The host prepared a wonderful meal for us. A home-cooked meal like this means more than spending money at a restaurant. After dinner, we talked about the current state of the faith in Dachang. The locals are generally not very optimistic, but I am not pessimistic. Dachang is a lot like Niujie. If some people abandon their faith (imani), others will pick it up. This will happen over and over until the Day of Judgment, when everyone will be rewarded for their actions.
Beiwo Home Feast
Summary: This mosque travel guide follows a halal trip east of Beijing through Yanjiao and Dachang, covering traditional Hui Muslim mosques, local halal food, village communities, and practical travel details.
When we mention Jingdong, we usually mean the area east of Beijing, typically referring to Langfang in Hebei. This is the birthplace of meat pie (roubing). Yanjiao and Dachang both belong to Langfang, about 50 kilometers east of Beijing's city center by car. Dachang is an autonomous county for Hui Muslims, where the Hui Muslim population makes up 20 percent, or about 20,000 people.
To get to Dachang from Beijing, you pass through Yanjiao first. Yanjiao is a small town bordering Dachang and is the most densely populated area in Langfang. Most people here work in Beijing, and nearly half the cars on the street have Beijing license plates. Yanjiao follows the same traffic restriction policies as Beijing, so if your car is restricted in Beijing, it is also restricted in Yanjiao. Friends (dosti), please take note if you are driving.
This article is a bit long. We will introduce the mosque first, then the halal restaurants.
Yanjiao
Starting from Beijing, you first reach Yanjiao Town. Currently, Yanjiao has only one mosque, located on Qingyuan Street in Sanjie Village. The original mosque was built in the Qing Dynasty but was destroyed.
Yanjiao Mosque
Yanjiao Mosque
The newly built mosque is very small and can hold 20 to 30 people for Jumu'ah. Next to the mosque are a few scattered halal restaurants with small storefronts selling traditional snacks. Although Yanjiao is crowded, there are few Hui Muslims. Aside from noodle shops, halal restaurants with local specialties are rare in the town.
However, I did find a few delicious places in Yanjiao, such as the halal light meal shop below.
Yanjiao Halal Food
Yunshang Light Meal
Beijing does not have halal light meal shops yet. This shop is run by Hui Muslims from Zhengzhou and is located in the commercial area at the bottom of the Shangshangcheng Phase 3 building on Yanshun Road. It has been open for over three years and business is stable. Light meals are low-calorie, simply cooked, and nutritionally balanced foods suitable for people who are dieting or exercising. This shop does not serve alcohol.
Chicken steak rice, buckwheat noodles, and black pepper beef sets are all around 20 yuan each, and you can add sauces yourself.
The drinks in the shop are also homemade soy milk and fruit tea, and you can taste the real ingredients with one sip.
Yezi Barbecue
Yezi Barbecue is a halal Qiqihar-style restaurant. It is quite popular in Yanjiao. Many people from Northeast China live in Yanjiao, but this is the only halal Northeast-style barbecue place.
People from Qiqihar are said to start eating barbecue from the day they are born and keep eating it until they are old.
After trying it, I found the meat quality and dipping sauces here are excellent. The steak and beef cubes are very tender. You come to a Qiqihar barbecue shop to eat beef, as grilled beef is the core of the meal.
Of course, a busy restaurant is not just about good barbecue; the seafood, fried rice, and cold noodles are also worth recommending.
Yanjiao is separated from Tongzhou, Beijing, only by the Chaobai River, but the prices are much cheaper. A hearty barbecue feast like this costs less than 100 yuan per person.
Mengxiang Steamed Dumplings (shaomai) / Hohhot Steamed Dumplings (shaomai)
These are two shops opened by people from Inner Mongolia. The Hohhot steamed dumplings here basically recreate the authentic Inner Mongolian taste, especially the lamb offal soup (yangza), which feels no different from what I have eaten in Inner Mongolia. Mengxiang Steamed Dumplings is the first shop, and Hohhot Steamed Dumplings is the second. I have been to both, but I think Mengxiang is better. The owner says the ingredients and seasonings are the same, so if you think the taste is different, it might be due to the preparation technique.
Inner Mongolian lamb offal soup is a clear broth with very generous portions. A bowl is packed with offal, and it feels like there is more meat than soup. It makes you feel warm all over after eating.
Authentic Hohhot steamed dumplings can be eaten in two ways: steamed or pan-fried. I love both, but pan-fried dumplings are not easy to find. Locals seem to prefer the pan-fried ones, and I recommend trying both.
Oat noodles (youmian) are also a specialty of Inner Mongolia. They are made from naked oats. The noodles are quite sticky, so you pick them up and mix them with sauce while eating.
These are the halal elements I have seen in Yanjiao so far, but there is much more to eat and explore in Dachang. After all, it is a Hui Muslim county, and it is a 15-kilometer drive from Yanjiao to Dachang.
Records show there are 16 mosques in Dachang, but a new one was built in Xiadian Village, so there are actually 17. I have visited all of them except for the North Wu Women's Mosque.
Dachang
1. Xiadian Mosque
Xiadian Mosque was first built during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995. Xiadian Village is a village where Hui Muslims and Han people live together.
2. Xiadian Village Mosque
The imam of Xiadian told us about the hardships he faced while preaching in Xiadian. Fortunately, after years of effort, he managed to secure two mosques for Xiadian.
3. Xiaochang Mosque
Xiaochang Village Mosque was first built during the Ming Dynasty by Chang Yuchun and Hu Dahai under imperial order. It was rebuilt in 2006.
The imam at Xiaochang Village is from Yunnan. He is young but is said to be a very talented preacher. He has helped many villagers who were drifting away from their faith become firm in their beliefs, and he is highly respected by everyone in the area.
4. Dachang Mosque
Dachang Mosque was first built during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. It did not look like this when I visited in 2017. It was recently renovated, and the dome was removed. Now, all 17 mosques in Dachang are built in a traditional style.
Dachang Mosque before 2017
Dachang Mosque before 2017
5. Dongchang Mosque
Dongchang Mosque in Dongchang Village was first built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. This "Dongchang" is not the same "Dongchang" run by the eunuchs in history.
The mosque is currently undergoing repairs. I met the resident imam, who is from Cangzhou.
6. Nanwangzhuang Mosque
Nanwangzhuang Mosque was first built during the Jianwen period of the Ming Dynasty by the Wang brothers, who followed the Prince of Yan on his northern military campaign. It was rebuilt in 2009.
7. Yangxinzhuang Mosque
Yangxinzhuang Mosque was first built in the second year of the Tongzhi period of the Qing Dynasty and reopened in 1983.
8. Weizizhuang Mosque
The mosque in Weizizhuang Village was first built during the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 1997.
9. Chenxinzhuang Mosque
Chenxinzhuang Mosque was first built during the Ming Dynasty. It was rebuilt in 2004 and is currently undergoing repairs again.
10. Manxingying Mosque
Manxingying Mosque was first built in 1927 and rebuilt in 1992.
11. Liangzhuang Village Mosque
Liangzhuang Village Mosque was first built during the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 2002.
12. Huogezhuang Mosque
Huogezhuang Mosque was first built in the early years of the Republic of China. It was destroyed in the Tangshan earthquake and rebuilt in 1992.
13. Luzhuang Mosque
Luzhuang Mosque was first built during the Zhengde reign of the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1999.
14. Damazhuang Mosque
Damazhuang Mosque was first built in the early Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1995.
15. Nantitou Mosque
Nantitou Mosque was first built in 1403, funded by the Yang family of Muslims. It is currently undergoing renovations, so the main prayer hall is closed and namaz has been moved to the side hall.
16. Beiwu Mosque
Beiwu Mosque was first built during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, as proven by the stone inscriptions inside. It covers 6,000 square meters. Beiwu is a village for Hui Muslims. Several imams at the Niujie Mosque came from Beiwu, so the tone of their chanting here is passed down from the same tradition as Niujie.
The Beiwu women's mosque is right next to the men's main hall.
Beiwu Women's Mosque
Dachang Halal Food
Zhenwei Grilled Fish Bar
Zhenwei Grilled Fish is at the entrance of Nansitou Village. I went for lunch and they grill live fish to order, so it is very fresh.
You can choose two flavors for the grilled fish: spicy or scallion-scented. The Qingjiang fish costs 48 yuan per jin. Besides the fish, their freshly baked scallion pancakes (cong huabing) are also delicious.
TR Pizza Master
I have tried three pizza shops in Dachang County and think Pizza Master is the best. The shop is on the west side of Rongchang South Street, near the Dachang Mosque.
I personally tested the chicken cutlet rice and it is very tasty and cheap. We tried two pizza flavors, and I liked the Margherita beef sausage pizza better.
Margherita beef sausage pizza
Durian pizza
Meizhoujia Pizza
Meizhoujia Pizza is in the ground-floor shops of the Yongxiangyuan residential area on Yongan Road. Their pizza crust is thicker and has more toppings than Pizza Master, but the flavor is stronger and saltier.
Three-topping pizza
Chicken cutlet rice
Guozhiyi Italian Handmade Pizza
Guozhiyi Pizza is not far from Pizza Master, located on Yanling Road. This shop has the lowest prices, with a fruit pizza costing only 9.9 yuan.
Super Supreme Pizza
The pizza ingredient list specifically notes the use of Yuehua beef sausage. Yuehua is a well-known Hui Muslim enterprise in Dachang, and it is said the owner is very devout.
Halal Dicos
There is a halal Dicos near the street where Pizza Master is located. I ordered takeout, and I can confirm it tastes just as good as the Dicos in Xining.
Yuehuachun Barbecue City
Yuehuachun and Yuehua are different brands. A young owner started Yuehuachun, and it is the most popular barbecue brand in Dachang. If you come to Dachang for barbecue, Yuehuachun is the top choice.
Marbled beef steak (xuehua niupai)
The beef quality at Yuehuachun is truly good, and the barbecue dipping sauce is fragrant. There is a reason why business is so good.
Cold noodles (lengmian)
Cold noodles are also a signature dish at Yuehuachun. People in Dachang love cold noodles, and they even eat them for breakfast, though they use hot soup for the breakfast version.
Blooming steamed bun (kaihuamo)
For staples, I also recommend the stone pot bibimbap (shiguo banfan) and the blooming steamed bun. The blooming steamed bun is soft and fluffy, with a texture like bread. It is rare to find a restaurant that makes both its signature dishes and snacks taste so delicious.
Stone pot bibimbap (shiguo banfan)
Nanyuan Beijiao Chongqing Hot Pot
Dachang netizens recommended this place to me. When I said I wanted to eat something special, they suggested Chongqing hot pot.
This restaurant is also very popular in Dachang, and you need to wait for a table during meal times.
I chose a two-person set meal called the "Mercedes-Benz Pot" (benchi guo) for 135 yuan, and the taste was good.
This restaurant offers great value for money. It still cannot compare to the Huiwei Chuanyu hot pot I had in Chongqing, but since you cannot quench your thirst with water from afar, coming to Dachang for halal Chongqing hot pot is a good local option.
Tongxingshun Snack Shop
To try a traditional Dachang breakfast, I specifically met up with a Dachang friend (dost) and came to this old shop just to eat a bowl of hot cold noodles.
The cold noodles are topped with hot soup, and the noodles are quite chewy. Pair them with two sesame flatbreads (shaobing); the lighter-colored one has a meat filling. This is the standard breakfast for a person from Dachang.
Dehaozhai Snacks
You have to eat Jingdong meat pie (Jingdong roubing) when you visit Jingdong, but how do you choose from so many small shops? I heard the viral shop Damaqi charges 100 yuan per jin for their meat pie. My friend told me that place is just a trap for Beijingers, so I was not going to walk right into it.
We went to this old shop called Dehaozhai that locals visit often. People say it has been around for over ten years.
We ordered two pies, one beef and green onion and one chive and egg. The meat pies cost 15 yuan each. They had thin crusts and plenty of filling. The taste was just right and it was a great value.
My trip to Dachang helped me meet several devout friends (dosti). They invited me to their home for dinner. The host prepared a wonderful meal for us. A home-cooked meal like this means more than spending money at a restaurant. After dinner, we talked about the current state of the faith in Dachang. The locals are generally not very optimistic, but I am not pessimistic. Dachang is a lot like Niujie. If some people abandon their faith (imani), others will pick it up. This will happen over and over until the Day of Judgment, when everyone will be rewarded for their actions.
Beiwo Home Feast
