Reposted from the web

Summary: Muslim History Guide China: Linxia Gannan Xidaotang, Gongbei Mosques and Silk Road Faith is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: Before Eid al-Adha (Qurban Jie), I took my wife and father-in-law on a road trip starting from Xunhua. We passed through Linxia, Xiahe, and Hezuo, ending in Lintan County in Gannan. The scenery along the way was beautiful, even. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Linxia Travel, Xidaotang, Muslim History.

Before Eid al-Adha (Qurban Jie), I took my wife and father-in-law on a road trip starting from Xunhua. We passed through Linxia, Xiahe, and Hezuo, ending in Lintan County in Gannan. The scenery along the way was beautiful, even better than the paid tourist spots we visited.

Gannan is part of the greater Tibetan region with an average altitude of 3,000 meters, and some places go over 3,500 meters. Some people get altitude sickness, so prepare before you leave. I suggest keeping a simple oxygen canister in the car; they cost a few dozen yuan and are good to have just in case.

Also, watch out for the sun. The UV rays and sunlight at high altitudes are very strong and can make it hard to keep your eyes open. There is a big temperature difference between morning and night, so wear long sleeves and don't forget your sunglasses and sunscreen.

Itinerary: Xunhua - Linxia - Xiahe - Sangke Grassland - Hezuo - Meiren Grassland - Yeliguan - Lintan - Xunhua

(Three days total)

The three of us drove one car from Xunhua and reached Linxia in about two hours. We stayed in Linxia for one day. On the second day at noon, we arrived in Xiahe County for lunch and Jumuah prayer. We passed through Sangke Grassland, went through Hezuo City in the afternoon, passed Meiren Grassland, and arrived at Yeliguan in the evening. We stayed another night in Yeliguan. On the third morning, we visited Yeliguan National Forest Park and reached Lintan County by noon. We visited Xidaotang and in the afternoon went to the Galutian Big House, ten kilometers from Lintan County, as the end of our trip. That night, we drove over four hours back to Xunhua. The whole trip took one tank of gas.

Most tourists start from Lanzhou, which is only a two-hour drive from Linxia, so their route is similar to ours. You could skip Lintan County and head south to the Zhagana scenic area. I heard the scenery there is nice, but friends in Linxia said there are few Hui Muslims there, so it is just for taking photos, and we decided not to go.

Day 1: Linxia



I visited Linxia in 2016 and toured the famous Eight Neighborhoods and Thirteen Alleys. The Eight Neighborhoods are: 1. Dasi Fang, 2. Qisi Fang, 3. Xisi Fang, 4. Beisi Fang, 5. Tiejia Si Fang, 6. Qianheyan Si Fang, 7. Laowang Si Fang, 8. Xinwang Si Fang.

The Thirteen Alleys are: 1. Daga Alley, 2. Xiaonan Alley, 3. Bakou Alley, 4. Bei Alley, 5. Shagale Alley, 6. Zhuanyuan Alley, 7. Danan Alley, 8. Renyi Alley, 9. Xi Alley, 10. Yongzheng Alley, 11. Tiejia Si Alley, 12. Wangsi Alley, 13. Shiqiao Alley.

I mainly came to see the mosques and gongbei (shrines). Nearby are Tiejia Mosque, Laohua Mosque, Xinhua Mosque, Laowang Mosque, Beisi Mosque, Xisi Mosque, Daqi Mosque, Chengjiao Mosque, Nanguan Grand Mosque, Qianheyan Mosque, Guo Gongbei, and Da Gongbei.



Guo Gongbei

There are two gongbei in Hongyuan Square in Linxia, both belonging to the Qadiriyya menhuan (Sufi order). One is Guo Gongbei and the other is Da Gongbei. They are right next to each other. The master of Guo Gongbei was named Chen Yiming (1646—1718). People called him Chen Baoguo because he once protected the Qing Emperor Kangxi and was granted the surname Chen. Legend says his original surname was Hu. Although he was Qadiriyya, he was not under the control of Da Gongbei. After he passed away, the Qing court ordered the construction of the gongbei. The master of the gongbei did not preach. The followers at Guo Gongbei used to wear slanted-collar robes for a long time, but later the Da Gongbei council decided they should change their style of dress.



Da Gongbei is the shrine of Qi Jingyi, the founder of the Qadiriyya order. It is called Da Gongbei because it was built larger than the shrines of other menhuan. I have visited several important Qadiriyya gongbei. Compared to the styles of other menhuan, the architecture of Qadiriyya gongbei has more classical Chinese features and looks very similar to Taoist temples.













Linxia: Accommodation



Baishun Zhongtian Banquet Hotel

We chose to stay at the Baishun Zhongtian Banquet Hotel. Accommodation in Linxia is quite cheap; you can find a great hotel for two or three hundred yuan. This hotel is halal, has a comfortable environment, is near the river, and the breakfast is delicious.





Before arriving in Linxia, I posted on WeChat asking where to eat. I got dozens of replies, and no one recommended the same place twice. People suggested Dongxiang hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuar), steamed buns (baozi), river-side noodle slices (heyan mianpian), Muqing Manor, sausage-stuffed intestines (fazi mianchang), Yinxing Restaurant, Maogou boiled chicken, and more. I didn't know what to do, so Brother Ma from Linxia decided for me and took me to the very famous farmhouse restaurants in Zheqiaowan.



Zheqiaowan is a place name. The local farmhouse-style restaurants are very popular, and they say you can't go wrong with any of them. It turns out the people in Linxia really know how to cook. Many of the noodle masters in the restaurants in neighboring Lanzhou are from Linxia, so noodle dishes are one of the specialties here.



The farmhouse restaurants are quite large and serve big portions. I suggest that if you are eating with a group, you can order one dish less than the number of people. For three people, two dishes are enough. Ordering too much is wasteful. We were four people and ordered five dishes, but we couldn't finish them and ended up packing the leftovers to go.



Three-treasure tea (sanpaotai)



Pan-fried potatoes with lamb chops (kang yangyu yangpai)



Hand-torn flatbread (shousi bing)



Chive buns (jiucai baozi)



Stir-stir-fried meat with vermicelli (fentiao chaorou)

Day 2: Xiahe County



The drive from Linxia to Xiahe takes over two hours. Xiahe is famous for the Tibetan Buddhist Labrang Monastery, but we only visited the Labrang Mosque. The two are not far apart, and since it was Jumu'ah, we were able to attend the congregational prayer there.



The Labrang Mosque is also called the Xiahe Mosque. It is the only mosque in the area, but it is quite large and its architectural style incorporates elements of Tibetan design.



The Labrang Mosque was founded in 1854. Before building it, they had to get permission from the Labrang Monastery. At first, the mosque was just a temporary place for namaz, but as the number of local Hui Muslims grew, the mosque needed to expand. However, the Tibetans would not allow a large-scale construction, so they could only expand it slightly.

By 1936 (the 25th year of the Republic of China), a large number of refugees from Hezhou had flooded into Labrang following the Ma Zhongying incident of 1928. The mosque was clearly too small, so school board member Ma Letian and others held several talks with Huang Zhengqing, the commander of the Labrang Tibetan security forces (and brother of the 5th Jamyang), and finally secured a promise that they could fully expand the mosque without interference.

The newly built mosque covered a total area of 639 square meters. It featured a main prayer hall with a brick-and-wood structure consisting of five main rooms and three side rooms, a three-story pavilion-style minaret, 24 rooms for the east, north, and south wings, and 12 rooms for storage and bathing facilities. That was before the Reform and Opening-up period, though; the current building dates back to 1981.









Once you reach Xiahe, you have entered the greater Tibetan region, so you can see the Tibetan style in the local residential architecture.





Although Xiahe County is a Tibetan area, there are halal restaurants everywhere. We chose a large restaurant called Jiusheng. This place does not sell alcohol and also offers lodging, so friends who need a place to stay can consider booking a room here. The dining area at Jiusheng is very spacious, and the dishes have a strong local character. I ordered a dish called Kekexili, which is made with wheat kernels. It was delicious, but the portion was huge. I didn't finish it, so I packed it up and ate the rest as a snack on the road.





Stir-fried beef with tiger skin peppers (hupi lazi shao niurou)



Rustic farmhouse-style dishes (fengwei nongjia cai)



Kekexili (a dish made with wheat kernels)

Leaving Xiahe County and heading south, our grassland road trip began. Along both sides of the road lies the endless Sangke Grassland. The Gannan region has many grasslands, and Sangke is the first large one we passed through.











Prayer flag tunnel (jingfan suidao)



Along the way, we saw some nice scenery by the road and stopped to take photos. Just as we were about to leave, a child and an elderly person, both dressed in Tibetan clothing, blocked us to demand money. Of course, I didn't pay because I had heard about this behavior before. I stepped on the gas, left them behind, and drove off. I suggest everyone take photos at public viewing platforms to avoid any unpleasant situations.



Hezuo City



Hezuo Grand Mosque

Hezuo Grand Mosque was first built in 1834. It now serves over 10,000 congregants, most of whom are followers of the Huasi menhuan, though others belong to different menhuan. The current building was constructed in 1995.













We stopped briefly in Hezuo to pray and rest before heading south. Along the way, we passed a sea of rapeseed flowers right next to the Hezuo highway. Against the backdrop of blue skies and white clouds, the golden flowers were truly beautiful.





Meiren Grassland



Meiren Grassland

The Meiren Grassland sits at an altitude of over 3,600 meters. It features the alpine meadow landscape unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. I first thought the rounded mounds of grass were man-made, but after walking closer, I realized they formed naturally. This landscape forms in low-lying, poorly drained areas of the grassland where marshes develop, shaped by plants, soil, weathering, and freezing.





Prayer flag tunnel (jingfan suidao)

Be careful: while the prayer flag tunnels on the highway are beautiful, do not stop to take photos, as it is dangerous.



The figure in the distance is my father-in-law praying by the side of the road.



Yeliguan Town



Yelinguan Hotel

We arrived in Yeliguan Town that evening and checked into the Yelinguan Hotel. It is one of the better hotels in town, costing over 200 yuan. It is a halal hotel and serves halal breakfast. There are very few halal restaurants in Yeliguan, and there is not much to do in town, so I suggest considering other places to stay overnight.

Day 3: Yeliguan National Forest Park



A filming location for Journey to the West

You can drive into Yeliguan National Forest Park. Tickets are 78 yuan. If you do not have a car, you need to take the park's cable car. There is not much special scenery inside, though there are some farmed deer. To reach the top of the mountain, you need to take another cable car, which costs 20 yuan one way or 40 yuan round trip. If you do not want to pay, you have to hike up for over an hour.



When I was walking in the woods, I did not know it was a filming location for Journey to the West. It just felt familiar, like I had seen it on TV. When I visited Jiuzhaigou in March this year, I checked out one of the filming locations there. I did not expect the 1983 version of Journey to the West to have put so much effort into choosing its outdoor locations.



I do not think Yeliguan Forest Park offers good value for money. If you are struggling to choose between many Gannan attractions, I suggest skipping this one.



After driving for nearly two hours from Yeliguan, we arrived in Lintan County. The small county town in the distance in the photo is Lintan.



The first shop at the entrance of Lintan County is Mayongcheng Laochao. Laochao refers to stir-fried noodle slices (laochao mianpian). Lintan County is full of halal restaurants, and none of them sell alcohol.



Restaurants in the Northwest provide free tea. The server will bring a tea platter, and you can add whatever you like to your cup.



Stir-fried noodle slices (laochao mianpian)

The noodle slices come in a huge bowl; unless you are very hungry, you really cannot finish it. They also sell whole free-range chickens (tu ji) at a cheap price, and they taste great.



A plate of stir-fried free-range chicken pieces

There are a few large, prominent mosques in Lintan County, including the Upper Mosque (Qingzhen Shangsi) and the Grand Huasi Mosque (Qingzhen Huadasi).



Upper Mosque (Shangsi).

The Upper Mosque and the Hua Great Mosque (Hua Da Si) sit next to each other. Both were built in 1380. Records show that the Hui Muslims in Lintan originally came from Zhusi Lane in Nanjing. They were part of the Hui Muslim group that followed Mu Ying on his western military campaign during the Ming Dynasty's Hongwu era. The Ming History records that the construction of the mosque was suggested by the Marquis of Xiping, Mu Ying, and approved by the Ming court. It was modeled after the Huajue Mosque in Chang'an and covers an area of 15 mu. To encourage the soldiers stationed in the area, the Ming court often awarded them plaques to honor their service.







The Lintan County Hua Great Mosque was first built in 1380 (the 13th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty). By the early 21st century, it had a history of over 600 years. The Taozhou Prefecture Gazetteer records: 'Mu Ying, the Ming General who conquered the West, arrived in 1380 (the 13th year of Hongwu). The eighteen tribes of Taozhou and three deputy envoys rebelled and occupied the Nalin Seven Stations area. Following the Emperor's orders, Mu Ying led his army to the old city. The rebels fled, but he pursued and captured the three deputy envoys. He built a city at Donglong Mountain and stationed troops there. He returned his army in the sixth month and was named Marquis of Xiping for his achievements.' Historical records state: 'The old Taozhou mosque was in the old city and was renovated in the Dingwei year of the Ming Hongwu era.' At that time, Taozhou only had the Gedimu tradition, but now it follows the Huasi menhuan. The current building was designed by the Architectural Design and Research Institute of Tongji University and was completed in 2019.









Western Hall (Xidaotang) Mosque.

The Western Hall was the main focus of my trip. It originated in Lintan County, Gansu Province. Its founder, Ma Qixi, was skilled at teaching in Chinese. He used Chinese-language classics like Liu Jielian's 'The Nature of Islam' (Tianfang Xingli), 'The Rites of Islam' (Tianfang Dianli), and 'The True Record of the Prophet of Islam' (Tianfang Zhisheng Shilu) for his teachings, which is why it is called the 'Chinese School'.

The founder of the Huasi menhuan, Ma Laichi, spread the teachings of the Khufiyya order. Lintan initially accepted the Khufiyya. When the Huasi menhuan reached the third generation leader Ma Guangzong (known as Beichuan Taiye), his student Ma Baozhen left the Huasi menhuan. He adopted the teachings of the Ishan school from Shache, Xinjiang, and started his own group in Beizhuang, Dongxiang, which became known as the Beizhuang menhuan. Ma Baozhen's student, Min Shangli, served as the 'muleti' (religious leader) for the Beizhuang group stationed in the old city. After Min Shangli passed away, he was buried at the Dazigou gongbei (shrine). His son, Min Yonglu, succeeded him as the 'muleti' in Lintan. After Min Yonglu passed away, he was also buried at the Dazigou gongbei. His son, Min Shida, succeeded him. Min Shida only had two daughters. One daughter married Ma Yuan, who had two sons. One of them was Ma Qixi, which is why Ma Qixi originally belonged to the Beizhuang menhuan.



Ma Qixi was smart and loved to learn. He did well in school from a young age and passed the imperial exam to become a scholar (xiucai). He opened a private school in his hometown of Xifeng Mountain. In 1898, Ma Qixi began teaching in a scripture hall at the Beizhuang gongbei. One faction of the Beizhuang menhuan insisted that people should take off their shoes when performing namaz, while the other faction believed it was not necessary. The Beizhuang 'muleti' Min Yonglu said: 'It is best to take them off, but not taking them off does not violate religious rules.' Ma Qixi thought Min Yonglu was being indecisive and should clearly state whether shoes should be removed or not. This led to a disagreement, and Ma Qixi left the Beizhuang group to start his own.



Ma Qixi had a rational mindset. He strongly advocated for changing old customs, such as cutting off men's long braids, opposing foot-binding for women, and encouraging girls to go to school. In terms of religion, he only considered the 'Five Pillars of Islam' as the complete practice, whereas the Beizhuang menhuan also required the morning and evening recitation of 'dhikr' and quiet meditation.

Ma Qixi realized that to develop education, they needed an economic foundation. Therefore, the Western Hall placed great importance on business and farming. The followers of the Western Hall treated the hall as their home and lived a collective life, creating the prototype of the Western Hall 'Ummah' family.



The Western Hall founded the Lintan Puci Primary School. All children in the hall over the age of 7 were enrolled for free, and they also accepted over 100 children from other local ethnic groups. To solve the problem of girls' education, the Western Hall founded the Lintan Old City Private Qixi Girls' School in 1943, which was free for all girls regardless of their ethnicity.



The Gansu Hui Muslim general Ma Anliang was a follower of the Huasi menhuan. He wanted to use Ma Qixi to attack the Beizhuang menhuan, but Ma Qixi refused, and the two parted on bad terms.

In 1914, Ma Anliang sent his subordinate Zhang Shunyuan to execute Ma Qixi, claiming he had 'colluded with Bai Lang to kill innocent Hui and Han people in the old city.' After Ma Qixi was killed, Ding Quangong succeeded him. The Western Hall did not use a hereditary system; the leader was chosen by public vote and served for life.

In 1917, Ding Quangong and his group were passing through Lintao to visit the grave of the martyred student Ma Wanzhang. They were surrounded by Ma Ying, a local commander appointed by Ma Anliang. Ding Quangong was killed, and Ma Mingren succeeded him as the third leader.

In 1919, Ma Anliang was promoted to Governor of Gansu. While traveling to take up his post, he fell ill at Suonanba in Dongxiang, returned home, and passed away.



The prayer hall of Xidaotang, which looks like the Temple of Heaven.

Ma Mingren mentored Ding Zhengxi. Ding graduated from the Chinese Department of Peking University in 1929, becoming the first university student in Xidaotang history. After graduation, he returned to Xidaotang to handle diplomatic affairs and later served as the magistrate of Hezheng County.



In Guzhan Town, about 10 kilometers from Lintan County, stands the Galutian Big House. It is the only one remaining of the 13 large houses built by Xidaotang and is now a national-level cultural heritage site.



The Galutian Big House is a Tibetan-style building. A key feature of Tibetan architecture is that you cannot see the wood from the outside or the earth from the inside. The house was built to meet the needs of the collective life of the Uma.



There are long benches in front of the main hall for elders to study scriptures and discuss matters, serving as a place for democratic consultation.



Every Xidaotang member living here has their food, clothing, housing, transportation, family education, weddings, funerals, and support provided by the collective.



The Xidaotang constitution states regarding economic management: all income and expenses from collective farming, commerce, forestry, animal husbandry, and sideline businesses are managed, operated, and distributed centrally. The organization has one manager and one deputy manager.



Trade with Tibetan areas was the foundation of Xidaotang's economic development, so the group placed great importance on its relationship with Tibetan people. Most Xidaotang members could speak Tibetan, and the Tibetan people called them 'Qusuoma,' meaning 'new religious friends'. After the Xidaotang elders Ma Mingren and Min Zhidao passed away, hundreds of Tibetan people came to attend their funerals.



The Sixth Jamyang Living Buddha of Labrang Monastery once visited Xidaotang and placed a white silk scarf (hada) on the grave of Elder Ma Qixi, who is buried at the foot of Xifeng Mountain.



Xidaotang is a model for the Sinicization of Islam. To adapt to the social environment of the time, it took many pioneering steps, especially in prioritizing education, particularly for women. This provided continuous momentum for the overall growth of Xidaotang and is worth learning from by other groups.



Ending our trip to Lintan, we drove for four hours that afternoon to return to Xunhua to prepare for Eid al-Adha (Guerbang Jie).
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Summary: Muslim Friendly Sichuan: Mianyang Halal Food, Jiangyou Mosque and Li Bai Hometown Travel is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: This trip to Mianyang started because I have clients there. A while ago, they found me online to set up insurance for their family. My company happened to schedule me for training in Chongqing, and since it only takes two hours. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Mianyang Travel, Jiangyou Mosque, Halal Food.

This trip to Mianyang started because I have clients there. A while ago, they found me online to set up insurance for their family. My company happened to schedule me for training in Chongqing, and since it only takes two hours by high-speed train from Chongqing to Mianyang, I decided to take advantage of the work trip to visit.

It was past six in the evening when I arrived in Mianyang. Brother Mu and his family invited me to Yitianyuan, a very famous local halal restaurant, to welcome me.



Yitianyuan has been operating in Huagai Town for nearly twenty years and is considered a local institution. Huagai beef is one of the area's culinary calling cards. I have mentioned before that I love Sichuan-style stir-fries. Since there are no authentic halal Sichuan restaurants in Beijing, I really cherish the chance to eat them here in the land of Shu.

When we arrived at Yitianyuan, the owner, Mr. Ma, and his family had already arranged the menu. Every dish was a specialty of the chef and full of local character. Brother Mu has known the owner's family for years, so we sat around the table and listened to Mr. Ma share stories about his time running the restaurant.



Interestingly, Yitianyuan occasionally hosts Hui Muslims from Northwest China. Some friends (dost) who are unfamiliar with the level of religious practice among Sichuan Hui Muslims sometimes doubt if the ingredients are truly halal. In fact, Mr. Ma and his family are devout Muslims. They raise their own cattle and hire an imam to perform the slaughter, ensuring everything is halal. We all laughed when we heard this. The religious dedication of Sichuan Hui Muslims is often severely underestimated by outsiders, yet they make up a significant portion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage groups to Mecca.



The landlady mentioned that the painting of the Sacred Mosque in Mecca hanging on the wall was bought over ten years ago during a trip to Niujie in Beijing. It has been on that wall since the restaurant opened. During the Wenchuan earthquake, other walls in the shop cracked and items fell everywhere, but the wall with the painting remained completely undamaged.



Sichuan-style small barbecue, this is grilled fish.



Fragrant braised beef shank (xianglu jianzi niurou).

Huagai is a place name. The beef here is very famous in the Mianyang area. Locals know to go to Huagai Town to buy beef from Hui Muslims. People often wonder why beef and lamb from Hui sources are of such high quality. It is not because of some secret recipe, but because Hui Muslims insist on slaughtering live animals. They never use meat from animals that died of illness or other non-slaughter causes. They also ensure the blood is drained, as residual blood affects the quality of the meat.



Cold tossed beef (liangban niurou).



Tofu pudding beef (douhua niurou).



Boiled fish (shuizhu yu).

Boiled fish is a classic Sichuan dish. The key is to use fresh, live fish paired with fragrant and spicy Sichuan peppercorns and chili peppers. I could eat a whole basin of this alone. After finishing the fish, there are crunchy bean sprouts underneath. Although many halal restaurants in Beijing serve boiled fish, it is hard to replicate the authentic Sichuan flavor.



Sticky rice dumplings (zongzi).

I happened to be in Mianyang during the Dragon Boat Festival and was lucky enough to eat local zongzi. They are similar to sticky rice cakes (ciba), sprinkled with brown sugar powder and quite sweet.



Mute rabbit (yaba tu).

Why is this dish called mute rabbit? It is because the dish is incredibly spicy and numbing, making people so hot they cannot speak, hence the name. Of course, becoming mute is an exaggeration; it is not actually that spicy, though it was still quite hot for me. A friend from Mianyang sitting next to me said he did not feel the heat at all.

Besides beef, rabbit meat prepared by Hui Muslims is a major local specialty in Sichuan. Some Hui Muslims in other provinces do not eat rabbit, believing it is not halal because rabbits do not ruminate. I have already clarified this in my article about which foods are not halal according to scripture. The concept of rumination is not part of Islamic teaching, but rather comes from the Old Testament of Judaism.



Young ginger braised duck (zijiang shaoya).

Young ginger (zijiang) usually refers to fresh ginger. This is a famous Sichuan dish. The preparation is complex and requires high culinary skill, especially in selecting local ginger and duck, and marinating the duck beforehand to ensure the flavor penetrates the meat.



Dongpo Mian-style pork trotter (Dongpo mianti).

The traditional way to make Dongpo cotton trotters (dongpo mianti) uses pork, but Hui Muslims have improved it by using beef trotters. You must steam the beef trotters first to make them soft and tender. After steaming, you pour sauce over them. They are full of collagen and melt in your mouth.



Sour soup beef tripe (suantang niudu)

I have eaten sour soup beef tripe at restaurants in Beijing, but this is my first time having authentic sour soup beef tripe in Sichuan. The taste is truly different. Sichuan food really tastes best when made locally in Sichuan. Some large halal restaurants in Beijing serve Sichuan dishes, but I always feel that Sichuan cuisine is very home-style. You can find Sichuan restaurants wherever there are Chinese people, so it is best to eat Sichuan food at small, home-style shops for the best flavor.



The next day, we arrived at the mosque in downtown Mianyang. The Mianyang mosque is currently under renovation, so all the shops on the ground floor are closed until the work is finished. I saw many local specialty shops there.









Luckily, there is still a breakfast shop run by local Hui Muslims. Brother Mu strongly suggested I try the Mianyang specialty breakfast, rice noodles (mifen).



Beef bun (niurou bao)



Mianyang rice noodles (mianyang mifen)

Mianyang rice noodles are unique in the Sichuan region. The noodles are thin, and the soup is rich in oil and salt with a strong flavor. Mianyang locals love them for breakfast. This small shop was packed with diners in the morning, and many customers even squeezed into the hallway behind the shop to eat. It felt very lively.



In 2001, an imam was murdered at the Mianyang mosque. The killer was a migrant worker who was unhappy with the imam's work. He killed the imam while he was sleeping, fled to Xinjiang, and was later arrested by the police. He was executed in 2004.

Similar incidents have happened more than once in China. The profession of imam is actually a vulnerable group in many parts of our country. They do not have high incomes and are rarely valued, yet they are indispensable mentors in our daily lives. Especially when a loved one passes away, imagine how a family would give them a dignified burial without the help of an imam.



The renovation of the mosque is not finished yet. I hope it is completed soon so the snack shops downstairs can reopen. I want to come back and taste the food next time.



After breakfast, we drove 50 minutes to Jiangyou City, the hometown of Li Bai. Jiangyou is under the jurisdiction of Mianyang. What attracts me here is not the so-called hometown of Li Bai, because Li Bai has many hometowns. What attracts me most is the mosque located on Zhongba Street in Jiangyou.





Taibai Hall (taibai tang)



Du Fu Hall (dufu tang)



The Li Bai Memorial Hall is a park built in the style of the Tang Dynasty. It is free to visit, and nearby residents come here to cool off in the summer. It is only one kilometer away from the Jiangyou Zhongba Mosque.



Jiangyou Mosque is the only mosque in Jiangyou. It is located in the area where Hui Muslims are concentrated near the North Gate of Zhongba Town, Jiangyou. The mosque was first built in the second year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1797 AD).



It is Jumuah today, and hundreds of people have gathered in the mosque. Most of them are local Hui Muslims. There are not many outsiders here, and you can tell the faith is strong by the number of people attending Jumuah.



The imam spoke in a local dialect, so I could not understand much, but I am used to it. Outside of North China and the Northeast, there are not many dialects I can understand.





Brother Mu's hometown is Jiangyou. After the Jumuah prayer, I saw his father and relatives there, which shows he comes from a family with a long tradition of faith and good family education.



The main building of the mosque is an old structure and has been designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit.





The plaque reading 'True Spirit Lively' (zhenji huopo) was inscribed by Xia Yuxiu, a military commander from Songpan, Sichuan. The couplet was inscribed by Shao Bingwen of the Songpan Prefecture.



In the summer of 1935, the Red Fourth Front Army passed through Jiangyou during the Long March. Imam Xiao Fuzhen joined the Red Army and later died heroically in battle against enemy forces by the Suomo River in Jinchuan. In the summer of 1945, a massive flood hit Jiangyou. People used boats to ferry others on Zhongba Street. Because the mosque was on higher ground, the flood did not enter the main hall, and hundreds of Hui and Han compatriots took refuge in the mosque.



The prayer hall and the announcement hall were built during the Guangxu reign. The plaques inside, inscribed with phrases like 'Zhenji Huopo,' 'Guangda Jingwei,' 'Hunlun Haohan,' 'Erwu Zhi Jing,' and 'Qingzhen Yazheng,' are all artifacts from the Guangxu period.



Mianyang Science and Technology Museum

After leaving the Jiangyou mosque, we returned to Mianyang city. Brother Mu took me to the Mianyang Science and Technology Museum. This place is quite mysterious and few people outside know about it. Mianyang is China's only science and technology city and serves as a research base for nuclear weapons. The Mianyang Science and Technology Museum is a nuclear weapons museum that is not open to foreign nationals. Visitors cannot record audio or video, and mobile phones must be handed over. Inside, there are introductions to nuclear weapons research and exhibits of retired nuclear weapons, which is very impressive.
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Summary: Muslim Friendly Chongqing: Bashu's Largest Mosque, Halal Travel and Hui Muslim Food is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: The first quarter of 2021 ended, and I received a promotion notice from headquarters. Starting in the second quarter, I was promoted to sales manager. Our company's basic rules are divided into two tracks: an individual track and. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Chongqing Mosques, Halal Travel, Hui Muslim Food.



The first quarter of 2021 ended, and I received a promotion notice from headquarters. Starting in the second quarter, I was promoted to sales manager. Our company's basic rules are divided into two tracks: an individual track and a management track. In the individual track, I am a partner, similar to the ranking system in a law firm. The management track is divided into sales manager and sales director. Becoming a sales manager means the team I lead now has an official designation within the company.



Mingya organizational chart

According to company arrangements, newly promoted sales managers must attend executive MBA training. This training was held at the Chongqing Marriott Hotel, so I had the chance to visit the mountain city again. Outside of training, I could continue exploring the places I had visited in Chongqing before.



After arriving in Chongqing from Beijing, I suggested to another friend (dosti) that we share a room to make it easier to perform namaz. Our company culture is very inclusive. The chairman once mentioned in a speech that he received a WeChat message from a former colleague who said, 'Thank Allah for making Mingya better and better.' When this colleague was still working here, he shared the gospel with many of us. Even after leaving, he often prayed for Allah's forgiveness and blessings for Mingya. After joining Mingya, I discovered that there are many Christians and Catholics throughout the company. Now, with my arrival, there are more Muslim partners as well. People with faith pursue freedom of body and mind, and I think that is why the company attracts them.



My roommate performing namaz in the hotel room

Of course, freedom alone is not enough. People have to eat, and the ability to earn a high income is a major reason why the company attracts so many elite partners. Our average income is higher than that of most employees at large tech companies. During the 2020 pandemic, more than 400 of our agents earned over one million annually, and three even reached the ten-million level.



Mingya average monthly income

Our team currently has 17 people: one in Jiangsu, two in Anhui, one in Guangzhou, two in Yinchuan, one in Japan, and ten in Beijing. 100% have a bachelor's degree or higher. Some are part-time and some are full-time. The team communicates online daily. Since buying insurance and processing claims are now digitized, our clients are spread across the country and can purchase insurance online without leaving home.

On the first day of arriving in Chongqing, the company arranged free time. I took several other team leaders to the most authentic halal hot pot restaurant in Chongqing, Huiwei Chuanyu

for a meal. The quality of this restaurant is definitely among the best of all halal restaurants in Chongqing, and it has won awards in Chongqing hot pot competitions many times. If you ask me which restaurant to visit if you only go to one in Chongqing? I would recommend you come to Huiwei Chuanyu.



The owner, Brother Yang, is originally from Xinjiang and has lived in Chongqing for nearly twenty years. He speaks fluent Chongqing dialect. The restaurant is smoke-free and alcohol-free, which is unique among local Chongqing hot pot places. I introduced this restaurant in my previous article, 'Chongqing Halal Food Tour—Turns out Tripe Hot Pot is also related to Hui Muslims.' This time, because of the team dinner, I was able to taste more dishes.



Awards received

In Chongqing, a city of hot pot, it is quite rare for a halal hot pot restaurant to be recognized by judges. Brother Yang invests heavily in the research and development of hot pot soup bases and is very confident in the taste of his hot pot. For this dinner, I chose dishes based on the manager's recommendations, and every one of them was praised by my colleagues.



Yuan-yang pot (split pot with two flavors)

The yuan-yang pot is how Chongqing people show respect to outsiders. Based on my experience, I am not great with spicy food, but I can handle the mild spicy base. Because the soup base is so flavorful, the clear soup pot was ignored by everyone. You can skip the clear soup pot when you come here and just choose mild or medium spicy. The spiciest nine-grid pot is for those who like strong flavors.



The plaque hanging on the wall says: 'O mankind!' Eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good.' (Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 168)



The restaurant provides tips on how Chongqing people mix their oil dipping sauce. The top recommendation is the garlic and sesame oil dip: minced garlic + sesame oil + chopped green onions + fried peanuts + toasted sesame seeds.



Ice jelly (bingfen)



Brown sugar sticky rice cake (hongtang ciba)

Iced jelly (bingfen) and brown sugar sticky rice cake (hongtang ciba) are essential sweet desserts for hotpot.



The manager's recommended spicy big pot



Square bamboo shoots (fangzhusun)



Huiwei signature beef liver

Chongqing people love eating beef liver, but at non-halal shops, they usually eat pork liver. They cook it by dipping it repeatedly in the pot, then take it out and skip the oil dip, choosing instead to dip it in dry chili powder. The raw egg on the beef liver is actually there to make it smooth, and it is safe to eat.



A major feature of this hotpot restaurant is the live vegetables. These are all grown in a culture medium, and when guests want to eat them, the server harvests them on the spot. They are incredibly fresh, and naturally, the taste is tender and juicy.



Organic live pea shoots (wandou miao)



Organic peanut sprouts (huasheng ya)



Organic golden needle mushrooms (jinzhengu)



Ecological bean sprouts (douya)



Shrimp paste (xiahua)



Boneless fresh fish slices



Huiwei signature tripe (maodu)



Huiwei tender beef



Taking a photo with supervisors from different teams

After the meal, my companion and I went to the Chongqing Muslim Building for namaz. Upon arrival, we learned that the Muslim Building had been renamed, and the new name is still being discussed. The prayer hall on the top floor has also been closed, and Muslims needing to pray must go to the newly built Jiulongpo Mosque.



The Chongqing Muslim Building is currently owned by the Islamic Association and will be used for commercial purposes. In the future, it will be developed into a new popular social media landmark. The famous Shibati in Chongqing is about to be rebuilt, similar to Qianmen Street in Beijing, and is expected to open at the end of September this year.



The abandoned prayer hall where I once stood.



The dome on the top floor



The minaret that was never used and will never be used again



Standing on the top floor overlooking the Shibati project

From Jiaochangkou, where the Muslim Building is located, you can take the subway and reach Fengqi Road Station in half an hour. After walking a few hundred meters, you will arrive at the newly built Chongqing Grand Mosque. This grand mosque opened to the public last year. It covers an area of 10,000 square meters and has complete supporting facilities, including an underground parking lot. It belongs to the same batch of projects as the newly built grand mosque in Hangzhou.







The good news is that after several inspections by relevant leaders, the main building of the Great Mosque was deemed not to need large-scale renovations. It only needs some added Chinese-style elements to stay as it is. I applaud the wise decision made by the Chongqing leadership.



From the outside, the Great Mosque of Chongqing looks similar to the Great Mosque of Shadian.











The mihrab, shaped like an open Quran, is modeled after the style of the Faisal Mosque in Pakistan.







The Core Socialist Values hanging above are the result of later renovations, and the auspicious cloud patterns also count as added Chinese elements.



Four-Character Scripture for Muslim Women (Qingzhen Nuzi Sizi Jing)



Women's Prayer Hall





Just one wall away is the Chongqing Hui Muslim Cemetery.

This Great Mosque is located some distance from the city center, and the surrounding area is not yet developed, so there are not many Muslims coming for namaz. However, given Chongqing's current super-fast development speed, I believe this area will soon be bustling with people.

After visiting the Great Mosque of Chongqing, we returned to the hotel and started an MBA training course the next day. After several days of closed-door training, I set off on a journey to visit the oldest mosque in the Chongqing area, the Fengjie Mosque.

Fengjie is very far from downtown Chongqing, over 400 kilometers away. You can take a long-distance bus from the Chongqing North Station bus terminal and arrive in Fengjie County in 6 hours. Alternatively, you can take a high-speed train to Wanzhou, which takes about two hours, and then take a bus from Wanzhou to Fengjie, which takes another two hours.



Fengjie is the starting point of Bashu culture and the location of White Emperor City (Baidi Cheng). White Emperor City is a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level, and it is a must-visit spot when traveling the Yangtze River by boat. Friends who love Bashu history and culture should not miss it. Students who have been to school can surely recite Li Bai's poem 'Departing from White Emperor City in the Morning'.



Enjoying the night view of the Yangtze River at Kuimen Square.

According to historical records, the Fengjie Mosque is also one of the earliest mosques in the Bashu region, and it is said to have been built in the Yuan Dynasty. Due to the construction of the Three Gorges Project, the main building of the prayer hall was moved as a whole to its current location, and all the bricks and tiles were restored.



The mosque is currently undergoing construction of commercial storefronts on the ground floor. These shops will be rented out as mosque property, with plans to support the mosque through its own income. Huiwei Chuanyu hopes to open a branch here, which would meet the dietary needs of friends (dost) traveling to Fengjie, as there is currently only one halal ramen shop in Fengjie.



















The few remaining stone tablets in the mosque continue to write its history. In the evening, I spoke with the imam and learned that there are about 600 local Hui Muslims in Fengjie. Only eleven or twelve come for namaz on Jumu'ah, and only three people insist on performing the five daily prayers. They are all elderly. Most local Hui Muslims know nothing about Islam, which leads to many awkward situations during weddings and funerals, making it very difficult for the imam to carry out his work here.



In the evening, the imam asked his wife to cook me a hearty meal with Linxia flavors. It was the most delicious meal I had eaten in days. During the meal, I listened to the imam talk about the hardships of his missionary work, but he remained resilient and optimistic, viewing the difficulties he encountered as a test from Allah. I am full of respect for him and wish that all scholars striving on the path of the Lord may receive blessings in both worlds.



The only halal ramen shop in Fengjie, located at Kuimen Square.

After the evening prayer (maghrib), I said goodbye to the imam and returned to Beijing the next day. My study tour in Chongqing has come to an end. I hope that when I come back next time, I will see a branch of Huiwei Chuanyu opened in Fengjie. The Islamic culture of Bashu will surely regain its former glory, insha'Allah.


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Summary: Muslim Life Guide China: Ramadan Career Wins, Faith-Friendly Work and Islamic Insurance is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: Ramadan is a month of harvest, and good deeds performed during this time receive double the reward. April was also a month of professional harvest for me. Due to the recurring pandemic last year, our company's 2020 awards. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Ramadan Life, Muslim Careers, Islamic Insurance.

Ramadan is a month of harvest, and good deeds performed during this time receive double the reward. April was also a month of professional harvest for me. Due to the recurring pandemic last year, our company's 2020 awards ceremonies were delayed until this month.

At the recent 2020 annual meeting, I was honored to receive a promotion certificate and become a company partner. Our career ranks go from consultant to agent, senior agent, veteran agent, and finally partner. Reaching the partner level means a significant income increase and eligibility for year-end dividends, which is rare among top brokerage firms.



Me on stage receiving the award.

I also won an award for being in the top ten for annual insurance policy volume in our business department. I feel very honored to achieve this among nearly a thousand people. In 2020, I sold over 200 insurance policies, covering medical, critical illness, accident, and group insurance from more than twenty companies. My clients are across the country, with the furthest in Xinjiang and Guangdong. Thanks to the rapid development of internet insurance, we can complete applications without leaving home.



Top ten in annual policy volume.

I was also invited by the training department to be a guest lecturer for new recruits, sharing my work experience multiple times. Mingya has many talented people, so becoming a lecturer is an honor.



Promotional poster made by the training department.

Of course, I often used these training opportunities to sneak in some basic knowledge I teach.



Promotional poster made by the training department.

Reporting my work results to you, I want to say that work and faith can be combined organically. Faith has not been a burden on my work; instead, it has improved my efficiency to some extent. This year's Ramadan has been extra easy. My work is flexible with no need to clock in, and I do most of it at home on my computer. Also, Ramadan is shifting toward winter, so days are shorter and the weather is cooler. It is not like a few years ago when Ramadan was in midsummer, so fasting is stress-free.

In my previous job, I always had to find excuses to slip out for Friday namaz. Company social events always involved drinking, and I felt out of place sitting there, forced to put on a fake smile. Now I have no such worries. My work does not require me to suck up to leaders; all promotions and awards are based on performance. No one interferes with anyone else. My relationship with colleagues is more like college classmates; we hang out if we want, or we can be alone. Even when I achieve results, if I attend a team-building event, the organizer arranges halal food for me, even if I am the only Hui Muslim there. Now, the Hongbinlou restaurant downstairs has become one of our designated spots for team building.



Many colleagues started following my public account after my training sessions and learned about halal food. For most Han Chinese colleagues, it opened a new world. Some have even become interested in fasting and joined our activities to experience hunger, though their current motivation is mostly to lose weight.

I think I have found a career for life. It is a sunrise industry. Many people are just starting to understand insurance brokers. The definition of an insurance broker was written into the Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China long ago. It has been around for over a hundred years abroad, but only seventeen years in China. Seventeen years is also our company's age, as we were the first to introduce the brokerage model to China.



This profession has no ceiling and unlimited income, which is important for ambitious people. Many jobs hit a wall after 35, with no room for promotion or salary growth. Insurance brokers can keep moving up; your career grows as high as your ability allows.

I have told my team many times that being an insurance broker with a million-yuan annual salary in China is the happiest thing. You do not need to suck up to the powerful, there is no complex office politics, your income is clean, you live freely, and you can balance family and career. In 2019, our company had 179 brokers earning over a million. In 2020, even with the severe pandemic, that number grew to 208. This is the advantage of being an insurance broker. We use online methods to compare products and get the best insurance plans for clients, so the pandemic is not scary for us.

This year, my direct team has grown to 17 members in Ningxia, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Beijing. I have not met the ones in other cities, but that does not stop us from being a team. Our company's basic law encourages building teams across regions, and I have introduced some outstanding team members on my public account.

Team member 1: The slash-career life of Shadian Duosi.

Team member 2: The Plan B of a Hui Muslim master's student from Minzu University of China.

Team member 3: This Hui Muslim girl from Hohhot is truly excellent.

Insurance brokers need high personal standards. People who cannot think for themselves or learn quickly are not suited for this job. The 80/20 rule applies here, but our situation is a bit better. About half of the people who join stay in the industry for at least a year. Please learn more about the job before you contact me. Please read the two articles I posted earlier for details on the job duties and requirements.

1. Islamic insurance and my career

2. Salaam, what can I do for you?



The regions listed above are provinces where we have branch offices. If you live in these areas, you can contact me for an interview and assessment. If you are in a place where we do not have a branch yet, do not worry. Our company will open new offices throughout the year. Tibet might be the only province-level area without a branch by the end.


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Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Songpan Jiuzhaigou Mosques, Hui Muslims and Tea Horse Road History is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: Today is the third day of Ramadan in Beijing's Niujie. I won't be running around during this month. I want to stay calm, focus on my worship, keep studying the Quran and Hadith to enrich myself, and do some writing. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Jiuzhaigou Travel, Sichuan Muslims, Mosque History.

Today is the third day of Ramadan in Beijing's Niujie. I won't be running around during this month. I want to stay calm, focus on my worship, keep studying the Quran and Hadith to enrich myself, and do some writing.

This doesn't mean you can't travel during Ramadan. The Prophet encouraged travel. Allah created a beautiful world, and people need to reflect on it and feel the power of Allah.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said: Travel, and you will be healthy and safe. Go on expeditions, and you will become wealthy.

However, your intentions for travel must be right. Dangerous trips, like those taken just for the thrill, do not have the protection of Allah. In my view, they only satisfy personal desires and are meaningless. If an accident happens because of this, it is a sad thing.

Abu Imran narrated that some companions of the Prophet told me: Whoever sleeps on a flat roof and falls to their death does not have the protection of Allah. Whoever drowns while crossing the sea during a storm does not have the protection of Allah.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet said: Whoever leaves home has two flags at their door. One flag is held by an angel. The other flag is held by a devil. If someone leaves to seek the pleasure of Allah, the angel carries the flag and follows them. They remain under the protection of the angel until they return home. If someone leaves home and angers Allah, the devil carries the flag and follows them. They remain under the flag of the devil until they return home.

Therefore, we should try to avoid traveling to areas where the epidemic is severe.



—— Hello, Travel ——

In March, I went to Jiuzhaigou and Songpan County in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan. There were many reasons to visit Sichuan. First, Sichuan cuisine is one of my favorite styles. Halal Sichuan restaurants are rare in Beijing, where you mostly find hot pot skewers (chuanchuan huoguo). But hot pot alone doesn't capture the essence of Sichuan food. To eat authentic halal Sichuan cuisine, you have to come to Sichuan.

Second, Sichuan has a diverse human and geographical environment. It has Tibetan areas, Qiang autonomous counties, and other minority settlements. The scenery is pleasant, and the cities have a rich atmosphere of daily life. Of course, what attracts me most is the long history of Hui Muslim culture in Sichuan. Many old mosques in Sichuan were built during the Ming and Qing dynasties and still retain their ancient style. The level of religious practice in Sichuan is actually severely underestimated by outsiders. Many fellow Muslims don't know that there are Hui Muslims in Sichuan, and they are very devout. Every year, many Muslims (dosti) from Sichuan are among those who go on the Hajj.

The history of Hui Muslims in Sichuan began in the Yuan Dynasty. Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din served as the administrator of the Sichuan Branch Secretariat for nine years. His third son, Husayn, and fourth son, Shams al-Din Umari, both served as officials in Sichuan. During the Ming Dynasty, many Hui soldiers and merchants from Gansu, Shaanxi, and Yunnan moved to Sichuan. Currently, Hui Muslims in Sichuan are mainly concentrated in Chengdu, Guangyuan, Langzhong, Xichang, and Songpan. There are 133 mosques in Sichuan today.

Sichuan is a major tourist province with many beautiful sights. The most famous is Jiuzhaigou. However, my interest is entirely in halal travel. Beautiful scenery alone wouldn't make me visit. The focus of this halal trip is Songzhou Ancient City in Songpan County, about 50 kilometers from Jiuzhaigou. Songpan is a place where many Hui Muslims live, and there are many mosques with traditional architectural styles that attract me. Of course, there is also halal Sichuan food.



You can take a plane or a bus from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. I recommend the bus. It saves money, as the ticket is only a little over 100 yuan, and the trip takes about 7-8 hours. If you fly, the flight time is 1 hour, but when you add the time to get to and from the airport, it isn't much faster than the bus. The Jiuzhaigou airport is built between Songpan and Jiuzhaigou, far from the scenic area. You still need to take a taxi, which usually costs 200-300 yuan in peak season, and there are long lines.

If we take the halal route, we pass through Wenchuan and Songpan on the way from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou. After the Wenchuan earthquake, the area was rebuilt and is even more prosperous than before. On the road, I saw the Wenchuan Grand Mosque, which is a new mosque with a dome style.

Songzhou Ancient City



From Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station

Take a bus to Songpan County Songzhou Bus Station

The trip takes about 6 hours. Songzhou Ancient City in the county is a famous historical and cultural city in Sichuan. It was an important frontier town and the gateway to western Sichuan. There is no entrance fee for the ancient city, and there is plenty of halal food inside.



Looking around, 90 percent of the restaurants inside and outside Songzhou Ancient City are halal. They mostly serve local Sichuan flavors, with some Northwest Chinese dishes. Prices in the ancient city are quite cheap, costing about 50 to 60 yuan per person for a meal, which is much cheaper than Jiuzhaigou.



This shop is one of the popular restaurants recommended by locals. It specializes in yak beef soup pot (yaoniurou tangguo), but we were interested in home-style Sichuan dishes, so we didn't eat there.



The minaret (xuanlita) by the river in the distance is the Songpan North Mosque (Songpan Qingzhen Beisi), about one kilometer away from Songzhou Ancient City on foot.

Songpan North Mosque



The North Mosque was built in the 22nd year of the Guangxu reign (1896) with funds donated by the Hui Muslim tea merchant Ma Jian. It was destroyed in the third year of the Xuantong reign and rebuilt with collected funds in the eighth year of the Republic of China. The prayer hall was rebuilt in 2005. A plaque with the inscription 'Promote Religion and Build the Nation' by Bai Chongxi hangs in the middle of the Moon-Watching Pavilion (Wangyuelou). The mihrab inside the hall features wood carvings and paintings in the decorative style of the Gansu region. It was not damaged during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.







Screenshot from 'Architectural Art of Chinese Islam, Volume 2'.

A comparison of the original appearance of the North Mosque and its current state. The plaque in the middle inscribed by Bai Chongxi is no longer there.





















Guangzhaoting Gongbei



Guangzhaoting Gongbei was built to commemorate the 29th-generation descendant of the Prophet, Huazhe Abudonglaxi. It is located at the foot of the mountain in the north corner of Dongyu Village, east of Songpan County, one kilometer from Songpan Ancient City. Huazhe Abudonglaxi came to China from Mecca in the early Qing Dynasty to spread the Qadiriyya (Gaderenye) school, a history spanning nearly 400 years. At that time, the sage and his companions traveled by sea to spread the faith in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and the five Northwest provinces. They spent two years in Songpan and left in the 18th year of the Kangxi reign (1679). During the Xianfeng reign, Ma Daojin, the sixth-generation successor of the Great Gongbei, presided over the construction of the Gongbei at the place where he lived. The current main building was rebuilt in 1994 with a total investment of over 1.4 million yuan.

I filmed a short video of my visit to Guangzhaoting Gongbei.



Among the many Qadiriyya Gongbei, I have visited the National Gongbei in Linxia, Luling Mosque in Xixiang, Shaanxi, and Baba Mosque in Langzhong, Sichuan. I have written articles about two of them:

Luling Mosque: The Resting Place of the Qadiriyya Grand Master.

A Halal Travel Guide to Langzhong Ancient City, Sichuan.



There are several other Qadiriyya Gongbei in Sichuan, namely the Houxi Gongbei and Qianxi Gongbei in Wuping, the Datanjing Gongbei in Guangyuan, and the Erlangshan Gongbei in Guangyuan.







Lighting incense is very important in the Qadiriyya menhuan. It is usually done morning and evening. Practitioners must follow five rules: diligent study of precepts, begging for food, diligent practice, frequent bathing, and lighting incense.





















































On the mountain behind Guangzhaoting Gongbei, there is another Gongbei called Yinxian Gongbei, also known as Yinxian Pavilion or the Upper Gongbei. It is located on the east bank of the Minjiang River, 3 li from Songpan city, and is the tomb of the Arab Nuh Runjini (Chinese name Ma Guangzu). It is usually closed and requires someone from the Gongbei to bring a key to open it. There was no one at the Gongbei when we arrived, so we did not go.

Xiashuiguan Halal Street



Halal Street is inside the ancient city of Songzhou. It is easy to find on foot because the ancient city is small. Since there are halal restaurants everywhere, Halal Street does not feel particularly special, though it does house the Chengguan Mosque.





On Halal Street, there is a halal beef and mutton market along with several snack shops, most of which are run by merchants from Northwest China.

Chengguan Mosque





Songzhou Chengguan Mosque was formed by merging the Upper Mosque and the Lower Mosque. The Lower Mosque was built during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1379), and the Upper Mosque was built in the first year of the Xianfeng reign (1851). The Upper Mosque was once occupied by the Minshan Village collective, and the Lower Mosque was used as a canteen for the Zhongjiang No. 2 Village before being taken over by the Chengguan Kindergarten. In 1987, the land for the Chengguan Mosque was returned. It covers 4 mu of land with a building area of over 2,400 square meters.























There are many Sichuan-style halal restaurants in the ancient city. We walked into a tea restaurant and ordered a few local specialties. The shop was full of Tibetan people. Eating in the ancient city felt like being in Lhasa; the whole atmosphere was very similar.









Cold-tossed diced rabbit (lengchi tuding)

Cold-tossed diced rabbit is a famous Sichuan dish. The rabbit meat is diced, cooked, and then cooled. Although it looks full of chili peppers, you can eat the peppers as a vegetable. It is not spicy at all, but very fragrant and goes well with rice.



Green pepper chicken (qingjiao laziji)

Spicy chicken is another Sichuan specialty. The chicken is paired with the aroma of chili and Sichuan peppercorns, making it hard to stop eating.

Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area



You can reach the outside of Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area by bus from Songpan in two hours. You can stay near the scenic area that night. There are three halal restaurants outside the scenic area, a few hundred meters apart. Two are noodle shops, and one is a Sichuan restaurant called Huixiangzhai, run by Hui Muslims from Songpan.



Huixiangzhai

Huixiangzhai serves yak feasts and home-style Sichuan dishes, but the prices are on the high side, averaging about 100 yuan per person. If you eat the yak beef hot pot, the price is even higher, around 200 yuan per person. However, since it is in a scenic area where logistics are difficult, this is understandable.





Twice-cooked yak beef (huiguo yaoniurou)

Twice-cooked yak beef is the best Sichuan dish at this restaurant. We ordered it twice. You must eat twice-cooked beef when you come to Sichuan.



Stir-fried wild mushrooms (chao yeshengjun)

The weather in Jiuzhaigou in early March is still quite cool, so there are not many wild mushrooms. After May or June, a large amount of fresh mushrooms will be on the market.



Jiuzhaigou is a 5A-level scenic area. Tickets booked online are 192 yuan per person. The day we arrived was International Women's Day, so women were admitted for free. We took a sightseeing bus from the entrance to the top of the mountain and then toured from the top down. The whole trip was comfortable, and we did not have to walk too much, though hiking enthusiasts can also walk.



In 2017, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Jiuzhaigou, causing some damage to the scenic area. After several years of restoration, it has mostly recovered. 80% of the scenic area has reopened, and we did not see any traces of earthquake damage during our visit. However, this reminds us that if you want to visit, you should go early, as you never know when an accident might happen.



Nuorilang Waterfall

Nuorilang Waterfall was a filming location for the ending of the 1986 version of Journey to the West, where the monk Tang Seng and his disciples walked above the falls. I loved watching that show as a kid, and standing at the foot of the waterfall today felt like traveling back to my childhood. It was a wonderful experience.





Jiuzhaigou is in a Tibetan area filled with Tibetan villages you can visit. There are no halal restaurants there, so you need to bring your own food. I think one day is enough to explore from morning until night. It is a bit cold and the altitude is high on the mountain, so be prepared.



These photos are original shots from my phone with no editing. The blue you see with your own eyes is even deeper than in the pictures. Jiuzhaigou is one of the top ten scenic spots in China and a World Natural Heritage site. It is definitely worth a visit.



It was still snowing in Jiuzhaigou in March, and the scenery after the snow was beautiful. There are fewer tourists in the off-season, and you can visit Jiuzhaigou in any season. However, the park gets extremely crowded during the peak summer season, and hotel prices skyrocket. I suggest traveling during the off-peak season so you have a better experience.

My wife made a short video featuring both of us briefly.
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Summary: Best Halal Food in Beijing: Local Muslim Restaurants, Hui Snacks and Halal Food Map 22 is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: —— Hello, Travel ——. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Beijing Halal Food, Halal Restaurants, Hui Muslim Food.



—— Hello, Travel ——

Before I share information about halal restaurants, I want to answer some questions I get asked often.

1. I am not a professional food critic. My job has nothing to do with travel or food. I list my profession at the end of my articles, and writing about halal food is just a hobby.

2. I only write about restaurants I have visited. Even if a place is famous, I won't write about it if I haven't eaten there. Just because I write about a restaurant doesn't mean the food is great. Taste is subjective, so I rarely praise or criticize dishes.

3. I am not a big eater. My appetite is actually quite small. I eat three meals a day just like you, and I work out often, so there is no reason for me to be overweight.

4. If you want to find a restaurant's address, just search the name on Gaode Maps, Baidu Maps, or Dazhong Dianping to get the address and phone number.

5. Unless noted otherwise, halal restaurants in Beijing sell alcohol. There are only a handful of alcohol-free restaurants.

6. I am from Beijing.

This issue continues to update information on Beijing halal restaurants. I have introduced nearly 300 restaurants so far. The newly visited spots include Japanese, Southeast Asian, bakery cafes, and local snacks. The variety of halal dining in Beijing continues to lead the country.

1

Japanese: Niushi Yakiniku



I previously introduced Chidao Yakiniku in Changying as a halal Japanese restaurant. This time, I want to recommend another halal Japanese barbecue shop with a slightly different style called Niushi. Niushi has been open in Beijing for about a year. The first shop opened in Shuangjing, and later they opened two more in Baiziwan and Hopson One. Every location is halal.



The owner of Niushi is a Hui Muslim from Beijing. His family has been in the beef business for generations and owns a cattle farm in Gansu. The owner knows a lot about beef and is even a consultant for the Ministry of Agriculture on beef, so the quality of the beef at Niushi is guaranteed.



The restaurant is on the high-end side, so students should be careful. The bottle of non-alcoholic grapefruit juice I drank cost 330 yuan. The average cost per person here is over 200 yuan, and if you order some good beef, the bill can easily go over a thousand.



This 200g piece of marbled Wagyu beef costs 380 yuan. Although it is not cheap, it is fresh, tender, and juicy. Paired with the fruit sauce developed by the restaurant, it is truly a top-tier dish.







Besides expensive beef, the shop also has some affordable snacks. If you only eat meat to get full, your wallet will be empty. I suggest pairing it with staples like udon noodles, grilled meat rice, or ramen. These are not only affordable but also delicious. The portions for these snacks are small, perfect for one person.



Udon noodles



Grilled meat rice



The private rooms have a Japanese style and require you to take off your shoes, so make sure your feet are clean before you come.

2

Southeast Asian: Maiweitang Restaurant



Maiweitang also just opened recently. It is located next to the Vanke Green Town in Yizhuang. It mainly serves Southeast Asian cuisine and some new-style Beijing-style noodles. Looking at the menu and the decor, it reminded me of the rock-and-roll noodle restaurant in Gulou. When I asked the owner, it turned out there is a connection; the head chef at Maiweitang was a shareholder at the Gulou noodle shop, which explains why they have those new-style noodles here.









House special stir-fried shrimp



Hainan chicken rice



Hot and sour seafood pot

Of the three dishes pictured above, I most recommend the house special stir-fried shrimp. The shrimp are topped with oats and have a sweet flavor. They are stir-fried until crispy, so you can eat them shell and all. The seafood pot is a bit large and filled with many fish balls, so two people might not be able to finish it. The sauce for the Hainanese chicken rice has a unique taste that some friends might not be used to.

3

Xinjiang style: Sailankun



Sailankun has been open for about half a year and is located in Hepingli. The owner is a Hui Muslim from Turpan, a place famous for its melons and fruits. The restaurant is quite large, with two floors and private rooms that can accommodate gatherings of 40 to 50 people. The exquisite decor is what attracts me most to Sailankun, and it is also a great place for a date.







Peppery chicken (jiaomaji)



Diced naan with grilled meat (nangding kaorou)



Flaky baked buns (supi kaobaozi)

There are many Xinjiang restaurants in Beijing, but this one is worth a special recommendation for its flaky baked buns. These buns look like egg yolk pastries, and the crust is so flaky it crumbles when you bite into it. They are stuffed with diced lamb. If you have had traditional baked buns, you should try this fusion style.



Red willow grilled meat (hongliu kaorou)

4

Jingshunxuan spicy hot pot (malatang)



This issue introduces two spicy hot pot shops. This one is North China style, which features sesame paste. Besides spicy hot pot, the shop also serves potstickers (guotie) and barbecue. The other shop is Northwest style, which uses chili oil instead of sesame paste.





This small shop has been operating in Changying for many years. It is not big, but it is crowded and you have to wait in line. The spicy hot pot is quite spicy, and the potstickers are filled with carrots.



5

Dark Circles (Heiyanquan) Bakery and Cafe



After walking 200 meters from Changying Subway Station, I found a halal bakery and cafe. The environment and the products sold are very novel. This should be the only remaining halal cafe in Beijing. Friends who like to enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea can come and experience it.







I ordered a latte, and the small dessert that came with the coffee was also marked as halal. Both the coffee and the dessert tasted great.





If you don't drink coffee, there is also fruit tea. This pot is grape fruit tea, which is also very delicious.

6

Huozhouke conveyor belt mini hot pot



Huozhouke used to serve spicy stir-fry pots (mala xiangguo), but recently they renovated and changed to a conveyor belt mini hot pot. Business has improved a lot, and the shop was full on the first day of opening without any advertising.





The conveyor belt mini hot pot is billed by the skewer, costing about 50 to 60 yuan per person.



7

Haolaiwu Spicy Hot Pot (Haolaiwu Malatang)



Haolaiwu Spicy Hot Pot (Haolaiwu Malatang) is located on the ground floor of the Fenghua Haojing building near Caishikou. It is run by the original team from the Ma Family Ramen shop on Jiaozihu Tong in Niujie. They serve Northwest-style spicy hot pot, along with Northwest specialties like fermented vegetable noodle soup (jiangshuimian) and homemade spicy gluten strips (latiao). The spicy gluten strips cost 15 yuan per bag.









Spicy gluten strips (latiao)

8

Lan 97 Famous Snacks (Lan Jiushiqi Ming Xiaochi)



The owner of this shop came to Beijing in 2004 to work in the restaurant business. He once opened the only Indonesian Padang restaurant in Beijing, but he felt Southeast Asian flavors were not popular in the city, so he pinned his hopes on this new Lanzhou-style restaurant.



The shop includes almost all famous Lanzhou snacks, except for beef noodles.



High-quality cold starch noodles (gaodan liangpi)



Spicy millet chicken diced noodle mix (xiaomi la jiding banmian)



Fermented vegetable noodle soup (jiangshuimian)



Milk egg fermented rice soup (niunai jidan laozao)



A small drink that every Lanzhou local recognizes



Grilled meat in flatbread (kaorou jiamo)



Three-treasure tea (sanpaotai)



Saucy wide noodles (liuzhi kuanfen)



Saucy potato slices (liuzhi tudoupian)



Lanzhou-style small barbecue (Lanzhou xiao shao kao)

The owner has two other Lanzhou snack shops in Sanlitun and Guomao called Wangasi, but Lan 97 uses the best ingredients and is where he puts the most effort. It is the best-tasting one in my opinion, as it basically recreates the flavors I had in Lanzhou. The restaurant serves no alcohol and is worth a visit. It is located on the basement floor of the shopping mall at the Olympic Forest Park.

9

Xunji



Xunji is a halal barbecue stall with a slightly upscale feel and a comfortable environment. It is located in the garden in front of the Lido Hotel. The owner is Brother Ma from the Sijia Xiaoyuan Tanli Hot Pot, so the skewers here also use high-quality Ningxia beach sheep (tanyang).





The grilled oysters and grilled scallops are seasoned well, and the ingredients are fresh.



Because the owner is from Gansu, the shop also has Gansu snacks, such as sweet fermented wheat (tianpeizi), grilled pears, and fermented rice (laozao).



You can guess the price by looking at the food. It costs about 150 yuan per person. I even ran into Cao Yunjin when I ate there.





10

Fragrant Concubine's Sheep (Xiangfei de Mianyang)



The name Fragrant Concubine's Sheep (Xiangfei de Mianyang) sounds quite bold. It is a takeout window run by a Uyghur friend of mine. The shop specializes in lamb leg baked buns (kaobaozi) and rice pilaf (zhuafan), and they share tables and chairs with the restaurant next door.





Because they have a clay oven (nangkeng), their baked buns (kaobaozi) are extra fragrant. The rice pilaf (zhuafan) is also great, though I noticed it had no raisins. When I asked the chef, he said he could not find high-quality raisins in Beijing, so he preferred not to use any. This shows the chef is very strict about his food quality.





The small shop is at the north gate of Balizhuang Nanli. You can order takeout on Meituan, but I recommend standing right at the shop door to eat the baked buns (kaobaozi) while they are fresh out of the oven.

12

Halal Stone Pot BBQ (Qingzhen Shiguo Kaorou)



There is a stone pot BBQ place in the alley near Ciqikou subway station. It has a Korean style but also seems to combine the eating method of old Beijing iron plate BBQ (zhizi kaorou). I like their cheese chicken cutlet rice.









The meat is cooked in a stone pot with some oil and seasoning. This method makes the flavor soak in better than iron plate BBQ (zhizi kaorou), and it heats more evenly.



Cheese chicken cutlet rice

13

Wisteria Villa (Ziteng Shanzhuang)



Wisteria Villa (Ziteng Shanzhuang) is near Gubei Water Town, about 5 kilometers away. It is a halal farmhouse inn that combines dining, lodging, and entertainment. The shareholders include a Niujie ethnic goods store. The inn serves no alcohol, so the halal quality is guaranteed.









The painting on the wall was a gift from an imam at the Niujie Mosque. The restaurant can hold over a hundred people for dining and lodging at the same time.





The farmhouse inn serves home-style dishes at affordable prices. Including lodging, it costs only about 200 yuan per person.






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Reposted from the web

Summary: Mosque Near Me in Beijing: Existing and Lost Mosques, Niujie History and Muslim Heritage is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: This article counts 109 mosques in the Beijing area. There are 82 mosques currently standing in Beijing, 63 of which I have visited. I have identified 27 mosques that once existed but have since disappeared. I have added the. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Beijing Mosques, Niujie Mosque, Muslim Heritage.

This article counts 109 mosques in the Beijing area. There are 82 mosques currently standing in Beijing, 63 of which I have visited. I have identified 27 mosques that once existed but have since disappeared. I have added the Jiaozi Hutong Mosque and Mishi Hutong Mosque to the list, and included photos I took with my phone for some of the mosques.





Attached are photos and brief introductions for some of the mosques.

Niujie Mosque



The Niujie Mosque is the oldest and most historically significant mosque in Beijing. It was first built in 996 AD, during the second year of the Zhidao reign of the Northern Song Dynasty. It is now a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Dongsi Mosque



Based on the arch-shaped, beamless architecture of its rear hall, a hand-copied Quran from the fifth year of the Yanyou reign of the Yuan Dynasty kept in the mosque, and a wooden plaque from the Niujie Mosque, the Dongsi Mosque was first built during the Yuan Dynasty. Another theory suggests it was built during the Ming Dynasty, making it one of the four major mosques in the capital at that time.

Anwai Mosque



It was first built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty. In 1990, when Beijing hosted the 11th Asian Games, Andingmen Street needed to be widened, so the mosque was relocated to the Shanglong Xili residential area outside the east gate of Qingnianhu Park.

Nandouyacai Mosque



It was first built in the third year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1798). The storefront at the entrance is rented out to help fund the mosque's operations.

Dongzhimenwai Mosque



Also known as the Erlizhuang Mosque, it was first built during the Yuan Dynasty. The original site was one kilometer away from the current location. Shougang Group funded the move to the current site to build diplomatic apartments on the original land. It is now a cultural heritage site protected by the Dongcheng District.

Huashi Mosque



The Huashi Mosque was first built in the 12th year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1414). The current architecture dates back to the Qing Dynasty, and the colorful paintings on the main hall's beams are original works from that time. The hall also contains two beams made of peacock wood, a fragrant timber that keeps insects and birds out of the hall.

Shazikou Mosque



The Shazikou Mosque was first built in the early 1950s, originally converted from a cart inn.

Qingzhen Pushou Mosque



The Pushou Mosque was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and renovated many times during the Ming Dynasty. An Arabic inscription inside the mosque faintly shows the words, 'Rebuilt after bathing in the sixth year of the Tianqi reign of the Great Ming Dynasty.' The north courtyard of the mosque once housed the Muhua Primary School. In 1955, at the invitation of Imam Da Pusheng, a Syrian sheikh passing through Beijing came here to lead the Friday prayer.

Qingzhen Yongshou Mosque



There was a cemetery for Hui Muslims in the Sanlihe area during the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty (1456). The mosque was built in the 33rd year of the Wanli reign (1605). The scholar Wang Daiyu was once buried here, but the grave has since been moved.

Zhengyuan Mosque



Originally called the Beigouyan Mosque, it was first built during the Daoguang reign. It moved to its new location in 1997 during urban redevelopment. Above the door, the words Zhengyuan Mosque (Zhengyuan Qingzhensi) are written in the calligraphy of Hei Boli, the former chairman of the Ningxia Autonomous Region.

Houheyan Mosque



Houheyan Mosque was first built in 1948. This area is outside the southwest corner of Beijing's inner city but inside the outer city. Outside Xuanwumen, Hui Muslims lived along the south bank of the moat. Many worked in transport or ran halal restaurants. They built this mosque to make it easier to attend namaz.

Qianmen Mosque



Qianmen Mosque is also called Saozhu Hutong Mosque. It was first built in the early Ming Dynasty. Chang Yuchun ordered its construction at the same time he built the Changping and Huashi mosques.

Tongzhou Grand Mosque



Songyuli Mosque



Songyuli Mosque was built in 2018 as a replacement for the demolished Nanshangpo Mosque.

Nanxiapo Mosque



Nanxiapo Mosque was first built during the Kangxi era. There were originally four mosques outside Chaoyangmen: Nanshangpo Mosque, Nanxiapo Mosque, Shuimenguan Mosque, and Shegutang Mosque. The funeral for the martyr Ma Jun was held at Nanxiapo. The Beijing municipal government erected a tombstone for him in the nearby Ritan Park and built a memorial hall.

Fayuan Mosque



Fayuan Mosque is also called Dewai Guanxiang Mosque. It was first built in the early Kangxi era. Liu Geping, the former party secretary of the Ningxia Autonomous Region, wrote the plaque for Fayuan Mosque in 2001.

Changying Mosque



Changying Mosque was first built during the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty. Changying was the military camp of the Ming founding general Chang Yuchun. Changying Mosque was once the largest mosque in Beijing and had two main halls, though it was later surpassed by Doudian Mosque. The mosque has a small library where you can borrow books for free with a deposit.

Kangying Mosque



Kangying Mosque was first built in the Ming Dynasty and renovated in 2010. The mosque's name was written by Chen Guangyuan, the former president of the China Islamic Association.

Yangzha Mosque



Yangzha Mosque was first built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty. It was designated as a cultural relic protection site of Chaoyang District in 1984.

Xihui Mosque



Xihui Mosque was first built in the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty. It is now a key cultural relic protection site in Chaoyang.

Wanziying Mosque



It was first built during the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty. Li Hongzhang required the Huai Army to wear uniforms with numbered badges. The army was stationed here, so the place was formerly called Wanziying (Ten Thousand Character Camp), which became Wanziying today.

Guanzhuang Mosque



Guanzhuang Mosque was first built during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty and underwent a major renovation in 2003.

Balizhuang Mosque



Balizhuang Mosque was first built during the Qianlong period. There used to be a large cemetery here, and the mosque started as a building for guarding the Hui Muslims' public cemetery before gradually turning into a mosque.

Landianchang Mosque



I attended Jumuah prayer at Landianchang Mosque in Haidian District. This is an ancient mosque from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. It has an ancient cypress tree that is over 400 years old, planted when the mosque was built. The mosque's three treasures are a handwritten Quran, a carved brick with the Basmala (tasimiyie), and the tree. There are more Uyghur people here for Jumuah.

Haidian Mosque



First built in the Ming Dynasty, Haidian Mosque lost some land when Suzhou Street was widened. The government approved the construction of a three-story building on the east side of the mosque facing the busy street, and the rent from the shops there helps support the mosque.

Qinghe Mosque



Qinghe Mosque was first built in the 45th year of the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. It was originally located at the south end of the old Qinghe Bridge, but because the area was low and prone to flooding, it was moved to the north side of the bridge in the 6th year of the Guangxu period (1881 AD). The mosque is very clean and well-kept.

Anheqiao Mosque



Anheqiao Mosque was first built in the late Ming Dynasty. In the early Qing Dynasty, when Emperor Kangxi was building the Three Hills and Five Gardens, the local Hui Muslims used this prosperous time to expand the old mosque. The overall architectural style echoes the nearby Summer Palace (Yiheyuan).

Shucun Mosque



Beijing Shucun Mosque was first built during the Yongzheng period of the Qing Dynasty. With the construction of the royal Three Hills and Five Gardens, the Bordered Yellow Banner barracks of the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) guard force were set up west of Shucun, and the Plain White Banner barracks were set up to the east, which led to the formation of the Shucun trading street. According to the records of the "Three Outer Banners of the Capital," the trading street had 270 shops during its peak, with many, such as mutton shops and jade shops, run by Hui Muslims.

Siwangfu Mosque



Located at the foot of Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan) in Beijing, Siwangfu Mosque was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty. Siwangfu is a fair-sized village at the foot of the southeast side of Fragrant Hills. It was originally a burial ground for Ming Dynasty royal infants who died young. During the Qing Qianlong period, the name was changed to "Siwangfu" because it sounds like the word for "four" and avoids the word for "death." Over eighty years ago, Imam Yang Chun (the father of 82-year-old Yang Jing'an and 77-year-old Yang Jingyi) came to Beiping from Cangzhou, Hebei. Recommended by Imam Hei Fengyi, he served as the imam at Siwangfu Mosque.

Nanyuan Mosque



Nanyuan Mosque is a newly built mosque right next to Nanyuan Airport. It is a ten-minute walk to the airport terminal. The imam told me that this mosque will be relocated further west, and the new site has already been chosen and is under construction.

Changxindian Mosque



Fengtai Changxindian Mosque was first built in the late Ming Dynasty and renovated during the Guangxu period. The mosque is currently being refurbished. When I arrived, workers were spray-painting, and the plaque with the mosque's name was written by Ma Guochao, the son of Ma Benzhai.

Fengtaizhen Mosque



Fengtai Mosque was originally built alongside the Lugou Bridge. In the 21st year of the Guangxu reign (1895), the mosque moved to Zhengyang Bridge due to the construction of Fengtai Railway Station, and in 1990, it moved again to Yongshan Residential Community.

Cuizhihuiying Mosque



The Cuizhihuiying Mosque in Daxing District was first built during the Qing Dynasty. Cuizhihuiying is the southernmost point of Beijing and is a village for Hui Muslims. Most of the village is currently being demolished to make room for support facilities for the Daxing Airport rail transit.

Liushizhuang Mosque



This is a cultural heritage site protected by Daxing District. It was first built in the Qing Dynasty and renovated in 1992. Liushizhuang is a village for Hui Muslims.

Xueying Mosque



The mosque in Xueying Village, Panggezhuang Town, Daxing District, Beijing, was first built in the second year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1574). It covers 1,500 square meters. The roof of the main hall is decorated with yellow and green glazed tiles, and there are two pillars in the front corridor. Inside the hall, there are eight wooden white-painted pillars. There is a wooden arched gate with floral patterns painted on the lintel.

Xihongmen Mosque



The new Xihongmen Mosque was built next to the old one. The original mosque dates back to the 26th year of the Kangxi reign (1687). In the old mosque, men and women could pray together in the main hall, separated by a curtain. The new main hall is open for Friday Jumu prayers.

Langgezhuang New Mosque



The new Langgezhuang Mosque in Daxing District was completed in 2008. With this mosque, Beijing reached a total of 77 mosques. Langgezhuang is also a village for Hui Muslims, where 70 percent of the residents are Hui Muslims.

Langgezhuang Old Mosque



The Langgezhuang Mosque in Daxing District was first built in the fifth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1740). It was damaged many times by floods from the Yongding River throughout history and has undergone many repairs. It is now a cultural heritage site protected by Changping District.

Xin'anzhuang Village Mosque



Hui Muslims have lived in Xin'anzhuang Village since the Ming Dynasty. The mosque was originally just a few adobe houses. In 1996, the construction of the Beijing-Jiulong Railway caused cracks in the mosque walls because the rail bed was too close. The railway department paid 50,000 yuan in compensation, and the village raised funds to build a new mosque.

Maqiao Mosque



Maqiao Mosque was first built in the early Ming Dynasty. When the 1976 Tangshan earthquake hit Beijing, the mosque was damaged. The Niujie Mosque agreed to dismantle its women's mosque and donate all the materials to help rebuild the Maqiao Mosque.

Fatou Mosque



The mosque in Fatou Village, Zhangjiawan Town, Tongzhou District, was first built in the Ming Dynasty. There is a 400-year-old locust tree in the mosque that is as old as the building itself. It was renovated in the second year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt again in 2001.

Zhangjiawan Mosque



Zhangjiawan Mosque was first built between the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty. Zhangjiawan is a village for Hui Muslims. The mosque has a 500-year-old locust tree and an ancient vat in the courtyard where goldfish are kept.

Yongledian Mosque



Yongledian Mosque in Tongzhou District was built in 1911. It started with a prayer hall of only three rooms. It was expanded on June 1, 2002, and finished on October 31 of that year.

Tongzhou Beiguan Mosque



Tongzhou Beiguan Mosque was built in the first year of the Yuanyou era. It sits on the north bank of the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal. It is the second oldest mosque in Beijing, after the Niujie Mosque. The mosque was destroyed during the time of the Eight-Nation Alliance and later rebuilt under the leadership of Elder Gao, Imam Lan, and others.

Xiguanshi Mosque



Xiguanshi Mosque in Changping was built in the seventh year of the Hongzhi era of the Ming Dynasty. Empress Dowager Cixi stayed here briefly when she fled the capital.

Xiaoxinzhuang Mosque



There is a Xiaoxinzhuang Mosque next to the Pingxi Prince Mansion in Changping District. It is said to have been built in the Qing Dynasty and is over 200 years old. It was repaired in 1951, but was occupied many times after 1958. It was renovated and returned to normal use in 1982. The original mosque was not in this location, and it was rebuilt here in 1997.

Nanyicun Mosque



Nanyicun Mosque in Shahe, Changping, was built in the ninth year of the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty (1530). It is a protected cultural site in Changping District. Several ancient stone tablets are well-preserved inside. The upper part of the couplet on the main hall door pillars reads: All things move by the will of Allah. The lower part reads: The value of life lies in seeking knowledge and doing good deeds.

Heyingcun Mosque



Heying Mosque in Changping was built in the Ming Dynasty next to the tomb of Bo Ha Zhi. When I arrived, the door was locked, but there was a phone number on it. I called, and the caretaker came to open it shortly after. I learned that the caretaker and his wife manage the mosque as volunteers. The old mosque collapsed years ago, so they use a simple temporary building. For namaz, they just lay carpets on the ground. Because the whole village is about to be demolished, the reconstruction work is delayed. There are thirty Hui Muslim households in the village, but no imam. Occasionally, visiting friends (dost) come to visit the graves.

Nankoucun Mosque



Nankoucun Mosque in Changping was built in the Ming Dynasty and is now a protected cultural site in Changping District. In front of the main hall, there is a stone tablet recording the renovation of the mosque in the 20th year of the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty. It was written by Ma Zhaoqing, a famous scholar in Changping during the late Qing and early Republic period. The tablet itself is the original. This mosque is not open to the public. There is an ancient well in the courtyard, and the building next to the main hall has collapsed.

Nankou Town Mosque



Nankou Town Mosque is an abandoned courtyard guarded by only one Hui Muslim man. There are five rooms in the courtyard. The north room was built by the production team in the 1970s, and the west and south rooms are single-story houses built in recent years. According to local residents, this mosque and the Nankoucun Mosque are both closed because of disputes over the disposal of the mosque's property.

Chadao Mosque



Chadao Mosque, located at the foot of the Badaling Great Wall in Yanqing, was built during the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2013 and is the only mosque in Yanqing. When I arrived at the gate, I found it locked. I asked at the hand-pulled noodle shop (lamian guan) next door and learned that the owner of Yuxinzhai across from the mosque is the manager. I found him and learned he is the only Hui Muslim in the village. His surname is Yu, which is said to be a surname bestowed by the emperor. Elder Yu said he had to talk to many officials to prepare for the construction of the mosque, which was very difficult and faced a lot of resistance. The current imam is temporarily borrowed from Changping. There is usually no one there, but about thirty or forty people attend Jumu'ah.

Wujie Mosque



Wujie Mosque in Changping started in the Ming Dynasty and was built by Chang Yuchun. The beams of the main hall are made of golden nanmu wood used for the Ming Tombs. It is now a protected cultural site in Changping.

Doudian Mosque



Doudian Mosque has a history of over 300 years and now covers an area of 14,958 square meters. It reached its current size after several renovations and expansions. The main hall is 40 meters high, symbolizing the age when the Prophet Muhammad received his mission. The overall layout of the building is in the shape of the Chinese character for Hui (Hui).

Chengzi Mosque



In 1951, the Hui Muslim coal mine in Mentougou went bankrupt. They turned six of the mine's rooms into a mosque. The current building was rebuilt in 1990.

Gubeikou Mosque



Gubeikou Mosque in Miyun, Beijing, sits at the foot of the Great Wall on Wohu Mountain in Hexi Village, Miyun County. It was first built at the end of the Ming Dynasty and has a history of over 300 years. It is now a county-level cultural heritage site in Miyun. The mosque was rebuilt in 1997 but has not been used since. The villagers in Hexi come from all over, representing 7 ethnic groups and 132 surnames. Currently, only a few families in the east of the village are Hui Muslims.
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Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xishuangbanna Hui-Dai Muslim Villages, Mosques and Halal Food is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: —— Hello, Travel ——. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Xishuangbanna Muslims, Mosque Travel, Halal Travel.



—— Hello, Travel ——

Xishuangbanna is not new to me. I visited in 2016 and heard there were mosques made of bamboo. I specifically went to the Manluanhui and Mansaihui Hui Muslim villages in Menghai County to find them, but I had no luck. After asking around, I learned that bamboo mosques were temporary structures from the early days when conditions were tough and they did not last long. When I visited, I only saw the new-style Mansaihui Mosque and the Manluanhui Mosque, which was still under construction.

This trip to Xishuangbanna was a reward from my company's branch office. According to our 2020 fourth-quarter incentive plan, staff at the rank of senior broker or higher could join the Xishuangbanna trip for free. Our company's job hierarchy goes: consultant, broker, senior broker, senior broker, and partner. I have been promoted to partner, which is higher than a senior broker, so I was honored to join this year-end honorary trip.

If you follow the standard tourist route, there are several popular spots in Banna. The company arranged a custom tour for us, and I spent the first two days with the group. However, I had planned to go off on my own to start a halal travel mode. Since most of my colleagues have traveled all over the world, they were not interested in typical tourist spots and asked to join my small, private tour instead.

Based on my experience and recommendations from local friends in Banna, the most worthwhile popular spot is the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with the nearby Dayi Manor or Nannuo Mountain. Both Dayi and Nannuo Mountain are tea mountains. Banna used to be part of Pu'er, so Pu'er tea is not actually produced in Pu'er; Banna is the original home of Pu'er tea. Locals do not like other spots like the Gaozhuang Night Market, Dai villages, or Wild Elephant Valley because they are too commercialized and full of tourists.



Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

It takes about an hour to drive from Jinghong, the capital of Banna, to the botanical garden. The garden is not just a research base but also a 5A-rated scenic spot that combines science and entertainment. The most impressive plants are in the west section. If you visit in summer, you can see the lake full of giant water lilies (dayanglian) that are strong enough for children to stand on. The east section features tropical rainforests and a green stone forest, which is quite large and requires a sightseeing cable car.

Tickets are 80 yuan per person, half-price during the pandemic. Battery car tickets are 50 yuan per person, or 100 yuan for the whole park.

Main gate opening hours: 8:00-18:00. Suspension bridge north gate opening hours: 7:30-18:30.







Driving south from the botanical garden for about two hours, you reach the Sky Tree (wangtianshu) scenic area. The Sky Tree is a symbol of the tropical rainforest, with trunks reaching over a hundred meters high. The discovery of this dipterocarp plant proves that China has tropical rainforests. I should mention that driving from downtown Jinghong to the Sky Tree scenic area takes over three hours, the road is long, and the conditions are not great.



The hundred-meter-tall Sky Tree.







We all walked across the suspension bridge in the trees.



There are no halal restaurants at the Sky Tree or the botanical garden, so you need to bring your own food. Luckily, we found the only halal Yunnan bridge-crossing rice noodles (guoqiao mixian) in a shop at the Sky Tree scenic area. Being able to eat a bowl of hot noodles when hungry felt like a blessing.



To visit tea mountains, you can go to Dayi Manor. Tickets are 40 yuan, and horse-drawn carriage or electric car tickets are 60 yuan. Dayi tea is very famous locally, but remember not to buy tea in the scenic area. It is much more expensive and hard to find good quality. I showed a friend who works in the tea business in Banna some Pu'er tea that a colleague bought at the Nannuo Mountain scenic area, and they said it was overpriced.



Riding a horse-drawn carriage through Dayi Manor.



Tea plants cover the mountains and plains.

Jinghong is livelier at night than during the day, with a rich nightlife. The days are hot, reaching over 30 degrees, but the nights are cool. The show our Banna friends highly recommended is "Dai Show" (Daixiu), which is arguably the best stage play in the area. The performance level of "Dai Show" is world-class. We were all shocked after watching it and felt it was worth the price. Regular tickets are 328 yuan online, but we got them for 260 yuan through a local friend.



"Dai Show".

The show lasts one hour and leaves you wanting more. Everything from entry to exit was arranged very carefully and naturally. The actors' skills and stage effects were excellent. Friends who have the chance to visit Banna should not miss it.









We took a group photo with the lead actors of the Dai Show.

After the show ended, we took photos with the cast. That was when I noticed one of the leads was a foreigner. He was the man wearing a snail shell on his back, a Black yoga master with incredibly flexible joints.



Jinghong Mosque is in the north of the river. I took the photo in 2016. When I went there for Jumu'ah prayer this year, the old mosque had been torn down and the new one was still under construction. It is just a building site now, so we prayed in a temporary prefab room. The new mosque will likely be built in the Dai style.



Jinghong Mosque, photographed in 2016.





Signs in the Dai language.



A snack stall next to the mosque.

Next, I will introduce the halal food in Jinghong. Jinghong is the busiest capital city in Xishuangbanna. It is quite easy to find halal restaurants here. Most are small eateries serving Yunnan-style food, run mainly by Hui Muslims from Dali, Shadian, and Pu'er. There are also barbecue shops that mix Hui and Dai flavors.



Yijun Food.

On the first day, just after landing in Jinghong, I brought my colleagues to Yijun Food to try local Yunnan dishes. The owner is a Hui Muslim woman from Shadian who wears a headscarf. She was pleasantly surprised when I greeted her with 'Assalamu Alaikum,' as she thought few Hui Muslims from Beijing knew about our faith. She said she had met Beijing Hui Muslims at her shop before who didn't even know how to say the greeting. After telling me this, she had her young daughter say 'Assalamu Alaikum' to me and even gave us some free dishes.



At small Yunnan restaurants, if you want vegetables, there is usually no menu. You just point to the ingredients in the display case and tell them how you want them cooked. It is very convenient, and you can see right away if the food is fresh. Vegetables are usually stir-fried plain without chili.



Oil-drizzled beef jerky (youlin niuganba).

To remember the name of every dish, I specifically asked the owner to write them down on paper. Otherwise, I would have forgotten what I ate once I got back to Beijing, because Yunnan has such a wide variety of ingredients—many were fresh things I had never seen or heard of before.



Dai-style fish (daiwei yu).



Lahu-style chicken (lahu ji).



Lemon shrimp (ningmeng xia).



Stir-fried squid (qiang youyu).



Stir-fried white flowers (chao baihua).



Stir-fried thorn buds (chao ciya).



Stir-fried baby corn (chao xiao yumi).



Ali Barbecue Shop.

This Ali Barbecue Shop is a local spot highly recommended by friends in Banna. It was a hit with me and my colleagues. Banna barbecue is famous for its Dai style. Besides marinating the meat skewers beforehand, you also dip them in a local sour and spicy sauce.



We chose to go to Ali for skewers at 10 p.m. Just like at a hot pot stall, you pick your ingredients from the freezer and ask the staff to grill them in the back. We sat around a round bamboo table, eating skewer after skewer. Even the friend who joined us later couldn't help but dig in after trying a few pieces of grilled beef.



I chatted with the owners and learned they are Hui Muslims from Pu'er who have been running the business here for many years. The shop has a great reputation among locals. Interestingly, none of the restaurants we visited sold drinks; they only provided free tea. If we wanted a drink, the staff told us to buy one ourselves at a nearby shop. The cost of living in Banna is low. A hearty meal costs only 30 to 50 yuan per person, and you can get a simple fast-food meal for 10 yuan.







We went to the famous Gaozhuang Night Market in the evening and saw many pretty influencers taking photos. The market was packed with people selling snacks and small souvenirs. It is nice just to look around. The Lancang River flows through the middle of Jinghong, splitting the city into the south and north banks. The south bank is the old town and attracts many tourists, while the north bank is the new town, which is well-developed, cleaner, and tidier.



Juedui Niu Hui Muslim Restaurant

I also want to list a few local Yunnan-style halal restaurants I have visited. Juedui Niu Hui Muslim Restaurant and Hongfu Halal Restaurant are places I ate at back in 2016. They are still open today, and you can find their exact locations on Baidu Maps or Dazhong Dianping.



Hongfu Halal Restaurant



Jinghong 786 Muslim Hotel

I found a Muslim hotel by the road with an interesting name, 786. I once introduced 786 in my Tibet halal food map. It is very common in South Asia, where local Muslims use 786 as a code for halal.



Halal Snack Bar

A friend in Banna recommended this halal snack bar. They come here to eat every so often. The business is very good, and you might have to wait for a table during meal times.



I recommend the steak and black-palm chicken (wuzhangji). It is best to book in advance, or you might miss out if you arrive late.





If you go to Wanda Plaza to watch the Dai Show, you can eat rice noodles at this nearby Ma Si Halal Snack Shop. They also serve stir-fried dishes with Yunnan flavors.



Paxidai Halal Restaurant

My main reason for going to the Gaozhuang Night Market was to visit a large Hui-Dai halal restaurant called Paxidai, located right at the entrance. It is very easy to find. 'Paxi' means Hui Muslims in the Dai language. The owner is a Hui-Dai woman. We met for the first time and immediately felt close after exchanging salaams. The owner is from Manluanhui and her surname is Yu. Most Hui-Dai women have the surname 'Yu', while men have the surname 'Yan', following Dai traditions.



The restaurant environment is beautiful. It is built on the riverbank like a boat and has three floors. Eating by the window and looking at the scenery feels like being on a boat trip down the river.





More than ten colleagues came to this dinner, and we ordered almost every dish on the menu with Dai flavors. The owner was very hospitable and gave us a few extra dishes to try. The overall taste was good, focusing on sour, spicy, salty, and fresh flavors. When you come to Banna, you must try the local food, especially when dining in such a beautiful setting. After the meal, the Hui-Dai owner warmly invited us to visit her hometown, Manluanhui.



Dai-style beef rice noodles



Lemon shredded pounded beef jerky (shousi xiaochui niuganba)



Lemon jelly noodles (liangfen)



Passion fruit hot and sour fish



Nammi dipping sauce platter



Hui-Dai white-palm chicken (baizhangji)



Peanut and beef jerky platter



Lemongrass grilled fish



Stir-fried beef with sour bamboo shoots



Stewed oxtail with radish



Seafood pineapple rice



Hui-Dai style roasted chicken

We said goodbye to the landlady of Paxidai for a while, and the next day we hired three cars to head to Mansaihui and Manluanhui in Menghai County. Mansaihui and Manluanhui are about 4.5 kilometers apart. Starting from Jinghong city center, you can take a bus at the Jinghong Bus Station or use Didi. Didi is less likely to have route detours because the trip is monitored. It is a 45-kilometer drive that takes about an hour.



Mansaihui was formed relatively late, about 100 years ago. Hui Muslims from other parts of Yunnan, such as Dali and Tonghai, came here to do business and married local Dai people, gradually forming a village. Currently, there are about eighty households and over four hundred people. The local villagers keep Dai living habits, wear Dai clothes, and speak the Dai language, but they follow Islam. The Dai women here also wear headscarves, so you cannot tell if someone is a Hui Muslim just by looking at their headscarf.



The Mansaihui mosque has not changed much in recent years, except that the imam has changed from Imam Tang to Imam Guan. Both are from Yunnan and have settled in Mansaihui.



Since most of my colleagues traveling with me were not Muslim, I invited the imam to the small classroom in the mosque to give everyone a brief introduction to the history of the Hui-Dai people and the basic concepts of Islam. The group listened with great interest and felt that this kind of in-depth travel was very meaningful. I appreciate my company's open and inclusive corporate culture. In our company, everyone can express their personality without worrying too much.











There is Dai script written next to the donation box.















After saying goodbye to Imam Guan and leaving Mansaihui, we arrived at the nearby Manluanhui. The history of Manluanhui is older than that of Mansaihui. The ancestors of the Hui-Dai people here were from the time of the Du Wenxiu Uprising in the Qing Dynasty. A Hui Muslim named Ma Wulong fled from Dali to Xishuangbanna for refuge. The Dai King accepted his request for asylum and let him settle in Manluan. In the Dai language, Manluan means a place overgrown with weeds.



Boyaohehanmu Bridge

The local chieftain built a bridge in Manluan and handed it over to Ma Wulong to manage. Boyaohehanmu means golden bridge in the Dai language.

Ma Wulong married a local Dai girl. According to Dai tradition, a son-in-law who moves into his wife's family must change his name to "Yan," and if it is a woman, she must change her surname to "Yu." Ma Wulong had a son named "Yanhan."

The Dai people believe in Theravada Buddhism, which belongs to Hinayana Buddhism. It has a strict hierarchy divided into royalty, nobility, and commoners. Royalty has the surname "Zhao," nobility has the surname "Dao," and commoners have the surname "Yan."



A photo provided by the landlady of Paxidai to see if the Hui-Dai girls are pretty.







Main hall of Manluan Mosque

The new building of Manluan Mosque uses traditional Dai architectural style. It is magnificent and blends in with the local environment.















San Ge Farmhouse Restaurant

For lunch, we chose the San Ge Farmhouse Restaurant next to the mosque. The owner of this shop is the cousin of the Paxidai landlady. The cousin arranged two tables of local farmhouse dishes for us.



Hand-shredded small-hammered beef jerky (niuganba)

Beef jerky (niuganba) is a unique Hui Muslim food in Yunnan. There are many ways to make it. A common one is oil-fried beef jerky used for cooking. Another is the Banna-style small-hammered beef jerky, which is charcoal-grilled and can be eaten as a snack.



Scrambled eggs with toon buds



Sticky eggplant



Beef steak stewed with radish



Hui-Dai white-palm chicken (baizhangji)



Stir-fried pea pods



Deep-fried cow skin (zha niupi)

This dish is very popular. When it was served, we thought it was fried shrimp chips because it was so crispy. My friend from Banna said it was deep-fried cow skin (zha niupi). I was skeptical that it was actually made from cow skin, but the owner confirmed it.



After the meal, we drank tea at my cousin's house. The tea was made that very day and still had a smoky scent. March is the peak season for tea, and the Hui Muslims in Mansaihe and Manluanhe mainly grow tea. The village was quiet that day because the young people were all out picking tea.



While wandering around the village, I bought a cup of milk tea. It was sweet, tangy, and delicious.





Thai Cottage Milk Tea Shop (Tai Xiaowu Naicha Dian)



There are many halal restaurants in the village, all along the main road. If you want to eat, come to Manluanhe.







I saw flowers and plants on a house planted in the shape of a star and crescent. I took the opportunity to tell my colleagues about the origin of the star and crescent symbol and some history of the Ottoman Empire.



A halal barbecue shop in the village with signs in both Dai and Chinese.





Beef rice noodles (niurou migan)

A specialty breakfast in Paxidai is rice noodles (migan). Rice noodles (migan) and rice vermicelli (mixian) are the same thing, just in different shapes; rice noodles (migan) are flat and wide.



Menghai Mosque

After leaving Manluanhe, you can go to Menghai County to catch a bus back to Jinghong. You can visit the Menghai Mosque on the old street.



The mosque was first built in the 1930s and was completely renovated in 2015.







Eight Kilometers (Ba Gongli) is a place name.

I ate at this shop back in 2016. When I mentioned it to the owner of the Paxidai shop, it turned out the owner of that place is her cousin. Truly, Hui Muslims are one big family everywhere.

TIPS: About accommodation



For accommodation in Banna, I recommend searching for 'Zhiyu Homestay' on Tujia. You can also find it on Trip.com, but Tujia shows more details. This is a homestay run by my friend in Banna, located next to the InterContinental Hotel. There are detached villas and townhouses available, and it can host a team-building group of up to 20 people.



Homestays are cozier than hotels and feel like home, plus the environment is great. I stayed at my friend's homestay the first time I came to Banna and even met other guests. Chatting and sharing life experiences during our free time is a way of relaxing that I really enjoy.





The rooms are clean and bright, the location is excellent, and there is a terrace where you can drink tea and enjoy the view. Tell the owner you came because of my public account to get a discount. We are able to experience Banna culture in depth all thanks to the help of my Banna friends.





Zhiyu Homestay
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Reposted from the web

Summary: Muslim Knowledge Guide: Women in Islam, Judaism and Christianity Across the Muslim World is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: I have adjusted and shortened the order of the chapters. I am sharing this book not to attack followers of other religions. The content is objective, and the parts about Judaism and Christianity cite their own. The article keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Women in Islam, Religious Comparison, Muslim Knowledge.

This article is an excerpt from a book by Canadian Muslim scholar Sherif Abdel Azeem.

The book is titled "

Women in Islam (Compared to Women in Judaism and Christianity)."

I have adjusted and shortened the order of the chapters. I am sharing this book not to attack followers of other religions. The content is objective, and the parts about Judaism and Christianity cite their own traditional scriptures, so there is no fabrication. Dr. Azeem wrote this book with a very humble and friendly attitude, and his citations are quite gentle.

I have always believed that Muslims should live among non-Muslims. The Quran allows Muslims to have friendly exchanges with non-Muslims. This helps us make comparisons and see our own strengths. If we only live among Muslims, many things become routine, just like air. We stop noticing them and forget to cherish them. Living with non-Muslims also promotes religious dialogue and encourages people to follow the right path, which is something the Quran allows us to do. "Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. "(16:125)



The content is a screenshot from Islamic Law (Sharia).

The law clearly states that Muslims cannot interfere with the lives of non-Muslims. This includes not pouring out their wine, not stopping them from eating pork, and certainly not tearing down their churches. As long as both sides follow their own principles, we can communicate with their wise people.

Today, most Jews, Christians, and even Muslims do not practice their religion exactly as written in their scriptures. They choose what to believe based on their own understanding. Therefore, comparing the individual actions of believers from different religions is not representative and cannot be done. However, we can study the scriptures of these religions to trace their roots and compare how they describe certain topics. This article selects the most controversial issue, the status of women, for comparison.

Women in Islam (Compared to Women in Judaism and Christianity)

The status of women in Jewish and Christian traditions is undoubtedly shocking when measured by the standards of the late 20th century. However, it must be viewed within its proper historical context. This means that any objective evaluation of the status of women in Jewish and Christian traditions must take into account the historical circumstances in which these traditions developed.

There is no doubt that the views of Jewish legal scholars and church fathers on women were influenced by the ideas common in the societies where they lived. The Bible itself was written by different authors in different eras. These authors could not help but be influenced by the values and lifestyles of the people around them. For example, the extreme bias against women in the Old Testament laws regarding adultery is hard for us to explain with our way of thinking. However, if we consider the fact that early Jewish tribes cared deeply about their lineage, they had an extreme desire to define themselves as distinct from the surrounding tribes. In this context, only the sexual misconduct of married women could threaten the desire they valued so much. Considering this, we can understand this bias. Similarly, the various condemnations of women by church fathers cannot be separated from the misogynistic Greco-Roman cultural background of their lives. Therefore, it is unfair to evaluate Jewish and Christian cultural heritage without considering the relevant historical background. In fact, correctly understanding the historical background of Judaism and Christianity is also extremely important for understanding the significance of Islam's contribution to world history and human civilization.

1. The Sin of Eve

When Allah condemned Adam's actions, he pushed all the blame onto Eve: 'The man said, The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.' (Old Testament, Genesis 3:12) Allah then said to Eve: 'I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children.' 'Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.' He then said to Adam: 'Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, You must not eat from it, cursed is the ground because of you.' 'Through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.' (Old Testament, Genesis 3:16-17) In the Islamic faith, the story of how humans were first created is mentioned many times, such as: 'O Adam!' Dwell with your wife in Paradise, and eat from it wherever you wish. But do not approach this tree; otherwise, you will become among the wrongdoers. ' But Satan whispered to them to reveal that which was hidden of their private parts.

He said: 'Your Lord did not forbid you from this tree except that you might become angels or become among the immortals.' ' And he swore to them: 'I am indeed a sincere advisor to you both.' ' He misled them with deception. When they tasted the fruit of the tree, their private parts became apparent to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Their Lord called to them: 'Did I not forbid you from that tree?' Did I not tell you that Satan is a clear enemy to you both? ' They said: 'Our Lord!' We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers. ' (Quran 7:19-23) If you look closely at these two stories, you will find a clear difference. Unlike the Bible, the Quran treats the mistake made by Adam and Hawa equally. There is no hint in the Quran that Hawa ate the forbidden fruit before Adam, and she never tempted, incited, or deceived him. Also, the pain of childbirth for Eve (Hawa) is not a punishment from Allah. According to the Quran, Allah never punishes one person for the mistakes of another. Adam and Eve both committed the same sin, then they both asked Allah for forgiveness, and Allah forgave them.

2. The inheritance of Eve

In the Bible, Eve is portrayed as a temptress, and this negative image has deeply influenced traditional Jewish and Christian views. They believe all women inherited the traits of their first mother: sinfulness and deceit. Therefore, women are seen as untrustworthy, morally inferior, and evil. Menstruation, pregnancy, and childbirth are considered permanent punishments for women because of that sin. To better understand how this negative image of Eve affects all women, we need to look back at the accounts in some important Jewish and Christian scriptures.

First, let us look at an account from the ancient Bible: I found something more bitter than death: the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her. But the sinner is caught by her. The preacher says, look, among a thousand men, I found one upright man. But among all the women, I did not find one. I compared these things one by one to find the reason, and while my heart was still searching, I did not find it. (Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 7:26-28) In the Catholic Bible, we can read these sentences: Any wickedness is bearable, but not the wickedness of a woman... Any wickedness is small compared to the wickedness of a woman. (Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 26)

Jewish legal scholars list nine curses women suffer because they caused humanity to be expelled from paradise: a woman must endure nine curses and death throughout her life: menstrual bleeding, bleeding on her wedding night, the hardship of pregnancy, the pain of childbirth, the labor of raising children, covering her head as if in mourning, wearing earrings like a slave, having her testimony rejected in court, and finally, death. To this day, the daily morning prayer of Orthodox Jewish men includes this sentence: "Praise Allah, the King of the Universe, thank you for not creating me a woman." Jewish women, on the other hand, praise Allah in their morning prayer for "creating me according to your will."

Another dua found in many Jewish dua books says: "Praise Allah, who did not create me a non-Jew;" Praise Allah, who did not create me a woman; Praise Allah, who did not create me an ignorant person.

Let us hear what Saint Paul says: "A woman should learn in quietness and full submission." I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. (1 Timothy 2:11-14)

Saint Tertullian was even harsher than Saint Paul. When speaking to his "most beloved sisters" about faith, he said: "Do you know that each of you is Eve?" As long as the gender Allah ordained for you continues, the sin you committed will also continue. You are the gateway of the devil; You broke the seal of the forbidden tree. You were the first to disobey the command of Allah. You tempted Adam to sin—the devil originally did not dare to approach him. You destroyed the image of Allah—man—so easily. What is more, the death of the Son of Allah was also due to your rebellion.

Saint Augustine supported his predecessors. In a letter to a friend, he wrote: 'Whether wife or mother, they are no different as women; they are all the temptress Eve. We must be wary of any woman... I see no use for a woman to a man other than bearing children.'

Centuries later, Saint Thomas Aquinas still viewed women as a defect: 'Woman is defective and contemptible.' Man was created perfect, so his perfect attributes were able to continue. Woman was defective from the start, so her errors and defects will remain forever.

Finally, the famous reformer Martin Luther believed women were useless except for bearing as many children as possible: 'If they become exhausted or even die, it does not matter.' Let them die from childbirth; that is the task they came into this world for.

Because Eve existed as a temptress from the beginning, all women have been slandered time and time again. In short, in Jewish and Christian concepts, Eve and her female descendants have a sinful nature. Now, if we turn our attention to the Quran to see how it describes women, we will quickly find that the Islamic concept of women is fundamentally different from that of Judaism and Christianity.

Let us look at what the Quran says: 'Indeed, the Muslim men and Muslim women, the believing men and believing women, the obedient men and obedient women, the truthful men and truthful women, the patient men and patient women, the humble men and humble women, the charitable men and charitable women, the fasting men and fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who do so—for them Allah has prepared forgiveness and a great reward.' (Quran 33:35) 'The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those—Allah will have mercy upon them.' Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. (Quran 9:71) Their Lord answered them: I will never let the work of any worker among you go to waste, whether male or female—you are one from another. (Quran 3:195) Whoever does evil will be repaid with the same evil. Any man or woman who does good and believes will enter Paradise and receive endless provision. (Quran 40:40) Whoever does good, whether male or female, and is a believer, I will surely give them a good life, and I will surely reward them for the best of what they have done. (Quran 16:97)

It is clear that the Quran makes no distinction when mentioning men and women. Allah created them to worship Him on earth, to do good deeds, and to avoid sin. Both men and women will be judged fairly by Allah. The Quran never says that women are a gateway for the devil or that they have a deceptive and seductive nature. The Quran also never says that men are created in the image of Allah. Both men and women are simply creations of Allah, nothing more.

According to the Quran, a woman's role on earth is not just to give birth; she is required to do as many good deeds as men. The Quran does not say that righteous women do not exist. Instead, it commands all believers to take pure women like the Virgin Maryam (Mary) and the wife of Pharaoh as role models: Allah sets the wife of Pharaoh as an example for those who believe. She said: My Lord! Build for me a house in Paradise near You. Save me from Pharaoh and his evil deeds. Save me from the unjust people, O Allah. Allah also sets an example for the believers in Maryam (Mary), the daughter of Imran. She guarded her chastity, so I breathed into her through My spirit. She believed in the words of her Lord and His scriptures, and she was one of the obedient. (Quran 66:11-12)

3. The shameful daughter

In fact, the views on women in the Bible and the Quran are completely different from the moment a girl is born. The Bible states that the period of ritual impurity for a mother after giving birth to a girl is two weeks, which is twice as long as the seven days required after giving birth to a boy (Old Testament, Leviticus 12:2-5). The Catholic Bible explicitly states: 'A daughter is a loss to her father' (Sirach 22:3). In sharp contrast to this shocking statement, boys receive special praise: 'He who instructs his son will make his enemy jealous' (Sirach 30:3).

Jewish legal scholars urged Jews to have as many children as possible to strengthen their people. At the same time, they did not hide their clear preference for boys: 'Even the father of a bad boy is better than the father of a girl,' 'When a boy is born, everyone is happy... when a girl is born, everyone is sad,' and 'When a boy comes into the world, peace comes with him... when a girl comes, she brings nothing.'

A daughter is considered a painful burden and a source of shame for her father: 'Keep a strict watch on a headstrong daughter, lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies, a byword in the city and the assembly of the people, and put you to shame in public.' (Sirach 42:11) 'Keep a strict watch on a shameless daughter, lest she find an opportunity and indulge herself.' Be careful not to yield to a shameless eye; otherwise, do not be surprised if she offends you. (Sirach 26:13-14) This view of daughters as a source of shame is very similar to the views of the ignorant Arabs who buried infant girls alive before the rise of Islam. The Quran strictly condemns this heinous act: 'When one of them is told that his wife has given birth to a daughter, his face darkens and he is full of complaints.' He hides from his clan because of this bad news, wondering if he should keep her in shame or bury her in the dirt. Or should he bury her alive in the ground? Truly, their judgment is evil. (Quran 16:58-59)

If the Quran had not repeatedly condemned this ugly crime (Quran 16:59, 43:17, 81:8-9), this behavior of the ancient Arabs might never have changed. the Quran treats sons and daughters equally without any difference. Unlike the Bible, the Quran considers the birth of a girl to be a gift and blessing from Allah, just like the birth of a boy. The Quran even mentions the gift of daughters first: "To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He creates what He wills; He gives to whom He wills female children; and He gives to whom He wills male children. " (Quran 42:49)

In the early days of Islam, to completely end the crime of burying baby girls alive, the Prophet Muhammad promised a great reward to those who were given daughters and raised them well: "Whoever raises daughters and treats them well, he will be protected from the punishment of Hellfire. (Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) "Whoever raises two girls until they reach adulthood, the distance between him and me on the Day of Resurrection will be like this; saying this, the Prophet held his fingers together. " (Sahih Muslim)

4. Education for women

The core foundation of Judaism is the Torah, or the Book of Law. However, according to the Jewish Talmud, women are exempt from studying the Torah. Some Jewish legal scholars claimed that it is better to burn the Torah than to let women touch it, and that whoever teaches his daughter the Torah is like teaching her lewdness and evil. St. Paul’s attitude in the New Testament was not enlightened either: Women should keep silent in the meetings, just as in all the churches of the saints. Because they are not allowed to speak. They must be submissive, just as the law says. If they want to learn anything, they can ask their husbands at home. Because it is shameful for women to speak in the meeting. (New Testament, 1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

Now, for the sake of fairness, let us ask: Does the Quran have a different view on this? The following story mentioned in the Quran can help us understand this. Khawla was a Muslim woman. Once, her husband Aws got angry and said to her: You are to me like the back of my mother. This was a way for Arabs in the pre-Islamic period to divorce their wives. The husband would cut off all marital relations and responsibilities, but the woman was not allowed to leave his house or marry anyone else. When Khawla heard this from her husband, she was extremely distressed. She went straight to the Prophet Muhammad to pour out her heart. The Prophet told her she should be patient, because there seemed to be no solution for such a matter. However, Khawla argued her case reasonably, trying to save this suspended marriage. Soon, verses from the Quran were revealed. Khawla’s appeal was granted, and Allah abolished this terrible custom. The 58th chapter of the Quran related to this is named Al-Mujadila, meaning 'The Pleading Woman': 'Allah has certainly heard the speech of the one who argues with you, [O Muhammad], concerning her husband and directs her complaint to Allah.' Allah hears your dialogue. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing and All-Seeing. ' (Quran 58:1) In the Quran, women have the right to debate—even with the Prophet of Islam himself. No one has the right to order her to be silent. She is also not limited to only obtaining knowledge and religion from her husband.

5. Unclean women

Jewish laws and regulations are extremely restrictive and binding for women during their menstrual period. The Old Testament considers any menstruating woman to be unclean and defiled, and her impurity is even 'contagious.' Anyone or anything she touches becomes unclean until evening: 'When a woman has a discharge, if her discharge in her body is blood, she shall continue in her menstrual impurity for seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening.' Everything on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean, and everything on which she sits shall be unclean. Anyone who touches her bed shall be unclean until evening, and he shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and remain unclean until evening. Anyone who touches any object on which she has sat shall be unclean until evening. ' (Old Testament, Leviticus 15:19-23)

Because of her 'contagiousness,' to avoid any possibility of contact with her, a menstruating woman is sometimes 'banished.' She is sent to a special room called the 'house of uncleanness' to spend her entire menstrual period. The Talmud even suggests that a menstruating woman is 'deadly,' even without any contact: 'Our rabbis taught: If a menstruating woman passes between two men, if it is at the beginning of her period, she will cause one of them to die;' If she is at the end of her period, she will cause a dispute between them. (Talmud b Pes. 111a)

What is more, if the husband of a menstruating woman is contaminated—even by the dust on her feet—he is forbidden from entering the synagogue. A rabbi cannot preach in the synagogue if his wife, daughter, or mother is menstruating. 10. It is no wonder that many Jewish women still call menstruation a "curse" today. In Islamic belief, a menstruating woman is never considered "contagiously unclean," nor is she "untouchable" or a "curse." She goes about her daily life as usual, with only one exception: married couples avoid sexual intercourse during menstruation. Other than that, any physical contact between husband and wife is allowed. During this time, a menstruating woman is exempt from certain religious duties, such as namaz and fasting.

6. Giving testimony

Another issue where the Quran and the Bible differ is the matter of women giving testimony. The Quran commands believers to have two men, or one man and two women, as witnesses when drawing up contracts for business transactions (see Quran 2:282). However, the Quran accepts the testimony of men and women equally in other situations. In fact, a woman's testimony can overturn a man's: if a man accuses his wife of adultery without other evidence, the Quran requires him to swear solemnly five times to prove his words are true. However, if his wife denies it and swears solemnly five times to prove her innocence, she is not found guilty, and the marriage is dissolved (Quran 24:6-11).

On the other hand, in early Jewish society, women were not allowed to give testimony. Jewish jurists listed nine curses women suffered after humans were expelled from Paradise, and one of them is the inability to provide testimony (see Chapter 2). In Israel today, women are not allowed to provide evidence in Jewish religious courts. Jewish jurists explain that this is because the Bible records that Sarah, the wife of Abraham (Ibrahim), told a lie (Old Testament, Genesis 18:9-16). Jewish jurists use this event as evidence that women are not qualified to testify. This story from the Bible is mentioned more than once in the Quran, yet the Quran does not record Sarah lying at all (Quran 11:69-74, 51:24-30). In Western Christian societies, both church law and civil law prohibited women from providing any testimony until the end of the nineteenth century. If a man accuses his wife of adultery, her testimony is not considered according to the Bible. The accused woman must undergo a harsh examination. To confirm her guilt or innocence, she faces many complex and humiliating rituals during this examination (Old Testament, Numbers 5:11-31). After the examination, if she is proven guilty, she will be sentenced to death. If she is proven innocent, her husband does not suffer any punishment for this.

At the same time, if a man marries a woman and then accuses her of not being a virgin, her testimony is not accepted. Her parents must bring evidence of her virginity before the elders of the town. If the parents cannot prove their daughter's innocence, the woman will be stoned to death at the door of her father's house. If her parents can prove her innocence, her husband only needs to pay a fine of one hundred shekels of silver and is never allowed to divorce her: If a man takes a wife, and after sleeping with her hates her, and makes up charges against her, giving her a bad name, and says, I took this woman, and when I slept with her, I did not find proof of her virginity. The woman's parents shall bring the proof of the woman's virginity to the elders of the city. The woman's father will say to the elders, I gave my daughter to this man as his wife, but he hates her and has made false accusations, saying, I did not find proof of your daughter's virginity. But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity. The parents will then spread the cloth out before the elders of the city. The elders of the city will take the man and punish him, and fine him one hundred shekels of silver to give to the woman's father, because he brought a bad name upon a virgin of Israel. The woman will remain his wife, and he may never divorce her for as long as he lives. But if this matter is true and the woman has no proof of her virginity, they will bring the woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city will stone her to death. Because she committed a shameful act in Israel by acting promiscuously while in her father's house. In this way, you will purge the evil from among you. (Old Testament, Deuteronomy 22:13-21)

7. Adultery

Adultery is considered a crime by all religions. The Bible sentences men and women who commit adultery to death (Old Testament, Leviticus 20:10). Islam also punishes men and women who commit adultery equally (Quran 24:2). However, the Quran's definition of adultery is very different from the Bible's: according to the Quran, adultery refers to extramarital sexual relations involving a married man or a married woman. The Bible only defines extramarital sexual relations involving a married woman as adultery (Old Testament, Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22, Proverbs 6:20-7:27). If a man is found lying with a woman married to another man, both the man who lay with the woman and the woman must die. In this way, you must purge the evil from Israel. If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both the man who slept with her and the woman must die. (Old Testament, Deuteronomy 22:22) (Old Testament, Leviticus 20:10)

According to the definition in the Bible, if a married man sleeps with an unmarried woman, it is not considered a crime at all. The married man who has sex with an unmarried woman is not an adulterer, and the unmarried woman who has sex with him is not an adulteress. Adultery refers to a man—whether he is married or single—sleeping with a married woman. In this case, the man is considered an adulterer regardless of his marital status, and the woman is considered an adulteress. Simply put, adultery refers to improper sexual behavior involving a married woman. Extramarital behavior by a married man is not defined as a crime in the Bible.

Why is there this double standard of morality? According to the Encyclopedia Judaica, a wife is considered the private property of her husband, and adultery means an infringement on the husband's exclusive rights. As the husband's property, the wife has no right to infringe upon his rights. This means that if a man has sex with a married woman, he has infringed upon another man's property and is therefore punished. In Israel today, if a married man has an extramarital affair with an unmarried woman, the child born to them is considered legitimate. However, if a married woman has sex with another man—regardless of whether he is married—the child she has with that man is not only considered illegitimate, but as a bastard, is not allowed to marry any Jew, unless it is with an apostate or another bastard. This prohibition will continue for ten generations among their descendants until the stain of adultery gradually fades.

On the other hand, the Quran does not define any woman as a man's property. The Quran describes the relationship between husband and wife movingly: 'And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy.' Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. ' (Quran 30:21) This is the concept of marriage in the Quran: love, mercy, and peace, without any ownership or double standards.

8. Vows

According to the Bible, a man must fulfill the vows he makes in the name of Allah and cannot break his word. However, a woman's vows are not her own to make. If she is unmarried, her vow must have her father's consent. If she is married, she must get her husband's consent. If a father or husband disagrees with his daughter's or wife's vow, all her vows become invalid: 'But if her father expresses disapproval on the day he hears about any of her vows or her pledges by which she bound herself, then none of her vows shall stand... Any vow or binding pledge she makes to deny herself, her husband may confirm or nullify.' ' (Old Testament, Numbers 30:2-15)

Why can a woman not decide for herself? The answer is simple: because before marriage she is her father's property, and after marriage she is owned by her husband. A father has absolute control over his daughter, and if he wants to, he can even sell her! Jewish legal scholars point out: 'A man can sell his daughter, but a woman cannot sell her daughter;' a man can betroth his daughter to others, but a woman has no right to betroth her daughter.'

Jewish legal writings also point out that marriage shifts the power of control from the father to the husband: Marriage makes a woman the sacred and inviolable property of her husband. Clearly, if a woman is considered someone's property, she cannot make any promises without the permission of her master. The instructions in the Bible regarding women's vows had a deep negative impact on Jewish and Christian women until the early twentieth century. In the Western Christian world, a married woman had no legal status, and none of her actions had legal value. Her husband had the right to veto any contract, sale, or transaction she made.

In the West, the greatest inheritor of this Judeo-Christian legacy, women could not enter into any treaties because they were effectively someone's property. Because of the biblical view that women belonged to their fathers or husbands, women in the Western world suffered nearly two thousand years of enslavement. In Islam, every Muslim—whether man or woman—is responsible for their own vows, and no one has the right to negate the vows of others. If a man or woman fails to fulfill a solemn vow, according to the Quran, he or she must pay a penalty: Allah will not hold you accountable for your unintentional oaths, but He will hold you accountable for your intentional oaths. The penalty for breaking an oath is to feed ten poor people with the average food you provide for your own family, or to clothe them, or to free a slave. Those who cannot afford to feed the poor or free a slave must fast for three days. This is the penalty for breaking your oaths after you have sworn them. You should keep your oaths. Allah thus explains His signs to you so that you may be grateful to Him. (Quran 5:89)

The companions of the Prophet Muhammad, both men and women, often came before him to swear their allegiance. Women, just like men, came to the Prophet on their own to take an oath: "O Prophet!" If believing women come to you to pledge that they will not associate anything with Allah, will not steal, will not commit adultery, will not kill their children, will not falsely claim that someone else's son is their husband's, and will not disobey your reasonable commands, then accept their pledge and ask Allah to forgive them. Allah is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. " (Quran 60:12) A man cannot take an oath on behalf of his daughter or wife, nor can he cancel the oath of any of his female relatives.

9. Headscarf

According to Dr. Menachem Brayer, a professor of biblical literature at Yeshiva University, Jewish law includes a custom where women cover their heads in public. Sometimes they even covered their faces, leaving only one eye visible. He quotes famous ancient Jewish legal scholars who said, "The daughters of Israel must not go out without their heads covered," and "A man who lets his wife's hair be seen by others is cursed... a woman who uses her hair as a decoration will bring poverty upon herself." If a married woman is present with her head uncovered, Jewish law forbids reciting blessings or dua in that space, because her hair is considered "nakedness."

Dr. Brayer also notes: "In the Tannaic era, a woman who failed to cover her head was considered immodest." She might be fined four hundred zuzim for this mistake. Dr. Brayer explains that a Jewish woman's headscarf was not just a sign of modesty; it was sometimes a symbol of status and luxury, representing the nobility and superiority of a high-ranking lady. At the same time, it represented a woman's inviolability, as she was considered the sacred private property of her husband. The headscarf signified a woman's self-respect and social standing. Women of lower social status often wore headscarves to try to give the impression of being noble. Since the headscarf was a sign of honor, it is easy to understand why ancient Jewish society forbade prostitutes from covering their hair. However, to look more respectable, prostitutes would often wear a special type of head covering. Jewish women in Europe kept the tradition of wearing head coverings until the 19th century. By then, their lives were mixed with a lot of the surrounding secular culture, and the outside pressures of European life forced many of them to stop wearing head coverings. Some Jewish women found that wigs were a more convenient way to cover their hair instead of a head covering. Today, most observant Jewish women no longer wear any head covering except when they are at the synagogue. But some of them, such as Hasidic women, still wear wigs.

What about Christian traditions? Everyone knows that Catholic nuns have covered their hair for hundreds of years. However, there is more to it than that. Saint Paul made some very interesting statements about head coverings in the New Testament: I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. Every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, because it is just like having her hair shaved off. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off. If it is a shame for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, then she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman came from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman was created for man. For this reason, a woman should have a sign of authority on her head because of the angels. (New Testament, 1 Corinthians 11:3-10) Saint Paul's theory on women wearing headscarves is that man is the image and glory of Allah, while the headscarf symbolizes man's authority over woman—woman was created for man.

In his famous book The Veiling of Virgins, Tertullian wrote: "Young women, wear your headscarves when you go out on the street, wear them in church, wear them among strangers, and wear them among your brothers..." In today's Catholic canon law, there is a rule requiring women to cover their heads in church. Certain Christian denominations, such as the Amish and Mennonites, still have women wear headscarves today. The reason, as their church leaders say, is that "covering the head is a symbol of a woman's submission to man and to Allah," which follows the same logic as Saint Paul in the New Testament.

From the evidence above, it is clear that the headscarf was not invented by Islam. However, Islam does support wearing a headscarf. The Quran requires both male and female believers to lower their gaze and cover their private parts, and it requires female believers to extend their headscarves to cover their necks and chests: "Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that is purer for them... And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their private parts, and not to display their adornment except what is naturally exposed, and let them draw their veils over their chests and not display their adornment..." (Quran 24:30, 31)

The Quran clearly states that the headscarf is essential for modest and proper dress. But why is modesty important? The Quran remains very clear: "O Prophet! Tell your wives, your daughters, and the women of the believers to draw their outer garments over their bodies. This is more likely to make them recognized and not be harassed. " (Quran 33:59)

10. Polygamy

Now, let us address the important issue of polygamy. Polygamy is an ancient practice in many human societies. The Bible never condemns polygamy. On the contrary, the Old Testament and the writings of Jewish legal scholars repeatedly prove the legality of polygamy. People say King Solomon had more than 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). At the same time, King David is also said to have had many wives and concubines (2 Samuel 5:13). The Old Testament contains many instructions on how a man should distribute property to the sons born to his different wives (Deuteronomy 21:15-17). The only restriction on polygamy is the prohibition against marrying two sisters at the same time (Leviticus 18:18).

The Talmud suggests not taking more than four wives. European Jews maintained the practice of polygamy until the 16th century. Eastern Jews maintained polygamy until they set foot on the land of Israel (Israeli civil law now prohibits polygamy). However, polygamy is still permitted under religious law, which stands above civil law.

So, what is the view of the New Testament? According to Father Eugene Hillman in his insightful book, polygamy should be reconsidered: "In the New Testament, there is no explicit command requiring monogamy, nor is there any explicit command prohibiting polygamy." Moreover, in the time of Jesus, polygamy was prevalent in Jewish society, yet Jesus never said anything against it. Father Hillman emphasized the fact that the Roman Church prohibited polygamy by following the customs of Greco-Roman culture (establishing one legal wife while tolerating illegal cohabitation and prostitution). He cited the words of Saint Augustine: "Now, in our time, in order to maintain Roman tradition, it is no longer permitted to take another wife."

Churches and Christians in Africa often remind their European brothers that the Roman Catholic ban on polygamy is just a cultural tradition, not a true Christian prohibition.

The Quran also allows polygamy, but not without limits: "If you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphans, then marry those that please you of other women, two or three or four;" "but if you fear that you will not be just, then marry only one." (Quran 4:3)

11. Mother

Many parts of the Old Testament command people to honor their parents and condemn those who disobey them. For example: "Everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death" (Old Testament, Leviticus 20:9) and "A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother." (Old Testament, Proverbs 15:20) However, in some places, only the father is mentioned, such as "A wise son hears his father's instruction" (Old Testament, Proverbs 13:1), while the mother is never mentioned alone. the great hardship a mother endures through pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing is never highlighted as a reason to thank or treat her with special favor. a father can inherit from his children, but a mother cannot. It is difficult to find verses in the New Testament that require people to respect their mothers. On the contrary, the New Testament gives the impression that honoring one's mother is an obstacle on the path to Allah. According to the New Testament, a person is not worthy of being a disciple of Christ unless they hate their own mother. Jesus said: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple." (New Testament, Luke 14:26)

Moreover, the image of Jesus portrayed in the New Testament is one who is indifferent, or even disrespectful, to his mother. For example, when he was preaching among the crowd, his mother came to call him, but he did not care and did not go out to see her: "Then Jesus' mother and brothers came, stood outside, and sent someone to call him. There were many people sitting around Jesus, and they told him, 'Look, your mother and your brothers are looking for you outside.' Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?' He looked around at those sitting in a circle and said, 'Look, my mother and my brothers!' Whoever does the will of Allah is my brother, sister, and mother.' " (New Testament, Gospel of Mark 3:31-35)

Some might argue that Jesus did this to teach people that religious bonds are not weaker than family bonds. However, if that were the case, he could have taught his audience without showing such indifference toward his mother. When a woman in his audience blessed the mother who gave birth to and raised him, Jesus did not agree and again showed the same disrespectful attitude: "As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, 'Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' Jesus said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of Allah and obey it.' " (New Testament, Gospel of Luke 11:27-28) If a mother with the status of the Virgin Mary was treated so rudely by her son Jesus Christ—as described in the New Testament—then how could an ordinary Christian mother expect to be treated well by her ordinary Christian son?

In Islam, honor, respect, and reverence are uniquely linked to the title of 'mother'. The Quran places the importance of honoring parents second only to the worship of Allah: "Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to your parents. If one or both of them reach old age in your care, do not say to them, 'Ugh!' ' Do not scold them, but speak to them with polite words. You should serve them with humility and say, 'My Lord!' Have mercy on them both, just as they raised me when I was young. ” (Quran 17:23-24)

The Quran emphasizes the great role of the mother as the one who gives birth and nurtures in many places: “I have commanded people to be kind to their parents—his mother carried him through weakness upon weakness, and his weaning is in two years—I said: ‘You should be grateful to Me and to your parents; to Me is the final destination.” ” (Quran 31:14) Prophet Muhammad once movingly described the special status of mothers in Islam: “A man came to the Prophet and asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Who among the people should I treat with the most kindness? ’ The Prophet said: ‘Your mother.’ ’ The man said: ‘And then?’ ’ The Prophet replied: ‘Your mother.’ ’ The man asked again: ‘And then?’ ’ The Prophet replied: ‘Still your mother.’ ’ The man continued to ask: ‘And what about after that?’ ’ The Prophet replied: ‘Next is your father.’ ’ (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) One of the few Islamic maxims that Muslims still faithfully follow today is: be considerate to your mother. The honor that Muslim mothers receive from their children is exemplary. The sincere, warm relationship between Muslim mothers and their children, and the deep respect that Muslim men show their mothers, often surprise Westerners.

12. Divorce

The three major religions have very different views on divorce. Christianity completely hates divorce. The New Testament clearly supports the idea that marriage cannot be broken. Jesus said: "But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery;" and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (New Testament, Matthew 5:32) This firm wish is clearly unrealistic. It asks for a society with a level of moral perfection that humans have never reached. When a couple realizes their marriage cannot be saved, a ban on divorce does not help them at all. Forcing a couple with serious problems to stay together against their will is neither effective nor reasonable. It is not surprising that the entire Christian world now has to allow divorce.

Judaism is the exact opposite. It even allows divorce for no reason at all. The Old Testament gives a husband the right to divorce his wife if he finds something he does not like about her: "If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house," and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man, and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies, then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled, because that would be detestable in the eyes of the Lord. (Old Testament, Deuteronomy 24:1-4) These verses caused a lot of debate among Jewish scholars because they disagreed on the meaning of the words "indecent," "displeasing," and "dislikes." The Talmud records this disagreement: "The School of Shammai says a man cannot divorce his wife unless he finds her guilty of sexual immorality;" The School of Hillel says a man can divorce his wife even if she just breaks a plate." The jurist Akiba believed that a man could divorce his wife if he found a woman more beautiful than her. (Talmud, Gittin 90 a-b)

The New Testament follows the views of the School of Shammai, while Jewish law follows the views of the School of Hillel and the jurist Akiba. After the views of the School of Hillel became dominant, giving a husband the right to divorce his wife freely became an unbreakable tradition in Jewish law. The Old Testament not only gives a husband the right to divorce a wife who does not please him, it even considers it necessary to divorce a 'wicked woman': 'A wicked woman makes a man's spirit dejected, his face gloomy, and his heart wounded.' A husband's hands are weak and his knees are soft because his wife makes him miserable. Sin originated from a woman; because of her, we all must die. Do not leave a leak for water, not even a tiny one, and do not give a wicked woman any freedom. If she does not follow your instructions, you should cut her off from your side. (Sirach 25:31-36)

The Talmud records several behaviors of a wife that, if discovered by her husband, require him to divorce her: 'If she eats in the street, if she drinks water greedily in the street, or if she nurses her baby in the street, in any of these cases, the jurist Meir believes she must be divorced by her husband.' (Talmud, Git. 89 a) The Talmud also stipulates that a wife who has not given birth after ten years of marriage must be divorced: 'Our jurists teach us: if a man marries a wife and lives with her for ten years, and she still has not borne a child, he should divorce his wife.' (Talmud, Yeb. 64 a)

On the other hand, in Jewish law, a wife cannot initiate a divorce from her husband. She can only present sufficient reasons to a Jewish court and request the court's support. The reasons allowed for a woman to file for divorce are extremely limited, including her husband having physical defects or skin diseases, or her husband being unable to fulfill his marital duties. The court might support a wife's divorce petition, but it cannot dissolve the marriage because only the husband can write a letter of divorce to end it. The court can use persuasion, fines, detention, and excommunication to force a husband to write a letter of divorce for his wife. However, if a husband is particularly stubborn and refuses to give his wife a letter of divorce, he can keep her bound permanently, and no one can do anything about it.

Even worse, a husband can abandon his wife without giving her a letter of divorce, leaving her in a state of limbo where she is neither married nor divorced. In this situation, the husband can marry another woman, or even live with a single, unmarried woman and have children (who are considered legitimate under Jewish law). On the other hand, the abandoned wife cannot marry any other man because she is still legally a married woman. At the same time, she cannot live with another man because it would be considered adultery, and if she did so, her descendants for ten generations would be considered illegitimate. Women in this state of limbo are called agunah, which means a chained woman. 34 Today, there are about 1,000 to 1,500 agunah Jewish women in the United States, and as many as 16,000 in Israel. These women are blackmailed by their husbands and must pay them tens of thousands of dollars to get a letter of divorce.

Islamic rulings on divorce fall between those of Christianity and Judaism. In Islam, marriage is a sacred bond that should not be easily broken unless there are compelling reasons. When cracks appear in a marriage, both the husband and wife are taught to try their best to save and repair it. If all efforts fail, divorce is the last resort. Simply put, Islam allows divorce but tries to avoid it as much as possible.

Islam gives husbands the right to divorce their wives. However, unlike in Judaism, Islam also gives wives a right to divorce called khula, which allows them to end the marriage. If a husband divorces his wife, he cannot take back any dowry (mahr) he gave her, no matter how expensive it was: "If you want to replace one wife with another, and you have given one of them a great amount of gold, do not take any of it back." Would you take it back by slandering her and committing a clear sin? (Quran 4:20)

But if the wife chooses to end the marriage herself, she can return the dowry to her husband. Returning the dowry is a fair compensation for the husband, because he wanted to keep the marriage, but since she chose to end it, he must let her go. The Quran teaches Muslim men that they cannot take back any gifts given to their wives, unless the wife chooses to initiate the divorce: "It is not lawful for you to take back anything you have given them, unless both fear they cannot keep the limits set by Allah." If you fear they cannot keep the limits of Allah, then there is no sin if she gives something back to free herself. These are the limits of Allah, so do not cross them. (Quran 2:229) A woman came to the Prophet Muhammad and asked to end her marriage. She told the Prophet that she had no complaints about her husband's character or personality, but her only problem was that she no longer loved him and did not want to live with him anymore. The Prophet asked, "Will you return his garden (the dowry her husband gave her) to him?" She replied, "Yes." The Prophet then ordered her husband to take back the garden and accepted their divorce. (Sahih al-Bukhari)

In some cases, a Muslim woman may have to file for divorce for strong reasons, such as abuse by her husband, being abandoned without cause, or her husband failing to fulfill his marital duties. In these situations, a Muslim court will grant the divorce. In short, Islam gives Muslim women unmatched rights: she can end a marriage by returning her dowry, or she can seek a divorce through the courts. A Muslim woman will never be trapped by an abusive husband. Jewish women living in early Islamic society during the seventh century were drawn to these rights and often went to Muslim courts to ask for a ruling when seeking a divorce. However, Jewish legal scholars declared that divorces granted in Muslim courts were invalid. To stop this from happening, Jewish scholars gave Jewish women certain rights and treatment, trying to make Muslim courts less attractive to them.

Jewish women living in Christian countries did not get similar rights and treatment, because the divorce clauses in Roman law were not more attractive than those in Jewish law. Now, let us turn our attention to how Islam avoids divorce. The Prophet of Islam once warned believers: Of all lawful things, the one Allah hates most is divorce. (Sunan Abu Dawood)

A Muslim man cannot divorce his wife simply because he dislikes her. The Quran teaches Muslim men to treat their wives well, even if they do not like or even hate them: You should treat them well. If you dislike them, you should endure them, because perhaps you dislike a thing, and Allah has placed much good in that thing. (Quran 4:19)

Prophet Muhammad gave a similar instruction: A male believer should not dislike a female believer. If he dislikes her character, other aspects will make you like her. (Sahih Muslim) The Prophet also emphasized that the best Muslims are those who treat their wives well: The believer with the most perfect faith is the one with the best character; The best among you are those who treat their wives the best. (Jami at-Tirmidhi)

However, Islam is a realistic religion, and it recognizes that there are situations where a marriage may be on the verge of collapse. In such a state, kind words alone will not work. So, what should be done in this situation to save the marriage? The Quran provides some truly effective advice for couples facing marital problems caused by the misconduct of one partner. For husbands facing marital problems due to a wife's misconduct, the Quran gives four suggestions: As for those women whose stubbornness you fear, you may advise them, you may forsake them in bed, and you may strike them. If they obey you, then do not seek a way against them. Allah is indeed Exalted and Great. If you fear a breach between the two, then appoint an arbitrator from his family and an arbitrator from her family. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause harmony between them. (Quran 4:34-35)

Try the first three suggestions first. If they are ineffective, then seek the intervention of both families. As mentioned in the text above, for a stubborn wife, striking her is a third, temporary measure that a husband may use as a last resort when he hopes to correct her wrong behavior (striking must not be heavy, and it is not permitted to strike the face or other sensitive areas). If this works, as the scripture says, the husband is not allowed to bully her in any way. If this does not work, the husband is not allowed to use the same method again, but should seek the final path, which is mediation by relatives.

Prophet Muhammad taught Muslim husbands that they must not use hitting as a method, except in extreme cases such as when a wife shows clear lewd behavior (not adultery). Even in such cases, it must only be a light tap. If the wife stops the lewd behavior, the husband is not allowed to cause her pain: If they show clear lewd behavior, you may sleep apart from them and hit them, but do not hit them hard. If they obey, you must not seek any way to make them suffer. (Jami at-Tirmidhi)

Beyond this, the Prophet of Islam forbids any unreasonable beating. Some Muslim women once complained to the Prophet that their husbands had hit them. Hearing this, the Prophet said firmly: Those who do this (hit their wives) are not the best among you (the Muslim community). (Sunan Abu Dawood) At the same time, the Prophet also pointed out: The best among you are those who treat their families well, and I am the best among you in treating my family. (Jami at-Tirmidhi)

The Prophet once advised a Muslim woman named Fatima bint Qais not to marry a certain man because he was known for hitting his wives. This woman narrated: I went to the Prophet and told him: Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan and Abu Jahm both want to marry me. The Prophet (advised) saying: Muawiyah is penniless, and Abu Jahm hits his wives. " (Sahih Muslim)

The Jewish Talmud mentions that hitting a wife can be a way to educate her. A husband does not have to limit hitting his wife to extreme cases like infidelity; he is allowed to hit her even if she simply refuses to do housework. he is not limited to light hitting; he can use methods like whipping or withholding food to force his wife to submit. For marital rifts caused by a husband's poor behavior, the Quran offers this advice: If a woman fears her husband's neglect or desertion, there is no sin on them if they reconcile. Reconciliation is better. (Quran 4:128)

In this situation, the wife is advised to seek reconciliation with her husband, whether or not family members get involved. It is clear that the Quran does not suggest the wife use the methods of sleeping apart from her husband or hitting him. The reason for this difference may be to protect the wife and prevent her from facing even stronger retaliation from a husband who is already in the wrong. If such violence occurs, it will only make the wife's situation and the marriage worse.

Some Muslim scholars suggest that a court can take these disciplinary measures against a husband on behalf of the wife. This means the court first admonishes the stubborn husband, then forbids him from sharing a bed with his wife, and finally administers a light physical correction. In summary, Islam provides Muslim couples with many effective suggestions to save troubled or failing marriages. If one spouse damages the marital relationship, the Quran requires the other to take effective measures to save this sacred bond whenever possible. If all measures ultimately fail, Islam allows both parties to divorce peacefully.
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Reposted from the web

Summary: Halal Street Food China: Shaoyang Hunan Muslim Food, Xiang Cuisine and Local Mosques is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: — Hello, Travel —. The article keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Shaoyang Halal Food, Xiang Cuisine, Muslim Travel.

— Hello, Travel —

Shaoyang is a city in Hunan with a large population of Hui Muslims. While Changde has more Hui Muslims, Shaoyang has a stronger religious community. Walking through the streets and alleys of Shaoyang, you see halal restaurants everywhere. Halal food is a major local specialty here. Shaoyang Hui-style rice noodles and wheat noodles (fenmian) are also quite famous in Hunan. These are just the rice noodles (mifen) and wheat noodles (miantiao) we often talk about, but they use the same soup base. Every city in Hunan has rice noodles, but the flavors vary slightly. Shaoyang rice noodles are unique, and the ones made by Hui Muslims are the most authentic.

This is my second visit to Shaoyang; the last time was in 2017. Both times, I stayed at the Ethnic Hotel (Minzu Binguan) owned by the Shaoyang South Mosque. The hotel is mosque property with basic facilities, and the room rate is less than 100 yuan per day. You can reach the main prayer hall just by going downstairs. The area is surrounded by halal restaurants, making transportation, dining, and shopping very convenient. A tip: if you arrive in Shaoyang by high-speed train, do not get off at Shaoyang North Station. You must get off at Shaoyang Station. When I first came to Shaoyang, I went to Shaoyang North Station and realized after arriving that it is an hour's drive from the city center. It is a very long journey and arguably the high-speed train station furthest from the city center in China.

Shaoyang currently has 23 open mosques. I only visited 7 of them. Here is the list of mosques in Shaoyang:

1. Shaoyang East Mosque

2. Shaoyang South Mosque

3. Shaoyang West Mosque

4. Shaoyang Sujiachong Mosque

5. Shaoyang Xuetangchong Mosque

6. Shaoyang Baihetan Mosque

7. Longhui County Taohuaping Mosque

8. Longhui County Ziyang Mosque

9. Longhui County Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township Ancient Mosque

10. Longhui County Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township East Mosque

11. Longhui County Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township South Mosque

12. West Mosque (Qingzhen Xisi) in Shanjie Hui Muslim Township, Longhui County

13. North Mosque (Qingzhen Beisi) in Shanjie Hui Muslim Township, Longhui County

14. Dashanchong Mosque in Beishan Town, Longhui County

15. Niejiaoting Mosque in Beishan Town, Longhui County

16. Luobai Mosque in Shanjie Hui Muslim Township, Longhui County

17. Shuijingtou Mosque in Shaodong County

18. Yangshandian Mosque in Shaodong County

19. Meitang Mosque in Shaodong County

20. Qingcao Mosque in Shaoyang County

21. Jiugongqiao Mosque in Shaoyang County

22. Yinxianqiao Mosque in Shaoyang County

23. Xiaqichong Mosque in Shaoyang County



Ethnic Hotel (Minzu Binguan)

When I first visited the Ethnic Hotel, I learned the young woman at the front desk was a Han Chinese Muslim. I wanted to visit her again this time, but I found out the hotel changed owners last year. It was a bit of a shame.



South Mosque (Qingzhen Nansi) in Shaoyang



The South Mosque was built in 1914 and is over a hundred years old. The main prayer hall has been renovated, so the main structure does not look new. What impressed me was the Nuhai boat built in the courtyard.





The nomination of the Halal Food Court at the Dama Food Center in Zhangjiajie caught my eye. Zhangjiajie is a famous scenic area in Hunan, and I must try the food there when I get the chance.











The Hui Muslim cemetery is right at the entrance of the Shaoyang South Mosque. The inscriptions on the tombstones show that most of the ancestors of the Hui Muslims in Shaoyang came from Nanjing and Beijing.



There are many small halal shops around the mosque selling pastries, rice noodles, wheat noodles, and some cooked snacks.







Five-kernel mooncake (wuren yuebing) bought from Sujing Hui Muslim Pastries.



There are many breakfast options in Shaoyang. This halal Hui Muslim restaurant across from the mosque sells rice noodles and wheat noodles. It is a traditional restaurant that has been operating locally for many years and has a good reputation.







Rice noodles with large beef slices.

Shaoyang rice noodles are thicker than those in Changsha and break more easily. The broth is very rich, topped with large slices of beef, which is a signature of Shaoyang noodle dishes. You can add as much green onion and cilantro as you like. This is the most authentic breakfast for Shaoyang locals. The taste is a little spicy, but I can handle it. If you don't want rice noodles, you can switch to wheat noodles. If you don't like spicy food, you can tell the owner to use less chili. The shop also has wontons. A snack cart outside sells steamed buns (baozi), deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), and fried dough cakes (youbing). The fried dough cakes are sweet.



Beef wontons.



Shaoyang fried dough cakes are sweet.



Shaoyang East Mosque.

Shaoyang East Mosque is very close to the South Mosque and is within walking distance. It is located at Baoning First Lane in the Shuangqing District. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongwu reign (1368) and is the oldest mosque in Shaoyang. However, the original building collapsed, and the current structure is a new-style building.



A well-known scholar from this community was Ma Linyi, courtesy name Zhenwu. He was a provincial graduate (juren) in the Renyin year of the Guangxu reign (1902) and later studied in Japan. He served as the Minister of Education for the Republic of China government in the 12th and 13th years of the Republic (1923–1924). He wrote the book "Introduction to Islam" and once worked at Xiejin Middle School, a factory, and a girls' school in Shaoyang.





After visiting the two mosques in downtown Shaoyang, I contacted the local imam. I wanted to ask about the situation in Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township, which is under Shaoyang's jurisdiction, hoping to visit tomorrow. The imam said transportation to Shanjie is inconvenient, but he offered to drive us there himself. I am very grateful (shukr) for this, as it saved me a lot of trouble. We agreed to set off together for Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township after the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah).



Jiugongqiao Mosque

On the way to Shanjie, we passed through Jiugongqiao Town. Jiugongqiao Mosque is located in Sijiache Village, Jiugongqiao Town, Shaoyang County, Shaoyang City. Many Hui Muslims live in this village. The mosque was just completed and features a very local traditional style. It is the reddest mosque I have ever seen. Many locals even think it looks more like an ancestral hall than a mosque.









The main prayer hall is on the second floor. Since it was finished just last year, the smell of paint is still quite strong.



I have never seen an inscription like this on a plaque before: Love the Party, love the country, and love the faith. It is signed by Zhang Xiaolin, the president of the Shaoyang Islamic Association.







You can see the scenery in the distance from the second floor. At this time of year, Shaoyang is full of blooming rapeseed flowers.



Leaving Jiugongqiao Town, we drove to Qingcao Hui Muslim Village in Huangting Town, Shaoyang County. There is a Qingcao Mosque here. Almost all the villagers in this Hui Muslim village are Hui Muslims, and most of them have the surname Zhang.



On the village road leading to the mosque, we only saw some elderly people. After talking to them, we learned that the young people have all gone out to work. Some of the elders even greeted us with salaam.



Qingcao Mosque



It was first built in the tenth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty. It was flooded in 1996 and rebuilt in 1998. The new mosque follows the architectural style of the Qing Dynasty.



The writing above says the villagers' ancestor was Commander Pu Luode, who was ordered to station troops in Baoqing (now Shaoyang City, Hunan) in the early Ming Dynasty. In the twelfth year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, their ancestor Zhang Huihui moved from Baoqing to Qingcao Village.







I performed two rak'ahs of prayer in the mosque to celebrate. I was moved to find such a devout Hui Muslim village in Hunan. Feeling comforted, I heard from the villagers that the faith is even stronger in nearby Shanjie, so we headed to our next destination without delay.



Soon we arrived at the location of Taohuaping Mosque in Longhui County. Longhui County is a settlement for Hui Muslims in Shaoyang, and the local Hui Muslims have lived here for hundreds of years. Taohuaping Mosque is built in a busy downtown area, surrounded by all kinds of halal snack shops. More Hui Muslims here wear headscarves.





Taohuaping Mosque was first built during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty and rebuilt in 2017. The main part of the mosque is built in a traditional architectural style, blending in with the surrounding houses.















Qingzhen East Mosque in Shanjie Hui Muslim Township, Longhui County

Qingzhen East Mosque was first built in the fifth year of the Yongzheng reign (1727). The gate archway is carved with a relief of five dragons surrounding a holy symbol. The Shanjie East Mosque is built in a courtyard style. The couplet on the gate reads 'Share the responsibility for our country and our people' on the right, and 'Revive the moral order with those of the same continent and race' on the left. It was written by Ma Linyi, a Hui Muslim who served as the Minister of Education during the Republic of China.

















Shanjie Ancient Mosque in Longhui

The Ancient Mosque in Shanjie Hui Muslim Township, Longhui, was first built in 1444 during the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty. It is the oldest mosque in Longhui County and is now a county-level cultural heritage site.











I am not sure where this piece of carpet was cut from.







After visiting several representative mosques in Shaoyang, we returned to the city center to continue our halal food tour. There is so much halal food to eat in Shaoyang. Besides the Hui Muslim noodle shops scattered along the streets, there are also some larger halal restaurants that specialize in Hunan cuisine. When I visited in 2017, I went to a large restaurant called Muslim Halal Building (Musilin Qingzhen Lou). Unfortunately, I learned this time that the restaurant has changed owners and is no longer halal.



Old photo of the Muslim Halal Building in Shaoyang

However, there are still many large halal restaurants to choose from in Shaoyang. The one introduced below, Yilanshun, is the largest halal restaurant in the city.



Yilanshun

Yilanshun belongs to the Yilanxuan Halal Catering Company. Yilanxuan owns three large halal restaurants. One of the other two branches is located at Zidong Mansion, and the other is near the train station.





The restaurant is on the third floor of an office building. The space inside is very spacious. to the main dining hall, there are many private rooms. Hui Muslims in Shaoyang usually choose this place first for wedding banquets.





They specialize in Hunan cuisine, using beef and lamb as the main ingredients, along with chicken, duck, and seafood.



I really did not know until I came to Shaoyang that in a place like Hunan where there are very few Muslims, there is actually such a successful large local halal catering brand.





Hunan cured beef (la niurou)

A specialty of Hunan is cured meat (larou), but since Han Chinese eat pork, Hui Muslims naturally make cured beef. Eating beef here is the best choice. Cured beef is actually not spicy; it is chewy and is an excellent dish to eat with rice.



Golden sand tofu dregs (jinsha doufuzha)

Golden sand tofu dregs (jinsha doufuzha) is the signature dish here. It is wrapped in an egg skin with a tofu-based powder inside, mixed with chili. It has a soft, sticky texture and tastes great.



Chopped chili fish head (duojiao yutou)

The famous Hunan dish chopped chili fish head (duojiao yutou) is listed on the menu as fifth-generation fish head. Since the fish head is huge, you can order half if you cannot finish it. It comes with glass noodles (fensi) on the side. This dish is quite spicy, but it suits the local Hunan taste. It is rare to find halal chopped chili fish head, so it is worth a try. Hunan portions are generally large, so order carefully.



Yilanxuan South Station Branch

I visited both branches. They are both large, the food tastes about the same, and the menus are identical. The only difference is that Yilanshun does not serve breakfast, while the other two Yilanxuan locations do.



The restaurant is busy at lunch and dinner, even on non-holidays. This shows the brand has a good local reputation and can represent halal dining in Shaoyang.





I chose classic Hunan dishes. This stir-fried yellow beef (xiaochao huangniurou) is a famous home-style Hunan dish. It is mixed with small millet peppers. Although it is very spicy, it is satisfying. I feel that if you come to Hunan and do not try the spice, you are missing out. After all, it is hard to find authentic halal Hunan food once you leave. I first ate at a Hunan halal restaurant in Kunming, but I never had the chance to try it again until now.



Jumping fish fillets (tiaotiao yupian)

Another major feature of Hunan cuisine is its variety of river fish, as Hunan has plenty of water and frequent flooding. This jumping fish fillet (tiaotiao yupian) is delicious. It tastes like boiled fish (shuizhu yu) but is not as numbing. You must eat Hunan food with plenty of rice because the spice makes you want more. I usually only eat one bowl of rice at home, but in Hunan, I can eat a whole bucket.



Chef's tossed glass noodles (chuniang lao fensi)

The dish is called chef's tossed glass noodles (chuniang lao fensi). Dry-tossed glass noodles are another staple of Hunan cuisine. It takes great skill to stir-fry the noodles so they are neither sticky nor hard, but just right.



If you want to experience authentic Shaoyang noodle shops, besides the ones near the halal South Mosque (nansi), you can also try the Hui Muslim canteen on the first floor of the You'a Shopping Mall. The shop is newly renovated and quite clean.





Old Su's noodles are also very famous in Shaoyang. There are many Hui Muslims with the surname Su in Shaoyang.



Strolling through the streets of Shaoyang, you do not need to worry about finding halal restaurants, and they all serve local flavors. Ramen shops are rare here. A friend from Guangzhou once jokingly told me that the benchmark for future halal dining should look to Shaoyang. After this trip, I believe that is true.





The best meal I had in Shaoyang was the home-cooked food the imam's wife made for me before I left. There was chicken, duck, beef, and rabbit. Life is not easy for imams in the south because the number of local Muslims is small, and their salary only covers basic needs. It is much harder to do religious work here than in other places, but the reward in the hereafter is great. May Allah have mercy on those who strive for His cause.


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