Halal Travel
Muslim Travel Guide Japan 2024: Tokyo Mosques, Halal Travel and Local Muslim Life
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 51 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see. view all
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see.
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see.
Muslim Friendly Chongqing: Bashu's Largest Mosque, Halal Travel and Hui Muslim Food
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 27 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
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. view all
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. view all
Reposted from the web
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.
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.
Best Halal Food in Japan: Muslim-Friendly Restaurants, Ramen and Travel Food Map
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 33 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Halal Food Guide Jiangsu Xuzhou: Mosque Visit, Hui Muslim Food and Old City Memories
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 22 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand. view all
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand.
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand.
Muslim Travel Guide Medina: Quran Printing Complex, Camel Pilaf and Prophet Mosque Hotels
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 26 views • 6 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world? view all
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world? view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world?
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world?
Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 6 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations. view all
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations.
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations.
Muslim Friendly Chongqing: Bashu's Largest Mosque, Halal Travel and Hui Muslim Food
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 20 views • 6 days ago
Reposted from the web
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. view all
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. view all
Reposted from the web
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.
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.
Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xishuangbanna Hui-Dai Muslim Villages, Mosques and Halal Food
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 58 views • 6 days ago
Reposted from the web
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 view all
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 view all
Reposted from the web
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
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
Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 33 views • 2026-05-21 20:43
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
2
Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
3
Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony. view all
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
2
Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
3
Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
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Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
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Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony.
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
2
Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
3
Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony.
Muslim Friendly Russia: Vladivostok Winter Mosque Travel and Halal Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 26 views • 2026-05-21 10:59
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East. view all
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East.
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East.
Muslim Friendly Singapore 2026: Visa-Free One-Day Food, Mosque Stops & City Route
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-21 10:01
Reposted from the web
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me. view all
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me.
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me.
Best Halal Food in Hainan: Haikou and Sanya Muslim Restaurants, Seafood and Local Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 24 views • 2026-05-21 08:42
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food. view all
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food.
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food.
Best Halal Food in Malaysia: Muslim-Friendly Restaurants, Satay and Local Food Map
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 28 views • 2026-05-21 08:41
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus. view all
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus.
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus.
Best Halal Food in Japan: Muslim-Friendly Restaurants, Ramen and Travel Food Map
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 20 views • 2026-05-21 08:28
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Best Halal Food in Phuket: Thai Muslim Restaurants, Seafood and Local Food Map
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-21 08:19
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes. view all
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes.
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes.
Halal Food Guide: Beijing - 10 Muslim Restaurants Worth Trying, Part Six
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 38 views • 2026-05-21 02:36
Reposted from the web
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ. view all
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ.
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ.
Halal Travel Guide: Sousse - Tunisia UNESCO Medina, Food and Mosques
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 24 views • 2026-05-21 02:11
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse. view all
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse.
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse.
Halal Food Guide: Tianshui - Laosanpian, Guagua and Jiangshuimian
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou. view all
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou.
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou.
Halal Food Guide: Yangon - Burmese Muslim Cuisine and Dost Friends
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 25 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat. view all
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat.
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat.
Halal Food Guide: Songpan - Hui Muslim Snacks in Sichuan
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 28 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt. view all
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt.
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt.
Halal Travel Guide: Ayutthaya - Thailand's Oldest Muslim Community
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 35 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors." view all
Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors." view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors."
Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors."
Halal Food Guide: Beijing - 10 Muslim Restaurants Worth Trying
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 36 views • 2026-05-20 23:51
Reposted from the web
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street). view all
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street). view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street).
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street).
Halal Travel Guide: Ayutthaya - Halal Farm Stay, Gongbei and Muslim Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-20 23:51
Reposted from the web
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism. view all
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism.
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism.
Halal Travel Guide: Bangkok Arab Street - Muslim Food, Hotels and Mosque Life
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 39 views • 2026-05-20 22:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it. view all
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it.
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it.
Halal Travel Guide: Baotou - Hui Muslim Food, Mosques and Local Snacks
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 34 views • 2026-05-20 22:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it. view all
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it.
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it.
Halal Travel Guide: Sidon, Lebanon - Mosques, Old City and Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 31 views • 2026-05-20 08:14
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps. view all
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps.
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps.
Halal Travel Guide: Tripoli, Lebanon - Mosques, Old City and Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 22 views • 2026-05-20 08:13
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread. view all
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread.
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread.
Halal Travel Guide: Tunis Medina Food, Guesthouses & Markets, Part 1
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 21 views • 2026-05-20 02:20
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town. view all
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town.
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town.
Halal Travel Guide: Tunis Medina Food, Guesthouses & Markets, Part 2
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 30 views • 2026-05-20 01:49
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis. view all
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis.
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis.
Halal Travel Guide: Eid al-Fitr in Beijing
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 27 views • 2026-05-20 01:48
Reposted from the web
Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang). view all
Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang). view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang).
Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang).
Muslim Travel Guide Japan 2024: Tokyo Mosques, Halal Travel and Local Muslim Life
Articles • Hasan09 posted the article • 0 comments • 51 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see. view all
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see.
Summary: This Japan Muslim travel guide uses the author's 2024 field observations and online checks to discuss mosques, Muslims, and halal travel in Japan. It keeps the original evidence path, travel notes, and local Muslim life context.
I put this article together using what I saw with my own eyes while traveling in Japan, along with information I easily found on YouTube, Google Maps, the Google Play Store, and Google Search.
On top of that, information from domestic AI software was a big help to me.
There are a lot of pictures later on, so keep an eye on your data usage. Writing this was hard work, and I am sharing it purely out of passion, so I hope you will give it a like to encourage me.
I went to Japan in early May 2024. Before I left, I had already read several articles claiming things like "there are no Muslims in Japan" or "there are no mosques in Japan."
When I read those articles, I had big doubts about whether they were true.
Once I actually stepped onto Japanese soil, I realized those claims were very one-sided.
First, let's see if the local area is really like some videos and articles say, where there is only one mosque in all of Japan.
Just in downtown Tokyo, if you search using the keyword "mosque," a lot of red dots pop up on the map.
This is basically the distribution map of mosques in Tokyo.
Because some small prayer rooms do not show up on the map, the reality is that there are even more places to pray than what you see.
I knew there were mosques in Japan before I went, and it is not like what some articles say about there being only one or two in the whole country.
I really did not expect there to be so many.
I visited the largest one, which is right in Yoyogi.
It is not just a mosque, but also a Turkish cultural center with a small museum next door.
There is a supermarket on the first floor that specializes in halal food.
Nearby, there are also classrooms where Muslim children learn basic religious knowledge.
The interior view of Yoyogi Mosque.
Later, I went to the Japan Islamic Cultural Center in Gotanda, which looks much simpler, as space is very expensive in a big city.
The prayer hall is upstairs, and the cafeteria is downstairs.
I remember an article I read before saying that Japan bans the sale of any Islamic books.
But on the fourth day of my trip, on the way to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, I passed a fairly large bookstore.
I felt like going in for a look, and this was the first large or medium-sized bookstore I entered in Japan.
As it turned out, I saw this on the shelf for religious books:
The books marked inside the green circles are about Islam.
Of course, there are definitely more books on Buddhism by comparison.
Now let's use the internet to check if the Japanese government really stops people from learning about Islam.
We open the Google Play Store and search using the Japanese word for Islam, "isurāmu," to see if Japanese people can read e-books on the topic.
These are all things that ordinary Japanese citizens can buy easily, and many are even free.
Don't want to read? No problem, there are videos to watch on YouTube.
There are local Japanese Muslim scholars who explain Islamic knowledge on YouTube:
After that, I set off for Shizuoka City to see Mount Fuji, where there are usually fewer Muslims in smaller cities like this.
I searched and, sure enough, there is only one mosque there.
However, the Shizuoka Mosque is quite large and has a wide open space.
If you search for "eid" (the Arabic word for festivals, specifically referring to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) plus "Shizuoka" on YouTube, you can see videos of the Eid celebrations filmed there.
Next, I went to Osaka and Kyoto. Osaka is also a big city, so it has a few more mosques.
Back home, I only heard that Tokyo had mosques and that there was one in Kobe.
To my surprise, I found that other cities actually have quite a few mosques too.
Kyoto has fewer mosques, which makes sense since the city is full of traditional houses and Buddhist temples.
Even so, there are still mosques there.
Before heading back to China, I returned to Tokyo on a Friday.
That was when I visited the Islamic cultural exchange center I mentioned earlier.
As is the custom, the imam gives a speech on Fridays.
The imam gives his speech in Japanese first, then explains it briefly in English.
Some might worry that Imam Sato speaks difficult Japanese-style English, but honestly, it sounds quite smooth.
Why use English?
Because most of the Muslims attending namaz in Japan are foreigners.
There are foreign workers here, as well as foreign tourists like me whose Japanese isn't very good.
Are there any native Japanese Muslims?
Of course there are, but native Japanese Muslims only make up a small portion.
So if you only speak in Japanese, many people won't understand.
I met several Japanese Muslims at the time.
I stared at them, wondering: is there any difference between them and ordinary Japanese people on the street?
If you met them on the road, I bet no one would guess they are Muslims:
Except for one person from Indonesia, everyone in this photo is a native Japanese Muslim.
Finally, I went to the Yoyogi Mosque one more time.
I happened to catch a young Japanese man and woman officially converting to Islam in front of an imam.
As I mentioned before, that mosque is a Turkish cultural center funded by the Turkish government.
There is an imam who only speaks Turkish and does not speak Japanese.
He had an interpreter next to him to help pass on his message.
I watched two young people finish their conversion ceremony right there.
There was also an older imam who seemed to be fluent in both Turkish and Japanese.
He is likely the one in charge of the Friday Jumu'ah sermon at Yoyogi Mosque.
I bought a round-trip ticket, and I chose Tokyo Narita Airport as my departure point.
So, I had to go back to Narita Airport in the end.
There are two prayer rooms set up at the check-in area of Narita Airport.
These prayer rooms are not just for Muslims, but we can take a look at the facilities inside.
At the entrance, there is a place to perform wudu before prayer, with a small stool and even tissues provided.
Inside, there are movable tables, chairs, and carpets, which make it much easier for Muslims to pray.
Actually, all the information mentioned above can be verified.
Most people traveling to Japan probably would not think to visit a mosque at all.
But if you have ever stepped into a convenience store, you have surely seen many brown-skinned young men, right?
Most of them come from Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is a South Asian country and also a nation with a large population.
It has very close historical ties with India and Pakistan.
So, what is the mainstream religion in Bangladesh? I looked it up using DeepSeek:
Japan currently faces a very serious aging population problem, and the labor market is in urgent need of workers from various countries.
When it comes to hiring, they really do not have much room to be picky.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to completely shut out Muslim labor.
Moreover, Japan is a major tourism destination that welcomes a massive number of foreign visitors every year.
Turning away all Muslim tourists is clearly not possible.
The number of mosques in Japan is actually quite high now.
This is especially notable considering Japan's first mosque was not built until 1935.
In less than a hundred years, the number has grown significantly; you can count the red dots on the map yourself.
Keep in mind that the entire city of Shanghai only has seven mosques, including the Songjiang Mosque and the Jinshan Mosque.
Besides Tokyo and Osaka, Nagoya is the only other major city in Japan worth mentioning.
Let's look at the general distribution and number of mosques in Nagoya.
Now, let me show you what the mosques in Nagoya look like.
Google Maps has real-life photos where you can click the arrows to see different angles.
As you can see, this mosque is actually a converted small building of the type people build themselves in Japan.
After looking at the big cities, let's check out a more remote part of Japan—Hokkaido.
In my mind, this place is always covered in snow and has a very cold climate.
Yet even in a place like this, there are already mosques.
Let's take a look at a mosque in Sapporo, Hokkaido.
I have seen Hokkaido, the northernmost part of Japan, but what about the Ryukyu Islands, which are far south and quite a distance from the mainland?
This place used to be the Ryukyu Kingdom, and it still keeps its very distinct character today.
There are very few mosques here, but the population is small and the area is tiny anyway.
On a map, the Okinawa Islands look like just a few small dots, almost invisible.
You can compare them: the circle above shows Kyushu Island, and the oval below shows the main island of Okinawa.
One look at the comparison shows that Okinawa is really, really small.
It is such a small place, and it is much further from the Japanese mainland than Japan is from Jeju Island in South Korea.
Even so, there is still a mosque there.
That is enough about the mosque for now, so let us look at the next part:
Japan bans all Arabic language education, and Japanese educational institutions are not allowed to teach Arabic.
Is this claim reliable? Let us look into it together.
Waseda University is probably one of the most familiar Japanese universities to Chinese people.
Haruki Murakami is a graduate of this school.
This university offers courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.
Here is the proof, a screenshot from their official website.
A simple translation of the English inside the red box is:
In short, students can study Arabic here during their undergraduate years.
They also have the chance to learn other Middle Eastern languages, such as Persian and Turkish.
Now we understand that Japanese universities do teach Arabic.
Let's see what other universities are doing.
Kyoto University also has a center for Islamic area studies, as shown in the image below:
Let's look at another one, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies:
This is a higher education institution that specializes in foreign languages, and it has an Arabic major.
Let's look at the official website's brief introduction to this major.
Here is a simple translation of the key points (I was too lazy to translate it myself, so I just threw it at an AI).
What about Japan's top university, the University of Tokyo (also known as Todai)?
Todai also has an Islamic studies department. Let's look at the summary:
The text in the red box basically says: To help researchers accurately understand Islamic civilization, Todai teaches them relevant languages, including Arabic.
After checking the information myself, I found that the claim that "no educational institution in Japan offers Arabic education" simply doesn't hold up.
I have also seen a claim elsewhere that Japan has no halal restaurants and that you cannot buy halal food at all.
Is that true? Let's search and see.
I searched in Tokyo again. I searched twice, and the results were slightly different each time.
I also found some restaurants on the "Japan Muslim Service Network" that you can find on Google.
I took a few screenshots, and here is a simple translation:
You can find halal versions of both international flavors and traditional Japanese cuisine.
You might be curious about what the symbol in the red circle means.
I looked it up, and it means the shop has a prayer room.
My earlier analysis was right: just searching for a mosque will make you miss many of these small prayer rooms inside shops.
So, there are likely even more places to pray than what we can see.
Muslim Friendly Chongqing: Bashu's Largest Mosque, Halal Travel and Hui Muslim Food
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 27 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
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. view all
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. view all
Reposted from the web
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.
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.
Best Halal Food in Japan: Muslim-Friendly Restaurants, Ramen and Travel Food Map
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 33 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Halal Food Guide Jiangsu Xuzhou: Mosque Visit, Hui Muslim Food and Old City Memories
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 22 views • 5 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand. view all
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand.
Summary: This Halal Food Guide keeps the original 2017 Xuzhou travel notes intact while making the English easier to read. It is useful for halal food in China, Chinese Muslim food, China Muslim travel tips, and mosque visits in Jiangsu.
On March 12, 2017, I went to Xuzhou to eat and explore.
The Xuzhou section of the Grand Canal.
In 1283 and 1289, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty ordered the construction of the Jizhou River and the Huitong River. These connected the existing Sui and Tang Dynasty Grand Canal to the Si River, then linked it to the southern canal via the Yellow River. Xuzhou, located where the Yellow River flows into the Si River, became the central hub of the canal. After the Yuan Dynasty Grand Canal was finished, Xuzhou became a place for civilian boats to deliver grain and a transit point for government troops, making it increasingly busy and prosperous.
In 1855, the Yellow River burst its banks at Tongwaxian in Henan. The canal dikes in the Xuzhou section were washed away and the waterway dried up. By 1877, the Xuzhou section of the canal was completely silted over.
Jianguo Road Mosque.
In 1913, the Tianjin-Pukou Railway opened fully. In 1916, the Kaifeng-Xuzhou section of the Longhai Railway opened. As the intersection of the Tianjin-Pukou and Longhai railways, Xuzhou rose again as a transportation hub. According to the Jiangsu Provincial Gazetteer of Religion, in 1916, Hui Muslim merchant Lan Dengyun, railway worker Zhang Xuelou, and postal worker Yang Xianyun bought 1,500 square meters of wasteland on the west side of the old Yellow River bed south of Xuzhou city. They built a wall and three flat-roofed rooms, calling it the 'Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou' (Lvxu Qingzhensi) for passing Muslims to perform namaz. In 1924, the Traveler's Mosque in Xuzhou was destroyed by a heavy rainstorm and was rebuilt in 1931.
In 1937, the famous Hui Muslim Peking Opera performer Ma Lianliang held a charity performance to raise funds for the mosque. The following year, leather merchants Ha Guanglu, Ma Yuqing, and others donated money to expand the mosque to 32 rooms. After 1949, Jianguo East Road was built in front of the mosque, and it was renamed Jianguo Road Mosque. After 1966, the mosque was occupied and 14 rooms in the back courtyard were demolished. It was restored and reopened in 1980. In 1997, the mosque was demolished again for road widening, then relocated and rebuilt into its current form.
Dakang Pastries.
Next to Jianguo Road Mosque, there is a deli and a pastry shop. At the pastry shop, I bought chestnut cakes (lizisu), peach cakes (taosu), sesame crisps (mapian'er), and honey-glazed horn-shaped pastries (jiaojiaomi).
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store.
Taikang Hui Muslim Food Store is a century-old halal shop in Xuzhou, founded in 1908. The owner was Bai Shaoxuan, a Hui Muslim from Jining, Shandong. It is most famous for making sesame crisps (mapian) and white sesame osmanthus sugar cakes (baima guihua su-tang). In May 1938, Taikang was destroyed by Japanese bombers. Owner Bai had to painfully switch to the beef and mutton business until he started selling pastries again after 1945.
At Taikang, I bought rose mung bean cakes (meigui lvdougao), honey-preserved sponge cakes (mizhi fenggao), egg rolls (danjuan), salted osmanthus sauce (xian guihua jiang), and rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Rose sauce (meigui jiang).
Osmanthus sauce (guihua jiang).
Honey-preserved sponge cake (mizhi fenggao).
Rose mung bean cake (meigui lvdougao).
Egg rolls (danjuan)
Feng Tianxing
Feng Tianxing is another long-standing halal shop in Xuzhou. Feng Shibo founded Feng Tianxing in Nanjing in 1757, the 22nd year of the Qianlong reign. It started by selling roasted chicken, then moved to Xuzhou and became a classic halal brand there. I bought duck tongue, duck liver, and dried tofu. Everything was delicious, especially the duck tongue, which was so fragrant.
I really like the design of this water pitcher (tangping) brand.
Muslim Travel Guide Medina: Quran Printing Complex, Camel Pilaf and Prophet Mosque Hotels
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 26 views • 6 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world? view all
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world? view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world?
Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Medina continues the sacred sites map, covering the King Fahd Quran Printing Complex, free Quran copies, camel pilaf, hotel dining, family travel, and practical notes near the Prophet Mosque.
Map of Sacred Sites in Medina is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory. The account keeps its focus on Halal Travel, Yiwu Food, Mosque Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.
Once you enter the workshop, you can see the printing process for the Quran, which is as impressive as a banknote factory.
After leaving the workshop, you can pick up a free copy of the Quran at the room by the entrance. The default is the original Arabic version, but if you ask, they will give you the language you want. We requested the Chinese-Arabic bilingual version translated by Ma Jian.
If you feel one copy is not enough, you can go to the shop at the entrance to buy other books.
These are the historical sites we visited in Medina. There are still some on my list that we didn't get to see because the area outside the north gate of the Prophet's Mosque is under expansion. Outside the east gate is the Baqi Cemetery, where about 10,000 companions of the Prophet and some of his family members are buried. These places look like yellow dirt construction sites from a distance and you cannot enter them. Many locations recorded in history no longer exist, and even the historical sites I photographed earlier were mostly rebuilt on their original locations, so you can no longer see traces left from ancient times.
Most of the time, we ate buffets at our hotel. At the strong suggestion of Dosti, we tried camel pilaf (zhua fan) in Medina once. The restaurant in the picture below is a fast-food chain that also has locations in Mecca.
This is a very traditional Arabic restaurant. The first floor is for individual diners and is covered with carpets; you spread a piece of paper on the carpet to eat. This type of restaurant does not allow female guests on the first floor, so families must go to the private rooms on the second floor. The restaurant pauses business during namaz time, and the staff will pull the curtains shut.
To be honest, this camel meat pilaf was very authentic. The texture of the camel meat is similar to beef and has no strange smell. The staff will provide spoons, as most locals now choose to eat with spoons instead of using their hands. Remember to perform wudu (minor ablution) after eating camel meat, as this was recorded in the Hadith.
For accommodation, it is best to stay somewhere close to the Prophet's Mosque that is within walking distance. Although it is expensive, it is very troublesome to travel back and forth every day if you are far away, and taxis are both expensive and inconvenient. We mostly chose to eat buffets at the hotel because there were seven of us, and it is hard to please everyone, so the buffet was a convenient choice. The buffet restaurant at the Sofitel Hotel is ranked number one for food in Medina on the TripAdvisor app because it offers a view of the Prophet's Mosque.
When dining at the hotel, you don't need to worry about family members being separated; everyone can sit wherever they like.
In our small Umrah group, only our family of three was here for the first time; everyone else had been here many times. Our first impression of the people we met in Medina was not good, which is consistent with the feelings of other families who come here often. Even some of our friends who have lived in the holy land for many years have mostly negative things to say about the locals. I was mentally prepared for this bad impression before I came. I see this phenomenon as proof of the backwardness of the believers. Just imagine, if everyone behaved with the character of the Prophet, I would actually be confused. If you were all that excellent, how could you be in such a backward position in today's world?
Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 6 days ago
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations. view all
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations.
Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xunhua and Hualong Salar Mosques, Qinghai Halal Food and Heritage is presented here as a clear English Muslim travel account, starting with this scene: By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my. It keeps the original names, numbers, mosque details, food notes, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Qinghai Mosques, Salar Muslims, Halal Travel.
By my own count, I have visited 454 mosques at home and abroad. I have visited the most in Beijing, where I have been to 67, because Beijing is my home. The place where I have visited the second most mosques is Qinghai, where I have been to 32. This is my wife's home, as I married a Salar woman from Xunhua.
Driving from Xining to Xunhua County takes about two hours on the highway. The Xunhua Salar Autonomous County is part of Haidong City. Most of Qinghai's important mosques are concentrated in Xunhua and Hualong counties, which are two neighboring ethnic autonomous counties.
This time I visited the Kewa Mosque, Zhangga Mosque, Tashapo Mosque, Qingshuihedong Mosque, Mengda Mosque, Zanbuhu Mosque, and Jiezi gongbei in Xunhua County, all of which are Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level. I previously visited the Hongshuiquan Mosque in Ping'an, which is also a national-level site. The Suzhi Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. In Hualong, the Ahetan Mosque is a national-level site, and the Yisha'er Mosque is a provincial-level protected site. I also visited the Yimamu Village Mosque, Guoshitan Mosque, and a few other mosques with unique traditional architectural styles. These old buildings are not too far apart, and if you have a car, you can visit them all in one or two days.
1. Qingshuihedong Grand Mosque
The Qingshuihedong Mosque is located in Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in 1425 during the Ming Dynasty. It follows a traditional Chinese architectural layout with a central axis. However, the minaret is not on the axis; it sits about 9 meters south of the front of the main prayer hall. Along the central axis, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a gate, and the main hall. To the north of the main hall is a side building. Unlike other mosques, the Qingshui Mosque does not have a south side building.
In 1996, a brick-carved screen wall was added to the Qingshuihedong Mosque. It features a hip roof (wudian ding) with a vase ornament on the main ridge and a pedestal base.
The gate tower has a hip roof with five-step bracket sets (dougong) under the eaves. The 17-meter-tall minaret has a brick base and a wooden attic-style upper structure with a double-eaved, hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall has a gabled and hipped roof (xieshan ding), five bays wide, with projecting bracket sets and carved wooden beams and brackets. There are wooden railings between the eave pillars and brick-carved walls on both sides. On the north side, there is an arched door leading to the side courtyard.
The corridor walls are made of polished bricks with tight joints and feature brick carvings. The main hall is five bays wide and five bays deep, supported by 42 pillars. The rear prayer niche (yao dian) has wooden partitions, intricate openwork carvings, wooden bracket sets, and hanging flower pillars, all with detailed patterns and fine craftsmanship.
Near the Qingshuihedong Mosque is the Qingshuihedong South Mosque. Inside the South Mosque, I saw a women's prayer hall, which is quite rare in the Northwest.
When visiting mosques in Qinghai, I rarely saw anyone guarding the doors. Even at national-level protected sites, you can just walk in. I have never been stopped or questioned, which is very similar to my experiences abroad.
2. Mengda Mosque
Xunhua has Mengda Mountain, and on the mountain is Mengda Mountain Village. This is my wife's hometown, but the Mengda Mosque and Mengda Heavenly Lake are not in Mengda Mountain Village. They are quite far away, so be careful not to go to the wrong place.
Mengda Mosque is in Mengda Dazhuang Village. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and follows traditional Chinese architectural style. Along a central axis from east to west, there is a spirit wall (yingbi), a call-to-prayer tower (huanxinglou), and the main prayer hall. On both sides of the spirit wall are the left and right mountain gates, and in front of the main hall are the south and north side rooms. It covers a total area of 1,344 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it served as the main mosque (zongsi) for the Mengda Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
On both sides of the spirit wall at Mengda Mosque are wooden archways with three bays, four pillars, and three roofs, featuring a ridged roof design.
At Mengda Mosque, I met a retired official who used to be in charge of culture and publicity in Xunhua County. This Salar elder listed the historical sites of Xunhua for me and told me to visit them one by one when I have time. The elder's Mandarin was relatively easy to understand. The common language in Xunhua is the Salar language, so most of the time I had to ask my father-in-law to help me communicate with the locals.
The bottom floor of the call-to-prayer tower is a brick-built hexagon with brick carvings on the walls. The upper level is a wooden pavilion-style structure with a triple-eave hexagonal helmet-shaped roof.
The prayer hall consists of a porch (juanpeng), a main hall with a ridged hip-and-gable roof, and a T-shaped kiln hall (yaodian). There is a treasure vase (baoping) in the middle of the main ridges of the hall and kiln hall, covering a building area of over 300 square meters.
The prayer hall has a convex-shaped floor plan and a post-and-lintel wooden frame. The beams and pillars are decorated with gold-painted powder, and the walls are decorated with floral patterns and Arabic scripture murals.
3. Zhangga Mosque
Zhangga Mosque is located in Zhangga Village, Baizhuang Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty and covers an area of 2,275 square meters. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, it was the main mosque for the Zhangga Gong, one of the eight Salar Gong districts.
Zhangga Mosque has two gate towers facing east. They are in the style of a three-bay, four-pillar, three-roof archway, connected in the middle by a brick-carved spirit wall.
The prayer hall is a brick-and-wood structure with a building area of 700 square meters. It consists of a front hall, a middle hall, and a back hall. It is five bays wide and seven bays deep with a hip-and-gable roof. There are three treasure vases on the main ridge, and the eaves feature wooden carved brackets (dougong) and bird-shaped supports (quetie).
A new-style back hall was added to the west of the main hall. The original back hall became the middle hall, which is square-shaped. It features outward-extending brackets, and the beam frame is stacked into an inverted-bucket-shaped caisson ceiling with gorgeous wood carvings.
The prayer hall combines traditional hall style with Tibetan style. It is five bays wide and five bays deep, with large beams placed horizontally and carved with double-ring patterns.
4. Kewa Mosque
Kewa Mosque is located in Kewa Village, Baizhuang Town, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1403) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. Renovated and expanded in the 1980s. The mosque is laid out as a courtyard house, featuring a prayer hall, north and south lecture halls, a minaret, a bathing room, a screen wall, a gate tower, and a modern teaching building. It covers an area of 2,800 square meters, with a building area of 2,800 square meters. The prayer hall features carved beams and painted rafters, with wooden panels inlaid on the walls decorated with various patterns and scriptures, making it an Islamic building with Tibetan-style decorations. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
The new prayer hall of Kewa Mosque has been completed right next to the old one, and this mosque is the most prominent example of Tibetan-style architecture in Xunhua.
The main hall uses a post-and-lintel timber frame structure. The pillars are wrapped in finely carved wooden strips and are polygonal in shape, known as wrapped pillars (baoxiangzhu). The walls are inlaid with wooden panels painted with landscape and floral patterns. Between the main hall and the rear mihrab hall, there is a hollow-carved wooden partition featuring ruyi-shaped bracket sets (dougong) and hanging flower-shaped decorative canopies.
Kewa Mosque follows a courtyard layout. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a rear mihrab hall. It is a brick-and-wood structure with five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof.
The murals feature scriptures and are decorated with landscapes and flowers, showing a strong Tibetan painting style.
The walls of the rear mihrab hall are painted with Quranic verses in various scripts and the 99 names of Allah, while the beams are decorated with swirling patterns (xuanzi caihua), the center of the beams features gold scripture on a black background, and the pedestal (xumizuo) is carved and painted with patterns. The decorations feature a traditional Chinese Tibetan style.
On the east side of the courtyard stands a screen wall (yingbi) made of polished bricks with seamless joints, featuring a hip roof, brick bracket sets, and a pedestal base, with a brick carving of a dragon and phoenix symbolizing good fortune in the center.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with single-slope doors on the east and west sides. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal pointed roofs.
5. Tashapo Mosque
Tashapo Mosque is in Tashapo Village, Qingshui Township, Xunhua Salar Autonomous County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in 1480 during the Ming Dynasty and rebuilt in 1755 during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque faces east and follows an east-west axis, featuring a screen wall, a memorial archway, a minaret, and a prayer hall, with scripture halls and bathing rooms on the north and south sides. The mosque covers 1,840 square meters with a building area of 537 square meters. In 2013, it was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level as part of the ancient mosque building complex of the Salar people in Xunhua.
The gate tower of Tashapo Mosque has three bays, four pillars, and three stories, with a hip roof and blue brick ridges. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides of the archway. A straight screen wall stands in front of the gate.
The three-story minaret has a brick base with a solid adobe interior and brick carvings on the walls. The second and third floors are wooden pavilions with double-eaved hexagonal helmet-shaped roofs.
The prayer hall is a Ming Dynasty structure with a convex-shaped floor plan, with five bays, a single-eaved hip-and-gable roof, bracket sets, and a front porch. The mihrab hall has a T-shaped roof with upturned eaves.
The prayer hall covers 250 square meters and uses a raised-beam wooden frame with natural wood finishes, giving it a simple and elegant look. The north and south walls are decorated with ancient murals of scripture. The mihrab hall features a grid-pattern beam frame.
6. Suzhi Mosque
Suzhi Mosque is located in Suzhi Village, Chahandusi Township, Xunhua County, Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Tianshun reign of the Ming Dynasty (1460) and was renovated and expanded during the Qing Dynasty. It has a square courtyard layout with a traditional four-sided courtyard design. The brick-and-wood buildings include a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a minaret, a gatehouse, a bathing room, and a screen wall. The prayer hall and scripture halls date back to the Qing Dynasty. In 1981, local elders donated funds for a large-scale renovation of the mosque. The mosque currently covers an area of 2,010 square meters, with a building area of 800 square meters.
The prayer hall of Suzhi Mosque has five bays and a single-eave hip-and-gable roof with upturned corners. Aluminum alloy glass doors and windows are installed between the front eave pillars. There are brick-carved splayed walls on both sides. The prayer hall consists of a front hall and a back hall. The roof ridge features three treasure vases, and the lower part of the walls is inlaid with ceramic tiles. The front hall has five bays and the back hall has three, forming a T-shape. The structure uses five-purlin beams and a traditional raised-beam timber frame. Under the eaves of the prayer hall are five-step bracket sets, and the wood carvings on the beams are exquisite. The scripture hall has five bays, with three bright rooms and two dark rooms. It has a front corridor, and the beams are carved with floral patterns. It features a single-slope roof with a ridge and a hard-mountain roof style.
7. Quran Museum
The Quran Museum is located in the building opposite Jiezi Mosque. The door is usually locked, but there is a phone number for the manager at the entrance. You can call to have someone open the door for a free visit. Two Salar leaders, Galemang and Ahemang, brought a handwritten Quran on a white camel from their original home in the Sarakhs region of Mary Province, Turkmenistan, in Central Asia. They traveled through Samarkand to China and settled in Xunhua, Qinghai, between the 10th and 14th centuries.
This Quran is divided into two parts, each with 15 volumes, totaling 30 volumes and 867 pages. The cover is made of rhinoceros hide, and the script is in the early Arabic Muhaqqaq style. The Muhaqqaq style formed during the Buyid era of the Abbasid Caliphate in the 11th century, and this book dates back to between 900 and 1200 AD.
The Quran Museum also houses various other editions of the Quran.
Pocket-sized Quran
8. Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua
Jiezi Gongbei in Xunhua County is the tomb of Han Chengxiang (1822-1900), a spiritual leader of the Qadiriyya menhuan. Han Chengxiang traveled twice to the Shah Awliya shrine in Yarkant, Xinjiang, to seek guidance from his teachers. This gongbei was first built in 1950 and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
I have visited important Qadiriyya gongbei sites, including those in Xixiang, Langzhong, Songpan, and Linxia. They left a great impression on me. When the elderly caretaker at the gongbei heard I was from Beijing, he not only unlocked the tomb chamber for me to visit but also warmly invited me into his room for tea.
My father-in-law is Ikhwan, so he has no interest in gongbei. Although our community in Beijing follows the Gedimu tradition, there are two tombs of saints (shaihai) inside the Niujie Mosque.
Elder Juma once provided a legal ruling (fatwa) on praying in mosques that contain graves: if the grave is next to the mosque and the prayer is performed inside the mosque, the prayer is valid. If the grave is inside the mosque, the Hanbali school of jurisprudence holds that the prayer is invalid. However, the other three major schools of jurisprudence consider the prayer valid, though praying with a grave in front of the worshiper is considered disliked (makruh).
Based on this ruling, none of the gongbei in China have the graves and the mosque built together; every gongbei has a separate prayer room.
9. West Route Army Memorial Hall
During this second visit to Hongguang Village, I saw that the West Route Army Memorial Hall had been completed. Hongguang Village has a mosque called Hongguang Mosque, also known as Zanbuhu Mosque. Because it is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army, it is listed as a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level.
Descendants of the Red Army have visited Hongguang Village many times to honor the martyrs. Their fathers were captured by the Nationalist army under Ma Bufang and sent to Hongguang Village to build this mosque.
These captured Red Army soldiers were defiant, so they secretly carved revolutionary symbols like stars, sickles, and hammers into the bricks and tiles of the mosque.
These revolutionary symbols are scattered among the tiles on the roof of the mosque, where most people would not notice them.
Although the mosque is not large, its significance is extraordinary. It is one of the most unique mosques I have visited.
10. Imam Village
While driving through Xunhua County, I saw a village with an interesting name: Imam Village. The name sounded very Islamic, so I parked the car and walked around the village.
I did not walk far before I saw a large mosque under construction in the village, which was very grand.
When I walked closer, I saw that the decorative patterns on the base and side halls of the mosque had architectural features typical of Central Asia and Xinjiang.
This mosaic pattern is often used in North African mosques, and it looks like it will be finished soon.
11. Guoshitan Mosque
My father-in-law saw how obsessed I was with mosques. After we finished the sunset prayer (maghrib) in Jiezi, he wanted to take me to Guoshitan Village. He said they had built a new wooden mosque there, which is considered the largest wooden mosque in Xunhua County. We drove for about twenty minutes and arrived at Guoshitan Village, but it was already dark.
Guoshitan Mosque is located in Guoshitan Village, Jiezi Town. It was first built in 1445, and the current structure was built in 2020. People say the wooden beams for the main hall were purchased from Russia, and the total cost of the mosque was over 20 million.
The large wooden mosque is very spectacular and has a simple, ancient feel, as if it could be designated as a protected cultural site as soon as it was finished.
Hualong Hui Autonomous County
12. Ahetan Mosque
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, Qinghai Province. It was first built in the 22nd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1594). It covers an area of 1,938 square meters and consists of a prayer hall, north and south scripture halls, a screen wall, a memorial archway, and a minaret, all arranged in a traditional courtyard layout. Inside the courtyard, there are 24 two-story brick and wood rooms used as scripture halls. It was listed as a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level in 2013.
Ahetan Mosque is located in Ahetan Village, Gandu Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It was first built in 1323 and expanded during the Ming Dynasty's Wanli reign, retaining its Yuan and Ming architectural style to this day.
The wooden memorial archway of Ahetan Mosque is a three-bay, four-pillar, three-story structure with a hip roof. It is 9 meters high and 8 meters wide, with a tall roof supported by four diagonal pillars in the front and back.
The prayer hall has a floor area of 540 square meters. It is a three-section, six-bay structure with the main hall in the center and a ridged, hip-and-gable roof. There are north and south shed-style side halls, and the interior of the halls is connected as one.
The main hall and the niche hall (yaodian) are separated by carved wooden partitions. The mihrab in the center of the west wall of the niche hall and the Sumeru pedestals on the north and south walls are decorated with exquisite wood carvings.
13. Yisha'er Mosque
Yisha Mosque is in Yisha Village, Qunke Town, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. It is a protected cultural site of Qinghai Province. The mosque was first built in the first year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1488). It was rebuilt in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1749). The original minaret was a three-story wooden structure, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, standing 28 meters high with a diameter of 6 meters.
The cultural heritage plaque at Yisha Mosque calls it Yisha'er Mosque, but you can only find its location on Baidu Maps by searching for Yisha Mosque.
My father-in-law thinks Hualong has a better religious atmosphere than Xunhua. Most Hui Muslims from Hualong run noodle shops in other parts of China, while the Salar people from Xunhua mostly run Xinjiang-style restaurants.
Tips: Food and accommodation guide.
Almost all restaurants in Xunhua County are halal, and most serve noodles. If you want something special, try Lanfanfang Copper Pot Hot Pot. People in Qinghai love hot pot, and the local clay pot hot pot (tu huoguo) is a regional specialty.
The hot pot at Lanfanfang is unique because it is double-layered. The sauerkraut fish pot on top is especially delicious, mainly because the fish is so good.
Qingya Restaurant, another long-standing local spot just a few dozen meters from Lanfanfang, was recommended by a friend in Xunhua. You can eat representative local handmade noodle pieces (mianpian) there.
Keep in mind that portions in Northwest China are very large. Unless you have a huge appetite, order less food when traveling here.
I personally tested the dry mixed noodles (ganban mian) and firecracker noodles (paozhang mian) at Hanshouyi, and they are delicious. Both are Qinghai specialties that do not taste authentic once you leave the province.
Firecracker noodles (paozhang mian)
Dry mixed noodles (ganban mian)
If you want a nicer meal and have a large group, you must try a farmhouse restaurant in Xunhua. This Mingzhong Farmhouse looks very impressive and has a garden and private rooms inside.
It also has prayer rooms, separated for men and women. Prayer rooms are a standard feature in medium-sized or larger restaurants in Xunhua.
Hand-grabbed beef (shouzhu niurou)
Spiral oil bread (youxuan momo)
Searching for the taste of spicy hot pot (mala xiangguo).
Mala xiangguo is popular because they pick high-quality ingredients, even though it costs more. The shop fills up quickly at lunch. It has been open for three years and has two floors with a private, elegant feel. The owner cares a lot about service quality; I even caught him giving a pep talk to his staff when I arrived. The spicy pot paired with Xunhua’s most famous chili is a perfect match.
Guquan Villa.
Guquan Villa is another farmhouse-style inn in Baizhuang. Its specialty is using mountain spring water for drinking, which makes tea taste much better.
Traditional Salar families eat on a heated brick bed (kang), sitting cross-legged, which is similar to the customs in Central Asia.
Chicken Noodle Flake King (jirou mianpian wang).
Chicken noodle flakes (jirou mianpian) are hard to find elsewhere, as they are usually made with beef. This shop is one of the local specialty spots recommended by my friends in Xunhua.
Yimailong Hand-Pulled Noodle Flakes (shouzhuo shougong mianpian).
Yimailong has a good reputation among locals. I had the starch noodle soup (fentang) for breakfast here, which is another Qinghai local specialty.
For dessert, you must try Qinghai yogurt. Just look at the golden milk skin on top to see how rich the flavor is.
For lodging, we reviewed three hotels in Xunhua County: Xunhua International Hotel, Xunhua Jinheyuan Hotel, and Xunhua Borman Hotel. They are all close to each other. Jinheyuan Hotel offers the best overall value. The International Hotel is the most expensive, costing a few dozen yuan more than Jinheyuan. The International Hotel has river-view rooms, but Jinheyuan has all smart room controls, provides a ritual washing pitcher (tangping), and has indicators for the direction of prayer (qibla). Overall, it is more comfortable than the International Hotel. Borman is the cheapest, but the room facilities are old.
Jinheyuan Hotel room.
I noticed there are many restaurants in Xunhua County. All halal restaurants here are alcohol-free, so hotels are called 'restaurants' (fandian) and provide halal breakfast. People in Xunhua like to experience staying in hotels during their leisure time. My friends in Xunhua often fly to different places, not to visit tourist sites, but just to experience a night in a luxury hotel before heading back.
Return trip - Xining.
I have been to Xining many times; I even held my wedding there in 2018. This time, I specifically chose to stay one night at the Yilton International Hotel. A long time ago, when I first traveled alone, I visited Xining. While wandering near the Dongguan Mosque, I looked up and was shocked to see such a large international hotel that was actually halal—I had never seen that before. I decided then that if I ever came back to Xining, I had to experience it.
However, this time I felt the Yilton is quite old. Although the service is okay, it has been operating for over a decade. Compared to the many new luxury hotels in Xining today, the Yilton is no longer as dazzling, but it fulfilled a wish I had seven years ago.
The Yilton has a Western restaurant with affordable prices, though the taste is just average. The breakfast variety is quite rich, and you can see the full view of the Dongguan Mosque from the window.
The Dongguan Mosque (Dongguan Dasi) is currently undergoing renovations, but religious activities continue as usual and the mosque remains open to visitors.
When I return to Xining next time, I should see the renovated Dongguan Mosque, which will look like the image below.
A rendering of the Dongguan Mosque after renovations.
Muslim Friendly Chongqing: Bashu's Largest Mosque, Halal Travel and Hui Muslim Food
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 20 views • 6 days ago
Reposted from the web
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. view all
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. view all
Reposted from the web
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.
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.
Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xishuangbanna Hui-Dai Muslim Villages, Mosques and Halal Food
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 58 views • 6 days ago
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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 view all
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 view all
Reposted from the web
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
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
Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel
Articles • yusuf908 posted the article • 0 comments • 33 views • 2026-05-21 20:43
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
2
Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
3
Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony. view all
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
2
Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
3
Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
2
Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
3
Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony.
Summary: Muslim Friendly Guilin: Bai Chongxi Hometown, Historic Mosques and Guangxi Halal Travel 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 Guilin Mosques, Bai Chongxi, Halal Travel.
— Hello, Travel —
To avoid the National Day travel rush, I chose to take my whole family to Guilin, Guangxi, right after the holiday ended. We spent 6 days there visiting the famous Two Rivers and Four Lakes, Elephant Trunk Hill, the Li River, the Ten-Mile Gallery, Huangluo Yao Village, the Longji Rice Terraces, and 9 mosques in Guilin and its surrounding villages. It was a deep dive into Guilin.
Mid-October is the most beautiful time in Guilin. The temperature is perfect, around 25 degrees Celsius during the day and 17 or 18 degrees at night, so a single layer of clothing is very comfortable. The rice terraces are also harvested in October, turning the mountainsides a spectacular golden yellow.
Longji Rice Terraces
Travel Tips
Transportation
If you visit a popular destination like Guilin during a holiday, I do not recommend driving yourself unless you can find good parking. During major holidays like National Day, every scenic spot is packed with people.
If you drive into a scenic area, you will likely wait in line for at least 3 hours. Between the time and energy spent touring, you will be exhausted, and driving back is very hard. My advice is to travel to the city on your own and then join a local one-day tour group.
Dining
See the details below.
Accommodation
There are many one-day tours in Guilin. You can book them at your hotel front desk or through travel platforms like Trip.com or Mafengwo. They are very cheap. I booked two one-day tours this time, and each cost less than 200 yuan per day. This included round-trip transportation and entrance tickets, but not group meals, which suited me perfectly since group meals are not halal.
For accommodation in Guilin, I recommend staying near the Xicheng Pedestrian Street in the city center. It is only a few dozen meters from the Chongshan Road Mosque, there are several halal restaurants nearby, and it is only 2 kilometers from the Guilin Railway Station.
1
Day 1 One-Day Tour
If you stay in downtown Guilin, you can take a boat at night to tour the 5A-rated Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic area. The tickets are a bit expensive at 180 yuan per person, and night tickets cost even more, but the night view is more beautiful than the daytime.
Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas (Riyue Shuangta)
In the evening, you can walk around Zhengyang Road Pedestrian Street near the Sun and Moon Twin Pagodas Cultural Park, but there are no halal snacks on this street.
The most famous spot in Guilin is the Nine Horse Painting Mountain (Jiuma Huashan) scenic area on the Li River, which is well-known for being the background image on the 20-yuan note of the fifth series of renminbi. From downtown Guilin, you can take a tourist bus for about 1.5 hours to reach Yangshuo County where the scenic area is located. If you are traveling independently, I recommend staying in Yangshuo town, as it is very close to the surrounding scenic spots.
There is a halal restaurant in Yangshuo town called Muslim Restaurant (Musilin Fandian)
and its location is as follows.
In Xingping Ancient Town of Yangshuo County, there is also an Indian halal restaurant called Ganges (Henghe).
You can take a bamboo raft from the Xingping Ancient Town pier to tour the Li River. The boat ride takes about 30 minutes, and there are shuttle buses in the scenic area to take tourists back to the entrance after the boat trip.
A comparison of the Nine Horse Painting Mountain scenic area on the Li River with the renminbi background.
Guilin's landscape is a World Natural Heritage site and a classic example of Chinese mountain and water scenery. Successive national leaders have visited Guilin many times.
A small bamboo raft floats on the river.
To protect the Guilin landscape, the local government has set height limits for urban buildings, so you won't see any skyscrapers in the city.
The Thousand-Year-Old Banyan Tree (Qiannian Darongshu).
One of the highlights of the Ten-Mile Gallery (Shili Hualang) is the Big Banyan Tree scenic area. This is the hometown of Liu Sanjie and the filming location for the movie "Liu Sanjie." Yangshuo County hosts the "Impression Liu Sanjie" show. It is very impressive, though the ticket price is expensive at over 200 yuan, it is worth seeing.
From the Big Banyan Tree, you can drive 1 kilometer to reach Jinshui Cave to explore the karst landforms and take a mud bath. After leaving the cave, you can watch a Yao village song and dance performance. The show is great, and they invite audience members to join a mock Yao wedding ceremony. I was lucky enough to be chosen as the groom, pretended to enter the bridal chamber with a Yao girl, and was even asked for a 39 yuan bride price.
Jinshui Cave
These activities are all included in the Guilin one-day tour. There is no shopping involved. The only local Guilin specialties sold are offered by the tour guide while the bus is moving, so it does not delay the trip. The items are cheap, and you can choose whether to buy them.
2
Day 2 one-day tour
Because the first day's tour was a good experience, we immediately signed up for a second one-day tour. This trip followed a different route to see the famous Longji Rice Terraces.
The Longji Rice Terraces are divided into areas like the Jinkeng (Dazhai) Yao ethnic terrace viewing area and the Ping'an Zhuang ethnic terrace viewing area. We chose to visit the larger Jinkeng Yao ethnic terraces. The terraces are fields carved into the mountains by local villagers to grow rice. This rice is no longer sold to the public and is only for the villagers' daily consumption.
Longji Rice Terraces
You can take a cable car to the top of the terraces. A one-way ticket is 50 yuan, and a round-trip ticket is 100 yuan per person. If you walk up the mountain, it takes about 5 kilometers of mountain roads and three hours round-trip, but hiking allows you to see the scenery along the way.
Looking down at the terraces from the mountain top
Huangluo Yao Village is known as the world's number one long-hair village. The villagers still keep the tradition of growing their hair long. According to the locals, the village is a matriarchal society where women go out to work and men stay home to do housework. While we wandered around the village, we really did not seem to see any men, and all the villagers providing services were women.
Women in the long-hair village rarely cut their hair in their lives. They might cut it once before getting married, and they keep the hair they cut off coiled on their heads. After marriage, they basically never cut their hair again, so the older they get, the longer their hair becomes.
Villagers in the long-hair village perform hair combing
Locals say that although their hair is dark and shiny, they do not use any hair care products. At most, they wash their hair with rice water, and their hair quality is good mostly because of their genetics.
Long-haired girls' hair-washing performance
3
Cultural journey
After enjoying the natural scenery, we immediately started our cultural journey in Guilin. We learned that Qianjing Village, under Guilin's jurisdiction, is the hometown of Bai Chongxi. We drove from the city to the village, which is located in Caoping Hui Ethnic Township, about 50 kilometers away and a one-hour drive.
1. Qianjing Mosque
First built in the Qing Dynasty, the original mosque was destroyed. The current building was funded by Bai Chongxi in 1940. Bai Chongxi was born in this village and once returned here to pay respects to his ancestors. Qianjing is a village of Hui Muslims. Most villagers are Hui Muslims and all share the surname Bai. The imam told us that even outsiders who marry into the village must change their surname to Bai.
The mosque features a traditional wooden structure. It is worth noting that all nine mosques I visited in Guilin are built in this traditional style.
Although the villagers in Qianjing are Hui Muslims, People say they have been disconnected from the faith since the end of the Qing Dynasty. Today, very few elderly people there know the basic knowledge of Islam, and their daily habits are no different from other ethnic groups.
Even today, every household keeps ancestral tablets. Interestingly, they do not believe in Christianity or Buddhism; it seems ancestor worship is the only faith of the villagers.
Crossbeam of the prayer hall
On weekdays, almost no villagers come to pray, except for the imam and a few passing friends (dosti). However, about ten villagers, mostly elderly, attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
Currently, only one person in the village, an elder over 90 years old, still maintains a halal diet. People say he is a descendant of a Guilin imam. He cooks for himself every day, and it is not easy for him to hold onto this practice today.
Qianjing Village was originally called Baijiazhuang. It was later renamed Zangjing Village because it sheltered Muslims who fled here during the Yuan Dynasty and brought the Quran with them. Later, it was renamed Qianjing Village.
Qianjing Mosque and the Bai Family Ancestral Hall are separated by only one wall. The ancestral hall also serves as an activity center for the elderly.
Bai Family Ancestral Hall
Bai Family Ancestral Hall and the Qianjing Village Hui Muslim Folk Culture Exhibition Hall
Bai family genealogy
The most famous Hui Muslim from Qianjing Village is Bai Chongxi. His ancestor was Bo Dulu Ding, a Semu person who came to China to serve as an official during the Yuan Dynasty. Bai Chongxi’s Islamic name was Umar. He served as a first-class general in the Nationalist Army and as the Minister of National Defense for the Republic of China. He passed away in Taipei in 1966 at the age of 74.
Portrait of Bai Chongxi.
There was a rumor that Bai Chongxi claimed to be Han Chinese and only followed Islam. I checked the source of this article and it is definitely taken out of context and completely false. For example, in the oral history book 'Interview Records of Mr. Bai Chongxi' from the Institute of Modern History at Academia Sinica in Taiwan, Bai Chongxi himself stated: 'But many of us are Han Chinese and not Hui, we just follow Islam, so how can we be called Hui Muslims?'
Many social media outlets interpreted this sentence as Bai Chongxi calling himself Han Chinese. I do not know how they could possibly read that meaning into it. When Bai Chongxi said 'many of us are Han Chinese,' he was not referring to himself. More authoritative evidence can be found in a China Daily interview with Bai Chongxi’s son, Bai Xianyong.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
From the interview transcript above, it is clear that Bai Xianyong explicitly stated his family is Hui, not Han.
'Rebellion: The Genetic Code of Bai Chongxi and Bai Xianyong,' source: China Times.
It is regrettable that Bai Xianyong admitted in the interview that he follows Buddhism. We do not need to criticize his choice, but the Bai family believes that rules they consider backward—such as forbidding women from education or requiring women to wear veils—are not authentic Islamic rules. This shows the Bai family does not have a deep understanding of Islam. Islam encourages women to receive an education, as seen in the Hadith passed down by the Prophet’s wives. When the Prophet was alive, he encouraged women to go to the mosque to learn, and his wives are role models for all female Muslims.
Bai Chongxi was not a devout Muslim like Ma Bufang. I caught a glimpse of the details regarding Bai Chongxi’s religious practice in the book 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Screenshot from 'Biography of Ma Bufang' by Fan Qianfeng.
Based on the two article screenshots, it is clear that Bai Chongxi only had an ethnic identity and was a cultural Muslim who took his religious duties lightly. It is understandable that his descendants lacked the proper understanding of Islam and eventually converted to other faiths. This shows how important family teaching and example are.
When I visited the Bai family ancestral hall, an imam (ahong) from Linxia was teaching the elders the Shahada (the declaration of faith). The elders were actually playing cards and watching TV while half-heartedly imitating the Arabic words 'There is no god but Allah.' This scene is hard to imagine in areas with strong religious practice. It was both funny and sad. The imam was helpless, but he felt it was good enough that the elders were willing to come to the mosque at all.
But what can be done? The villagers of Qianjing have been away from the faith for too long. Returning to the path of Allah is extremely difficult, especially in a village with such deep-rooted traditional folk beliefs. One can imagine how much hardship the imam has faced.
Old men at the Bai family ancestral hall are playing cards and watching television.
When the imam learned I was visiting specifically to see mosques, he happily invited us to visit the largest remaining mosque in the Guilin area, the Liutang Mosque. A Han Chinese Muslim from Ningxia joined us. He has over ten years of teaching experience and is now at retirement age. His only hobby is traveling to visit mosques. He stays at each mosque for three to five days and says he has already visited over a thousand of them.
2. Liutang Town Mosque
Our group rode in the imam's car and arrived at the Liutang Town Mosque, located under the jurisdiction of Guilin, after about half an hour. The mosque was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939.
Liutang Mosque covers an area of 3.7 mu and has a building area of 1,700 square meters. It is a cultural relic protection unit at the Guilin municipal level.
On both sides of the front hall are the inscriptions 'Xian Xie' (guard against evil) and 'Cun Cheng' (maintain sincerity), which come from the I Ching (Book of Changes), Qian hexagram: 'Guard against evil and maintain one's sincerity.'
Ancient water well
Liutang Mosque now has a resident imam from Linxia. However, the religious practice in Liutang Town is on the verge of disappearing. The local Hui Muslims have long been assimilated into Han culture, and there are no halal restaurants nearby. After a brief chat with the imam on the second floor, we learned that Shanwei Village, where the former residence of Bai Chongxi is located, is not far away.
Looking down at the main prayer hall from the second floor
Former residence of Bai Chongxi
Our Han Muslim friend from Ningxia decided to stay in Liutang for a few days. After getting him settled, we continued to follow the imam to the nearby Shanwei Village to visit the former residence of Bai Chongxi.
Shanwei Village
The scenery in Shanwei Village is still very beautiful. Bai Chongxi's former residence is at the foot of the mountain, and you have to walk to get there.
Bai Chongxi's former residence was built in 1928. It has been emptied out, so there is not much to see inside.
Interior of Bai Chongxi's former residence
A mosque was built next to the former residence, but because the person in charge at the time only received 500,000 yuan, the construction stopped halfway when he passed away. No one followed up on it, so it has become an unfinished project.
3. Shanwei Village Mosque
Shanwei Village Mosque
The Shanwei Village Mosque is abandoned. It will likely be hard to rebuild unless the Hui Muslims in Shanwei Village return to their faith.
Food near the former residence of Bai Chongxi
4. Jiucun Village Mosque
Shanwei Village and the neighboring Jiucun Village are both Hui Muslim villages. Most villagers are Hui Muslims, though they have other surnames besides Bai. The imam told me the situation for Hui Muslims here is better than in Qianjing Village. The Hui Muslims here do not eat pork or dog meat, and they do not drink alcohol openly in the village. The meat eaten in the village is all slaughtered by the imam. On the road, we even met an old grandmother who greeted us with salaam.
The original Jiucun Village Mosque was built during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty. The current building was rebuilt in 2004 and was named a cultural relic protection unit of Lingui County in 2013.
Jiucun Village is a natural village under the jurisdiction of the Shanwei Village Residents' Committee and has 44 households.
The mosque has three halls and three bays, measuring 24.8 meters wide and 44.15 meters deep.
After visiting Shanwei Village and Jiucun Village, we said goodbye to the imam and returned to Guilin city. The next day, we went to visit the Maping Mosque inside the Seven Star Park scenic area in Guilin.
5. Maping Mosque
Maping Mosque was first built during the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, due to the expansion of Guilin Seven Star Park, the mosque was included within the park. It is now also the location of the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home. If you are a Hui Muslim or wearing a white cap, you can enter for free. Otherwise, you must buy a 55-yuan ticket. Just show your ID card at the park entrance.
During the War of Resistance, the Guilin Hui Muslims formed a War Service Group to promote the war effort to the public. Their most prominent work was carrying out cave education, providing wartime education for people hiding from Japanese planes in Seven Star Cave.
The earliest Hui Muslim to travel to Guilin, the Northern Song Dynasty master calligrapher and painter Mi Fu, left stone carvings including "Poem for Chen Guilin, and a Letter to Old Historian Shuai," "Preface to the Poem for Shaoyan," and "Mi Fu and Cheng Jie's Exchange Poems" in the Longyin Cave exhibition area of the Guihai Stele Forest Museum.
Maping Mosque is connected to the Guilin Hui Muslim Nursing Home and can be accessed through the halal restaurant next door.
Sharia snacks
Sharia snacks
The halal snack shop next to Maping Mosque has been run by the imam's family for years. They chose the name Shariya to emphasize that their ingredients are halal. We came here for dinner at night. Since the park was already closed, tourists were not allowed in. However, if you say you are a Hui Muslim going to the mosque, they will let you in. Just do not say you are going there to eat, or the security guard will lie and tell you there is no restaurant inside, which is very annoying.
Price list
You definitely have to try the Guilin rice noodles (guilin mifen). This is arguably the only place in Guilin where you can find reliable halal rice noodles, and they make them very authentically.
Behind the kitchen is a nursing home for Hui Muslims, where the elderly were eating dinner.
The stir-fried noodles (chaomian) smell delicious.
Beef dumplings (niurou shuijiao) are delicate little dumplings that you can eat in one bite.
Guilin rice noodles come in stir-fried and soup versions. The stir-fried noodles are a bit sticky and not as good as the ones with soup, but local people in Guilin think the stir-fried version is more traditional. You can add as many pickled long beans as you like to your noodles.
I was satisfied just to have a bowl of reliable rice noodles in Guilin. Later, the imam of Daxu Mosque invited us to Daxu Ancient Town to visit the mosque, which we could not find on the map at the time. It is visible on maps now because I helped the imam add the address to Baidu and Amap.
6. Daxu Mosque
Daxu Mosque was first built during the Qianlong reign. The wood is moldy, and it is currently being renovated. The mosque is located at No. 69 Shengchanxia Street in Daxu Ancient Town. Daxu is a historic town where many local Hui Muslims still live, though the state of the faith is not very optimistic, with only about ten people attending Friday prayers (Jumu'ah).
You can see that the wood in the attic is very old. In 1933, during the Republic of China era, Imam Li Meibin started a night school for children to study scripture at the mosque, which later became a primary school for Hui Muslims that accepted both Hui and Han students.
The imam warmly invited us to eat at the mosque again, and we felt very grateful (shukr). We learned from the imam that the mosque is being renovated, but funds are limited. They only receive a few tens of thousands of yuan from the government each year for basic repairs. After the meal, we stayed for a while before the imam walked us to the entrance of the ancient town. We said goodbye to him and promised to meet again, Insha'Allah.
There are no halal restaurants in Daxu Ancient Town. I only saw some scripture plaques hanging in front of private homes. Since I already knew there are actually quite a few Hui Muslims in Guilin, just without much religious practice, I was no longer surprised.
7. Chongshan Mosque
Chongshan Mosque was first built in 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty. It is a protected cultural site in Guilin. The family of Bai Chongxi's father-in-law provided significant funding to build this mosque. Without their support, the state of the faith in Guilin today might be like in Fujian, where only a few ruins remain to show the glory left by our ancestors.
You can still see a few local Guilin people coming to the Chongshan Mosque for namaz every day.
8. Women's Mosque
Chongshan Women's Mosque is the only one left in Guilin. I performed the sunset prayer (maghrib) here and learned that the person calling the adhan is a Hui Muslim from Shaoyang, Hunan. Men are also allowed to enter the women's mosque to pray.
9. Xixiang Mosque
The last mosque I visited in Guilin was Xixiang Mosque. It is currently being renovated. The main structure is finished, and only the interior decoration is left.
Xixiang Mosque was first built during the Guangxu reign and was later rebuilt with donations from Bai Chongxi's wife, Ma Peizhang, and the children of Ma Rongxi. This mosque sits right next to the Guilin Catholic Church, which shows religious harmony.
Muslim Friendly Russia: Vladivostok Winter Mosque Travel and Halal Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 26 views • 2026-05-21 10:59
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East. view all
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East.
Summary: This Muslim friendly Russia travel account follows the original winter trip to Vladivostok, with halal food, mosque visits, streets, weather, and photos kept in the same order. It is written for readers planning a practical halal travel route in Vladivostok.
Vladivostok is a port city in the Russian Far East. Chinese tourists can enter with an e-visa. The visa is valid for 30 days, allows a stay of up to 8 days, and requires you to enter and exit Russia through Vladivostok. The e-visa is free and requires no extra documents, just a passport photo. You fill out an application form on the official website and get the visa in 48 hours.
I chose Vladivostok for my New Year's trip mainly because it is cheap. For 5 days and 4 nights, two people spent less than 6,000 yuan. Airfare was 3,000 yuan of that. The flight from Beijing to Vladivostok takes about two and a half hours. A one-way ticket was 350 yuan. The return flight was a bit more expensive, but it stayed under 800 yuan if you avoid peak times. Food and accommodation cost about 500 yuan per day, even while choosing quality options. Most tourist spots don't charge admission. If I planned the trip again, I could keep the cost for two people under 5,000 yuan.
Except for a few Korean tourists, Vladivostok is mostly white Russians. English is not widely spoken, so use a translation app to communicate. Walking the streets feels just like being in Europe, but prices are much lower than in Europe.
Before leaving for the airport, print your e-visa and keep it in your passport, as you must show it when checking in.
After arriving at Vladivostok Airport, you can exchange money for Russian rubles. One Chinese yuan is worth about 10 rubles. I only exchanged 800 yuan, about 8,000 rubles, for the 5 days, and that was enough. Most places take cards. Note that exchange counters will not accept torn or marked banknotes.
The photo below shows the girl at the currency exchange window. Once you start walking around Russia, you will realize her looks are just average, as there are model-like handsome men and beautiful women everywhere.
It is best to buy a local Russian SIM card at the airport. A 7-day unlimited data plan costs about 40 yuan. This lets you browse the internet freely, which is important because Google Maps is essential. Even with international roaming, Chinese SIM cards cannot access sites like Google, and you need Google Maps to check local transport.
You can call a taxi at the airport. Tell the ticket window your destination, and the staff will tell you the price. You pay first, then they send a car, so you won't be overcharged. A taxi to the city costs about 150 yuan. I suggest taking a bus or train instead. The bus is about 5 yuan, and the train is about 23 yuan. The trip takes an hour. I took a taxi when I arrived but took the train back, and the train is more comfortable.
In Russia, you will see both left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars on the road at the same time.
You can stay near the train station because most attractions are within walking distance. The city center is small. We stayed at the Equator Hotel in a suite for about 300 RMB per night. It had a sea view and was very comfortable.
This is a Vladivostok bus. It looks old but runs smoothly. You don't have to wait long. Board through the back door and exit through the front. Pay the driver 23 rubles when you get off. Don't worry if you don't have exact change; the driver will give you change.
Older Russian women wear mink coats, but you don't see many young people wearing them.
When Muslim travelers go out, the biggest concern is finding halal restaurants. I searched for local halal restaurant information before leaving, but unfortunately, I found only one certified halal restaurant after arriving. It is Belyy Barashka, also called White Lamb, shown in the picture below. It is an Azerbaijani restaurant owned by an Azerbaijani, located a five-minute walk from the seaside.
The picture above shows the restaurant's Russian name. Walk along this alley into the courtyard to find the restaurant.
We called the restaurant before going to ask if it was halal. The owner answered and said it was definitely halal.
This place is quite famous locally. The owner told me his restaurant is the only halal restaurant in the area. My later experience showed me that this one restaurant was enough for my food needs for the next five days.
The waiter asked where we were from, and I said Beijing. Then they handed us a menu with Chinese on it, which really surprised me, even though the Chinese on the menu was clearly translated by Google.
This shop specializes in Caucasian and Central Asian dishes, though you can also eat Russian-style food. During our five days, we came every day except for January 1st when they were closed. We tried different dishes each time, and every dish was delicious. The price was about half of a similar restaurant in Beijing, averaging 30 RMB per dish, and we spent about 150 RMB for two people each time.
This is the service button below. Press it if you need service. Do not shout for the waiter here; it is very rude, and no one will understand you anyway.
The restroom is very clean and pretty. It smells good and has hand cream. Their restaurants and cafes are generally very clean, and the restrooms are cleaned every hour.
The young man flirting at the bar below is actually one of the waiters. He is very handsome. It seemed like he was off duty that day and invited some friends over for a meal. The restaurant staff and the owner seem like a family, which is very heartwarming.
This dish is made by baking mushrooms with cheese and belongs to Caucasian cuisine.
This is a salad made with shredded cheese, raw salmon slices, and some vegetables.
This is a lamb flatbread from Central Asian cuisine, commonly known as dalo nang. Squeeze some lemon juice on it before eating.
These are Central Asian steamed buns (baozi) with thin skins. They are similar to the ones in Xinjiang and contain soup inside.
Caesar salad with cucumber, cilantro, tomato, onion, and pomegranate seeds.
This is a very thin flatbread (nang) used to hold salad or meat sauce.
This is Azerbaijani pulled noodles (latiaozi) shaped like flat boards.
Grilled salmon glazed with maple syrup.
Grilled chicken wings served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce.
I drank many kinds of tea, but this fruit tea was my favorite.
Greek salad with avocado, cheese, and blueberries.
Cheese flatbread (nang). You can smell the cheese when you tear it open.
This is grilled sturgeon (xunyü), which has a stronger flavor than salmon.
Turkish kebab wrap, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
The Russian beet soup (borscht) lives up to its reputation. You must try it; it is truly rich in flavor and leaves a lasting impression.
These are the mini dumplings (shuijiao) that locals eat often. Dumplings are also a traditional food in Central Asia.
Grilled vegetables, including eggplant, zucchini, and tomato. People in the Caucasus region love eating grilled vegetables.
Chickpea puree soup (hummus soup), which is very thick. Chickpea puree is a common food for people in the Middle East.
Uzbekistan-style pilaf (zhuafan), made with dried apricots, raisins, and long-grain fragrant rice.
This restaurant has a complete variety of dishes, and the food looks just like the pictures on the menu. The service is excellent. We find it relaxing to dine here every day. After we finish, the servers clear the dishes promptly, and we just sit, drink tea, and chat. They stay open until late at night.
On New Year's Day, both restaurants and malls are closed, and only supermarkets stay open. We bought halal sausages at the supermarket; "МУСУЛЬМАНСКИЕ" means halal. We also bought some flatbread (nang), caviar, and shredded kelp, and we were still able to make a delicious meal.
Russian caviar is especially cheap; this big box only cost 20 yuan.
Caviar, sausage, and sea cabbage make for a nutritious, high-quality, and affordable meal. You shouldn't treat your stomach poorly when traveling.
Everywhere I go, I make sure to visit the local mosque. The mosque in Vladivostok is not finished yet, but I still managed to find a place for namaz. I searched for "Primorsky Region Kazyat Muslim Office" on Google Maps and found this prayer space in a residential area about 6 kilometers from the city center.
There were no Arabic signs outside, only Russian. I pushed the door open and saw a star and crescent symbol on the wall, confirming it was a mosque.
It is on the first floor of a building and covers about 300 square meters. I did not see any staff, only two children. We did not speak the same language, but I said salaam to them and they replied.
Russia actually has many Muslims, but they are mostly concentrated in the European part of the country. Vladivostok is in the Far East, where the number of Muslims is very small.
The bookshelf was filled with books in Russian.
The prayer timetable is in Russian, which shows that Islam has successfully integrated into Russian life.
I found news online that Vladivostok was set to build its first local mosque in 2020, funded by Tatars with 100 million rubles.
I saw the renderings and really like the architectural style of Russian mosques, which varies slightly from place to place. Next time, I want to visit the local mosques in Kazan, Dagestan, and Chechnya.
For shopping in Vladivostok, perfume and purple gold jewelry are good deals. During Christmas, perfume is discounted to about one-third of the price in China, but the discounts end after New Year's Day.
Here are a few photos of the scenery I took with my phone.
This is the seaside. Although the shallow water is frozen, it is not too cold. The daytime temperature is around minus 8 degrees Celsius, and the nighttime temperature is around minus 15 degrees, which is about the same as Beijing.
Below is a panoramic view of the city taken from the highest point in Vladivostok.
Russian ladies who just came ashore after a winter swim.
In the distance is the lighthouse used as a filming location for the movie Soul Mate (Qiyue yu Ansheng).
A father walks with his son by the sea. I noticed that many Russian families only have one child because the cost of raising kids is a heavy financial burden.
Russia has a very well-developed railway system. I tried it once and it felt very comfortable. Vladivostok station is the end of the Trans-Siberian Railway, which starts in Moscow and is 9,288 kilometers long.
The last train to the airport leaves at 18:00 every day.
The Russian girls in the waiting room all have long legs, big eyes, and high nose bridges.
Finally, here is a photo of me from behind. I found a telescope by the sea that costs 20 rubles to use. You can see Russian warships in the distance because Vladivostok is a Russian military base in the Far East.
Muslim Friendly Singapore 2026: Visa-Free One-Day Food, Mosque Stops & City Route
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-21 10:01
Reposted from the web
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me. view all
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me.
Summary: A Muslim-friendly one-day Singapore travel route for a visa-free layover, covering food, city stops, and mosque-friendly planning while keeping the original travel sequence and photos intact.
My destination was Christchurch. At the time, there were no direct flights from Beijing, so I chose Singapore Airlines with a layover in Singapore. It turned out to be the right choice.
I had a 23-hour layover in Singapore. I checked online and found conflicting information about whether I needed a transit visa or if I could even leave the airport. Once I arrived at Singapore Changi Airport, I walked to customs and asked if I could leave the airport to look around since my final destination was New Zealand. The customs officer looked at my ticket and asked where my passport was issued in China. I said Beijing. He told me they only offer a one-time entry permit for passports from certain regions.
This is the entry stamp that allows a 5-day stay.
The flight attendants wear Singapore Airlines uniforms. As a five-star airline, their food standards are high. Besides main meals, they offer various snacks and desserts, including Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I felt like I was eating throughout the entire flight.
First-time visitors to Changi Airport can pick up a 40 USD shopping voucher at this counter to use at duty-free shops. Don't miss out on this freebie, though there are restrictions on what you can buy.
The prayer room at Changi Airport is like a small mosque with all the necessary facilities.
This is the area for performing wudu (ablution).
About 15% of Singapore's population is Muslim, mostly of Malay descent, followed by Indian and Chinese. Halimah Yacob, who was elected president of Singapore this year, is a Malay Muslim woman.
I always thought Singapore was a tiny country, maybe less than one-twentieth the size of Beijing, so I assumed I could walk around the Lion City. I was wrong.
I walked for about 30 minutes from Changi Airport but realized I couldn't get off the highway. With cars speeding past me, I gave up on the idea of walking to Merlion Park and had to walk back to the airport to catch a taxi. Taxis here are priced similarly to those in Japan; the meter jumps every 400 meters. The 20-minute ride from the airport to Merlion Park cost over 20 Singapore dollars, which is about 100 RMB at a 1:5 exchange rate. The driver was of Chinese descent and spoke Mandarin. He said his ancestors were from Fujian and he could speak English, Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Hokkien. It seems common for Southeast Asian Chinese to know several languages. English and Malay are the common languages on the streets, while Chinese is mostly used within Chinese families. I noticed that even Chinese people use English to send text messages.
The Merlion is the symbol of the Singapore Tourism Board. Its design was inspired by the Malay Annals, as Singapore is a young nation that separated from Malaysia. Legend has it that in the 14th century, a prince from the Srivijaya Kingdom saw a dragon at sea and a lion on the island. He felt a connection with the lion and named the island Singapore, which means Lion City in Sanskrit.
It was already early morning, and dawn was still four or five hours away. I thought about finding a hotel to rest, but after checking the prices, even a half-day stay would cost 500 to 600 RMB. I decided to stay awake and quietly enjoy the Singapore night view.
The iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
I called a taxi and asked the driver to take me to the largest mosque in Singapore, the Sultan Mosque. Southeast Asian Chinese still use the pre-Republic of China term for Islam, calling it 'Hui religion.' They might not understand if you say 'mosque' (qingzhensi), but they know what you mean if you say 'masjid' or 'mosque' (huijiaotang).
I was preparing for the dawn prayer (fajr). I arrived too early and the mosque wasn't open yet, so I sat on a bench outside and waited for a while.
Singapore and Beijing are in the same time zone, so there is no time difference, and the dawn prayer time is the same as in Beijing.
I observed the way the Muslims here pray. They raise their hands three times, which is a characteristic of the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence common in Southeast Asia.
This friend was the first Muslim I met in Singapore. He was a local and very enthusiastically offered to drive me to breakfast.
Owning a private car in Singapore is very expensive because of the license plate, which is only valid for 10 years. Most people take the subway, which is convenient and cheap. The car this dosti (friend) was driving was a company truck.
He brought me to a Muslim neighborhood.
My friend (dosti) invited me to have this flatbread (paratha) for breakfast, and it tasted great dipped in curry sauce.
My friend dropped me off at Little India, a tourist spot where many Indian people live. Before leaving, he gave me a bag of fruit and told me I could eat at any fast-food restaurant in Singapore. He explained that chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut are 100% halal. I just need to avoid the pork rib soup (bak kut teh) shops run by Chinese people because they use pork, but almost everywhere else is fine.
A Hindu temple inside the Little India neighborhood.
Hinduism believes that all things have spirits and animals are seen as gods, so the animals here are not afraid of people.
At the National Museum of Singapore, staff give you a tablet before you enter. It is a self-service audio guide that lets you look up explanations for exhibits by their number at any time.
The museum records Singapore's history under the British Empire and the Empire of Japan. Singapore once belonged to Malaya but was later cast aside, forcing it to choose independence. Under the leadership of founding father Lee Kuan Yew, it transformed from a messy area into a clean, developed country.
Singapore's streets are incredibly clean, even cleaner than Japan's, and chewing gum is banned from entering the country.
Littering and spitting are punished severely. Singapore still uses caning as a punishment, which is considered a key part of maintaining order here.
I happened to find a small mosque on the street. There are a few others like it in Singapore. Although Singapore is small, many different religions live here in peace.
I met a Muslim worker from Bangladesh here. We could talk in English, and he said he wanted to work in Beijing. He asked for my phone number and my family's numbers. I felt it was a bit inappropriate, but I later learned this is just their way of socializing. Their intense friendliness was a bit much for me to handle. After I returned to Beijing, I even got a call from him, but I couldn't hear him clearly so I hung up.
My last stop was Sentosa Park, where I took the world's longest cable car ride to look down at the full view of Singapore.
In the park, I was talked into taking a photo with a large tropical parrot, which cost me 20 Singapore dollars, and I also watched a movie at Universal Studios.
That ended my one-day tour of Singapore. I actually had extra time and it wasn't dark yet. I didn't visit the world's largest aquarium or the night safari. During the day, you can take a free sightseeing bus from the airport to tour the city. But for me, since I was just passing through, I had seen enough. My next stop, New Zealand, is the real destination of my trip, where even more beautiful scenery and amazing stories are waiting for me.
Best Halal Food in Hainan: Haikou and Sanya Muslim Restaurants, Seafood and Local Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 24 views • 2026-05-21 08:42
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food. view all
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food.
Summary: This Hainan halal food map follows Haikou, Sanya, Huihui Village, seafood, Muslim restaurants, and island food stops while keeping the original places and photos in order.
Hainan has seven mosques in total. There is one in Haikou, two in Huixin Village in Sanya, and four in Huihui Village. Hainan's Muslims are mainly concentrated in Huixin and Huihui villages. These Muslims are long-term local residents who are relatively wealthy in Hainan. They value their faith deeply, seek blessings in both this life and the next, and serve as a model for Muslims across China.
1. Halal beef hot pot
You cannot miss seafood when visiting Hainan. There are not many halal restaurants in Haikou, so this halal hot pot shop is a great choice for your first meal in Hainan.
They offer individual small pots, which are perfect for solo travelers, though large pots are also available.
Since it is a beef hot pot shop, you should try their beef.
Cook the scallops in the hot pot. A quick dip in the hot soup makes them just right to eat.
A pair of large shrimp is enough for one person.
Seafood alone might not fill you up, so I recommend the steamed buns (baozi) here. They have lamb filling and vegetable filling. I chose the lamb, and after finishing, I told the server the buns were great. The server said the vegetable ones are also delicious.
Address: No. 98-8 Longkun South Road, Longhua District, Haikou City (diagonally opposite the Provincial High Court, 100 meters in front of the 187 Hospital, and 500 meters from the high-speed railway station).
2. Haikou Mosque
Haikou currently has only this one mosque, and it is still under construction. The prayer hall is a temporary structure. At the entrance of the mosque, there is a noodle shop and a baked flatbread (nang) shop run by Uyghurs. If you are in a hurry, you can eat here. Crossing the street from here leads to the Haikou High-Speed Railway Station.
Address: No. 30 Fengxiang West Road, Qiongshan District, Haikou City.
Huixin Village
3. Yilanxinge Restaurant
This is a halal Western-style restaurant with a nice atmosphere, and they also serve hot pot on the second floor.
Address: South side of Huixin Village Road.
4. Huixin Village Hong Kong-style Drink Bar
Located inside Huixin Village near the South Mosque (Nanda Si), this place sells not only homemade drinks but also snacks.
A pretty Huixin girl makes octopus balls (takoyaki).
The packaging box is very cute.
I had only seen non-halal octopus balls before and had never eaten them, so this was a chance to satisfy my craving.
Actually, I want to highlight their passion fruit tea. The young girl cuts two passion fruits, pours the pulp into a cup, adds a few slices of fresh lemon, squeezes out the juice, and adds ice. In the hot Sanya weather, holding a cup of iced passion fruit tea is refreshing and thirst-quenching. All the ingredients are natural with no additives. I came here to buy a cup almost every day, and a large one is only 8 yuan.
5. Daguangming Barbecue Snack Shop
There are several small shops selling seafood barbecue in Huixin Village. I chose this one because it was nearby, and I assume the taste is quite similar.
There is all kinds of seafood here, including sea cucumber, conch meat, sea shrimp, and sea fish, plus some vegetables. The prices are very cheap, so I do not worry about being overcharged when eating seafood here.
I cannot remember the individual prices, but I spent a total of over 30 yuan and got to taste all kinds of fresh seafood.
Pineapple rice (boluofan) is a Hainan specialty snack made by steaming glutinous rice with pineapple and adding goji berries. Some shops use the pineapple shell as a bowl to make it look better.
It was Jumu (Friday prayer) that day, and it happened to be the first Jumu held at the newly built Huixin Village South Mosque. The main hall was packed with people coming for namaz. After the prayer, you can receive sticky rice cakes (nuomibing) given out as duosi at the mosque gate. This is also a Hainan snack, and the black sesame filling is delicious.
Huihui Village
6. Fenghuang Yueju Restaurant
Most restaurants in Huihui Village are located along Huihui Road. This one is on the south side of the road and is a halal restaurant serving Hainan-style food run by locals.
One of the more famous Hainan snacks is beef bone noodle soup (niugufen tang), which features a large piece of meaty beef bone under the noodles.
7. Yuxiang Hot Pot
It is hard to find Sichuan-style halal hot pot after leaving Sichuan. If you find seafood too bland, you can come here to try it.
8. Xining Saisai Private Kitchen
Located next to the old mosque in Huihui Village. I did not eat here, but I was curious because halal private kitchens are quite rare.
9. Huihui Old Restaurant
This is a Hainan-style restaurant. Fresh fish soup and coconut rice (yezi fan) are both local specialties. Coconut rice is not sold individually; it is a complimentary item when you order other dishes.
10. Fenghuang First Seafood Food City
That is the name of the place. Fenghuang refers to Fenghuang Town, where both Huixin Village and Huihui Village are located. The seafood is all fresh, and there are many kinds I cannot even name.
Qinghui—you can tell at a glance that this is a halal tableware brand from Huihui Village.
I also tasted the fresh fish soup. They prepared one spotted fish in two ways: part of it was steamed, and the rest was made into fish soup. The soup was indeed very fresh.
The spotted fish is expensive for a reason; the meat is tender and has no bones.
Spicy crab—I do not remember the name of the crab, only that it was very expensive, costing over 100 yuan for a single catty.
This is called winged bean (sijiaodou), a specialty vegetable in Hainan. It has a good texture and tastes crunchy.
Address: No. 348 Fenghuang Road
11. Aijiayi
Leaving Fenghuang Town, it is time to head to the scenic spots. Huixin Village is not far from Sanya Bay and Dadonghai. This Hainan-style restaurant is near Dadonghai Square.
This place sells Wenchang chicken (Wenchang ji), a specialty from Hainan. Wenchang is a place name in Hainan, and the owner is from Huixin Village and is very welcoming.
12. Yalong Bay Halal Food Street
You do not need to worry about finding food while traveling in Sanya. Every popular tourist spot has a halal restaurant.
Yalong Bay is a beautiful part of Sanya with many tourists. A pleasant surprise is that there is a halal food street right near the public beach.
Sanya is really hot during the day in winter. Seeing these fresh tropical fruits makes me want to eat them right away. Holding a coconut drink while sunbathing on the beach is great. Coconuts are 15 yuan each, which is a bit more expensive than in Malaysia.
13. Wuzhizhou Island
Wuzhizhou Island is the most beautiful island in Sanya. If you are short on time, you can just come here, as other beaches do not look as good as Wuzhizhou Island.
There is also a halal restaurant on the island that sells various snacks.
The prices are a bit high because everything on the island is expensive. I suggest you prepare food and drinks before you get on the island.
This covers the main halal food options in Hainan. By the way, regarding accommodation, renting a place in Sanya is very cheap. Muslims can choose to stay in Huixin Village or Huihui Village. A room costs only a few hundred yuan per month. Many Muslims from Northwest China come here to spend the winter. The temperature in Sanya is over 20 degrees in winter, and the air is fresh and humid. Staying in the village for a month or two does not cost much in rent, and it is easy to find food.
Best Halal Food in Malaysia: Muslim-Friendly Restaurants, Satay and Local Food Map
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 28 views • 2026-05-21 08:41
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus. view all
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus.
Summary: This Malaysia halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, local dishes, satay, seafood, and practical dining notes while keeping the places, food names, and photos from the Chinese source.
Malaysia is an Islamic country filled with halal restaurants. In fact, Malaysia pioneered the international halal certification standards used today, so it is actually quite hard to find a non-halal restaurant there.
1. McDonald's
I have never eaten at a halal McDonald's back home, so I had to try it in Malaysia. Fast food chains like McDonald's in Malaysia are all halal. Even in neighboring Singapore, famous chains like McDonald's and KFC are 100% halal, so Muslims can eat there with peace of mind.
Even monks eat at McDonald's there.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Airport, Petronas Twin Towers
2. Sabah Night Market
No matter where I go, I love visiting local markets to experience daily life. The food at these markets is authentic and cheap. This market is in Sabah state. You do not need a map; just follow the crowds and you will find it.
This is a common Southeast Asian stir-fried noodle dish with chicken. It costs just a few dollars, and Malaysians eat it with their hands.
This pot is not for vinegar. Muslims will recognize it as a water pitcher (tangping). On Malaysian tables, it is used for washing hands because people eat with their fingers.
Seafood in this island nation is fresh and cheap. This pair of large prawns cost less than 30 yuan.
Lamb is rare in Malaysia, so enjoy the fish instead.
This is coconut pudding. I rarely see it elsewhere. It costs 4 Malaysian ringgit each.
If you want to learn to eat with your hands like a Malaysian, remember to use your right hand, as the left hand is used by Muslims for personal hygiene.
Address: Kota Kinabalu
2. Northwest Hand-Pulled Noodle Shop
When traveling, I avoid hand-pulled noodles (lamian) unless I have no other choice because I eat them too often at home. This shop is worth mentioning because it is the first time I have seen a lamian shop abroad.
The sign saying 'This shop is halal, please do not bring outside food' felt very familiar.
I did not go in to eat, but I wanted to record it. The owners of these shops have brought lamian all over the world. In some small cities in southern China, finding a halal lamian shop is something to be very grateful for.
Address: Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen
3. Indian Flatbread (roti canai)
These small street stalls are common in Southeast Asia, and the owners are mostly from India or Pakistan.
You can have this flatbread for breakfast. Tear it with your hands and dip it in the sauce.
Address: Jalan Ikan Juara 1
4. Japanese Dream Food
Because of Japan's history of colonizing Malaysia, some traces remain, and you can find many Japanese restaurants in Malaysia.
Mango pudding
This Japanese restaurant in Sabah is the first halal Japanese place I have ever eaten at.
A famous Japanese dish, thick wheat noodles (udon).
Sushi, which is halal so you can eat it with peace of mind.
Fresh salmon sashimi
Pacific saury (sanma), also a famous Japanese food.
You rarely see halal Japanese food in China. Before the first halal Japanese restaurant, Hefeng Zhi Yan, opened in Beijing, I had to go to Tianjin if I wanted to eat Japanese food.
Address: Lot No 36, Palm Square 4th Floor Center Point, 88000, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
5. NANDOS
This is a chain of roast chicken restaurants. The chicken in Malaysia tastes very different from the chicken in mainland China.
Address: There are many branches in Kuala Lumpur, found in large shopping malls like KLCC and Pavilion.
6. YUSOOF DAN
An Indian snack shop.
Seafood fried rice. I guess they gave us a spoon because they saw we were foreigners.
Seafood fried noodles
Beef and fried chicken. Actually, there are not many types of dishes in Southeast Asia, and the flavors are quite simple.
Address: Kuala Lumpur Central Market
7. SUSHI KING
Many restaurants in Malaysia are labeled "pork free," which means they don't serve pork. Even if the meat is halal, they might still sell alcohol. To get a halal certification in Malaysia, a restaurant must be alcohol-free. This Japanese restaurant has a halal certification.
Conveyor belt sushi, take what you want as you eat.
This is a dessert made from eggs.
Fish roe (caviar)
I can never get enough sushi.
Address: Sushi King @ Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, Jalan Universiti, Seksyen 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
8. Arabic flatbread (khubz).
Many Arabs have moved to Malaysia for work. They share the same faith, which makes daily life easier. More importantly, the political situation is stable. Southeast Asia's economy has grown quickly in recent years, creating many jobs. Malaysia is also an international Islamic finance hub, which is attractive to Hui Muslims from China as well.
This Arabic flatbread (khubz) served with fries and beef is delicious when rolled up. The servers are all Arab. I even saw them get up to perform namaz during prayer time, which makes me feel more comfortable eating at this restaurant.
Address: The row of shops at the bottom of the UCSI University South Wing campus.
Best Halal Food in Japan: Muslim-Friendly Restaurants, Ramen and Travel Food Map
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 20 views • 2026-05-21 08:28
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Summary: This Japan halal food map gathers Muslim-friendly restaurants, ramen, travel food stops, and practical halal dining notes for readers planning food-focused trips in Japan.
You can find halal restaurants in almost every Japanese city. Halal food in Japan is mostly Indian-Pakistani and Turkish cuisine. There are also Japanese restaurants run by local Muslims, noodle shops run by Hui Muslims from Northwest China, and of course, Xinjiang restaurants.
1. Mount Fuji Indian Cuisine
This is an Indian restaurant very close to Lake Kawaguchi. Note that Mount Fuji is a fair distance from Fuji City, so be careful not to get them mixed up when searching on a map.
Address: Google Maps does not work well in China. I suggest using Google Maps to search for "インドレストラン" once you arrive at the foot of Mount Fuji.
2. Niku no Hanamasa Tsukuba Branch
This store is in Tsukuba, a science city in Ibaraki Prefecture. There are many Muslims here, and you can buy halal meat at this supermarket. This is the halal chicken my Japanese friend bought. My friend specifically prepared a home-cooked Japanese meal for me using halal ingredients.
If you want to eat this, make a Japanese friend to cook it for you.
Address: 305-0834 309-7 Teshirogi, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Website: http://www.hanamasa.co.jp/shop/index_en.html
2. Tokyo Indian-Pakistani Cuisine
Many Indian-Pakistani restaurants in Tokyo are halal. For Muslims abroad, Indian-Pakistani food is like ramen for Muslims in China. When you are in a strange country and cannot find a halal restaurant, try searching for an Indian-Pakistani or Turkish restaurant. These are very likely to be halal.
Address: 4-chome, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
3. Sumiyakiya Nishi-Azabu Main Store
Grilled meat is also a popular way to eat in Japan.
The diners inside look like they are from the Middle East.
Complimentary kimchi.
The most reassuring thing about eating in Japan is that the ingredients are guaranteed to be fresh.
This is a bit like a combination of scallion pancake (cong huabing) and grilled cornmeal bun (wo tou).
The meat is marinated.
This is the grilled lamb, served directly. It is rare to find lamb in Japan.
Address: 3-20-16 Nishi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo
4. Kebab
Turkish kebab is a type of fast food that students studying abroad are familiar with; it is convenient and delicious. The server at this shop is Turkish, but he calls out in Japanese. It felt strange to hear a white face speaking Japanese for the first time.
Maybe I was just hungry, but I ate two in one go. Turkish kebab (doner kebab) has saved the stomachs of so many international students.
Address: Ueno Shopping Street, Taito Ward, Tokyo.
5. Yokohama: Kissho Wagyu Hot Pot.
I actually found halal Japanese Wagyu beef in Yokohama. I have to thank Sister Amina for the treat, or I would have missed out on such delicious food.
Kissho Wagyu beef with clear marbling.
Fresh vegetables. The types of vegetables here are the same as in China.
The Japanese people are experts at eating raw food, so sashimi is naturally a must.
Don't let the small portion size fool you; this dessert is made with great care. Japan has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, which shows the deep culinary skill of the Japanese. To the average diner, dishes at Michelin restaurants might look plain, but the selection of ingredients and the processing methods reflect years of the chef's hard work.
This is a screenshot of the website. Remember to call and book in advance so the shop can prepare fresh halal Wagyu beef.
Address:
Landmark Plaza 5F, 2-2-1 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Website: www.kioicho-kissho.com/yokohama/menu/index.html
6. Kerimu Xinjiang Restaurant.
This is a Xinjiang restaurant that every Xinjiang person coming to Japan must visit. The owner is a Uyghur from Northern Xinjiang, and his whole family has immigrated to Japan.
The server is also a Uyghur girl.
The taste of the grilled meat is not much different from what you get in Xinjiang.
The mung bean jelly (liangfen) has been modified. Japanese people cannot eat food that is too spicy, while Xinjiang-style cold noodles (liangpi) are usually spicier.
I was surprised to find dumplings (jiaozi) at a Xinjiang restaurant in Tokyo.
The hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi) have been Japanized. The portion is half of what you get in Xinjiang, but the taste remains the same.
Address: 1F Nishi-Shinjuku Bar Building, 3-15-8-103 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
There are many more halal restaurants in Tokyo, but I only chose to feature the ones I took photos of. Therefore, the following two restaurants do not have pictures, but here are some specialty restaurants that friends have visited:
7. Mongolian Meat Pie.
Address: 5F, Shinto Building, 2-14-7 Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
8. Japanese ramen
Address: 1-11-7 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.
Website: http://www.m-ouka.jp/sp/access/index.html
9. Iftar meal
My time in Japan happened to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when mosques in Tokyo prepare iftar meals for fellow Muslims (dosti).
This is Indian-Pakistani style rice pilaf (biryani). Pakistanis eat it with their hands, but I prefer a spoon. When traveling, I first find the local mosque to get information about halal restaurants. You can find mosques easily on Google Maps.
Address: Tokyo Okachimachi Mosque, Tokyo Camii.
10. Nagoya: Asian cuisine
Asian means Asian, but this place actually serves South Asian flavors. The servers are from Nepal.
Influenced by Japanese habits, restaurants in Japan are kept very clean and tidy.
The Nepali brother spoke English with a heavy accent. I couldn't tell where he was from for a long time, until he said his country is between China and India, and then it clicked.
He knew I was from China and asked if I wanted to eat momo. I was confused, so he brought a picture from the back, and I realized they call dumplings momo.
Fresh vegetable salad. Foreigners like to eat raw vegetables. Right, I am a foreigner in Japan too...
This is a set meal. Ordering a set at a South Asian restaurant usually means getting these items: a soup, a beef or chicken dish, a flatbread (naan), and a bowl of rice.
11. Osaka Mosque
A Pakistani man I met at the mosque brought me to a halal restaurant across the street.
This is a mango milkshake (lassi) a fellow Muslim (dosti) gave me.
As usual, I had a set meal. The rice here is very fragrant; the quality of Japanese rice is excellent.
A very small vegetable salad. Portions in Japan are quite small, which is fine because it prevents waste.
Address: Opposite Osaka Mosque, right next door (Baidu Maps is not convenient, and Google is blocked, but you can use Google Maps once you are in Japan).
12. Kyoto: Turkish restaurant
I followed Google Maps to find this Turkish restaurant in downtown Kyoto.
The upstairs area is decorated in a Turkish style.
The shop is very clean and tidy.
The dishes are served in order, starting with cold appetizers.
Next comes the creamy soup.
I ordered a piece of baked flatbread (naan) as the main staple, as is customary.
Turkish and Middle Eastern grilled meats are served with roasted tomatoes and green peppers to cut through the richness.
Dessert is served after the meal.
Turkish coffee is very famous. European coffee culture originated in Africa and spread to the West through the Ottoman Empire.
Address: Once you arrive in Kyoto, search for "トルコ" on Google Maps.
13. Genghis Khan barbecue (jingjisihan kaorou)
A Japanese friend introduced me to this barbecue restaurant run by a Japanese Muslim. It is said they sell halal food, but I have not eaten there yet.
If you are interested in trying it, please remember to come back and share your thoughts with me.
Address: 3-19-6 Kandatsuchuo, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture 300-0011 (3 minutes by car from JR Joban Line Kandatsu Station).
Website: http://www.hitsujinokoya.jp/info/index.html
Best Halal Food in Phuket: Thai Muslim Restaurants, Seafood and Local Food Map
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-21 08:19
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes. view all
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes.
Summary: This Phuket halal food map covers Thai Muslim restaurants, seafood, local snacks, and Muslim-friendly food stops across Phuket, preserving the names, places, and dishes from the Chinese source.
1. Halal Dirham Restaurant
Dirham is the currency unit of Middle Eastern countries. Most tourists on Phuket are white. When I went in January, I felt that more than half the people on the street were white, mostly from Russia and Australia. There are also many Arabs from Middle Eastern countries, so it is very easy to find halal restaurants on Phuket. You can usually walk into any shop where the servers wear headscarves and eat with peace of mind.
The halal restaurants on the island mainly serve Middle Eastern Arab food and Indian-Pakistani cuisine, but these restaurants also make Thai food. For Middle Eastern food, I recommend Lebanese cuisine, which is a blend of Eastern and Western cultures.
There is also plenty of halal Thai food. Phuket is in southwestern Thailand, near Malaysia. Since Thailand's Muslims are mainly concentrated in the south, you do not need to worry about food on the island.
Address: 73/3 Moo 3, Soi Ao Bang Tao 2, Bang Tao, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand.
2. Huangmiao Lane Night Market
There are many night markets on Phuket. Each one has quite a few Muslim stalls with vendors wearing headscarves. If you walk up and say "Assalamu Alaikum," it will immediately bring you closer.
Phuket in January is as hot as summer, so fruit becomes the most popular appetizer. This is mango with sticky rice.
I bought some unknown fruit at the night market. I still don't know what it is called. If you recognize it, please leave a comment.
In my experience, unusual fruits usually do not taste very good. Just try a little for the experience, and definitely do not buy too much of a fruit you have never eaten before.
You must eat these small pineapples that are so sweet you need to drink water afterward. It is not easy to find them once you return home.
I will call this pretty girl the "Pancake Beauty." The pancake she made is called jianbing in China. It was banana-flavored and especially delicious. I can still recall her smiling face when I said "Assalamu Alaikum" to her. I went back to this street later to look for her, but I never found her again.
The durian-flavored ice cream sold in Thai convenience stores is also halal.
Address: Huangmiao Lane in the city center. I am not sure if the translation is correct, but the location is roughly south of the shopping center and not far from Patong Beach. Halal restaurants are very concentrated within a 2-kilometer radius of this area.
3. Seafood Restaurant
Since this restaurant has no name, I will call it Seafood Restaurant. I didn't dare go in the first time I passed by, but later when I passed by again, I saw the server wearing a headscarf, so I went in to ask. It was indeed a halal restaurant.
A beautiful Muslim woman with a Southeast Asian face.
Vegetable salad.
Squid rice.
When the owner learned we were Muslims from China, they gave us a free grilled fish. The white stuff on the fish is salt.
Stir-fried seafood, light and refreshing.
This is the biggest mantis shrimp I have ever eaten. One shrimp took up the whole plate.
Address: Because the restaurant has no sign, the approximate location is not far from the Hard Rock Cafe, Ruamjai Road, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Phuket, 83150.
4. Basha Restaurant
Looking at the national flag, I knew it was Pakistani cuisine, and the diners were all sitting outside.
A table of Europeans sat next to us, singing and shouting. Foreigners can be loud when they eat too, but here in Phuket, everyone is a foreigner.
I ordered a grilled chicken steak with french fries, garnished with a vegetable salad on the side.
Address: I couldn't find it on the map. The restaurant is on the east side of Patong Beach, right next to a night market. Phuket isn't very big, so you can find it by following the busy roads.
5. Alaha Din Indian Food
This is an Indian restaurant.
The weather was hot, so I really wanted some chilled coconut juice.
Would you call this Indian-style stir-fried shrimp?
Indian-style stir-fried three fresh vegetables (di san xian).
My friend insisted on eating light stir-fried dishes, so I had to accommodate them.
I love eating sea fish. Seafood is cheap in Thailand, so I eat it whenever I get the chance.
Address: 83150, 143/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
6. The Lebanese Restaurant
This is a Lebanese halal restaurant. Lebanon is half Muslim and half Christian. For Muslims, beef and lamb prepared by Christians is also acceptable to eat.
This restaurant is also open-air with no outer walls, and it is right next to a Muay Thai gym.
Pineapple fried rice is a famous Southeast Asian dish. Thai pineapples, especially the small ones, are sweet. Pineapples are used for many things here; the shell can be used to steam rice, letting the pineapple aroma soak into the grains.
Seafood vegetable salad.
In Thailand, you can just drink coconut water instead of water. If there is coconut water, I won't drink other beverages because I find it refreshing and thirst-quenching.
Fried onion rings, coated in batter.
Address: 5 6 83150, 210 5/6 Thanon Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150
7. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are a famous Thai vacation spot and are said to be one of the ten most beautiful islands in the world. Even more surprisingly, Phi Phi is a halal island. The residents living on the island are all Muslims, and the food is all halal. The tour guide will remind you of this before you arrive.
The seawater at Phi Phi is clear and blue, perfect for snorkeling, where you can see a beautiful underwater world.
For the buffet restaurant on the island, if you book a local one-day tour in Phuket, it costs less than 300 RMB per person. The price includes round-trip transfers, the boat, snorkeling, and meals on the island, which is quite a good deal.
This is definitely a halal canteen, so dig in and enjoy.
The island residents mainly eat chicken and fish.
Address: Take a boat from Phuket Island and arrive in about 40 minutes.
Halal Food Guide: Beijing - 10 Muslim Restaurants Worth Trying, Part Six
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 38 views • 2026-05-21 02:36
Reposted from the web
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ. view all
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ.
Summary: This sixth Beijing halal food list covers ten Muslim-friendly restaurants, including Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine and several local Beijing dining stops. It preserves the source's restaurant names, dishes, prices where given, food details, service notes, and photographs.
Hongyunlou Huaiyang Cuisine
The old Hongyunlou shop in Hujialou has reopened. The first floor serves hot pot, and the second floor focuses on Huaiyang cuisine. There are few seats, but they arranged a private room for us right away, and the service was quite good.
We bought a set meal for four people, which included four braised pufferfish (hetun), steamed Taihu whitefish (taihu bai), garlic bamboo forest chicken (zhulin ji), boiled shredded tofu (dazhu gansi), stir-fried vegetable hearts, mixed salad, and plain noodles (yangchun mian). We also ordered two extra fish meat lion's head meatballs (shizitou).
The people with me were eating pufferfish for the first time. We had tried it once before at Muyuan Restaurant in Zhenjiang, and I didn't expect to find it in Beijing. Their pufferfish is very well-made. The sauce goes great with rice, the fish skin is soft, chewy, and full of collagen, and the tiny spines have a grainy texture that is fun to eat. The meat inside is soft and tender with a very fresh flavor. The fish liver served on the side has a strong fishy smell, so don't eat it if you don't like that.
The meat of the Taihu whitefish is also good. Steaming it keeps the original flavor, though river fish have many small bones. The bamboo forest chicken is pan-seared with black truffles. The meat is very tender, and the kids loved it. The cooked garlic cloves are soft and sticky, which is also quite tasty. Boiled shredded tofu is a classic Huaiyang dish. We have eaten it many times in Yangzhou, and this place makes it very well. It is cooked in chicken broth and tastes very fresh. The shredded tofu is not the hard kind found in the north; it is cut very thin, just like what we had in Yangzhou.
The plain noodles are likely cooked in chicken broth too. They taste good and are not hard, but you should eat them quickly after they are served so they don't dry out.
Lion's head meatballs are a classic Huaiyang dish. I only knew about the version for the general public before, but this time I learned there is also a fish version. I looked it up and it is not their original creation; it is just another way to make lion's head meatballs. To make fish lion's head meatballs, you mince the fish into a paste, add egg white and salt to make it firm, then add diced water chestnuts and starch. When making them, you slap the fish paste into balls and steam them over high heat. When you eat them, the fish is soft and smooth, and the water chestnuts are crunchy.
The only downside is that the mixed salad must have been taken straight out of the refrigerator; it was way too cold to eat in winter.
Sanhe Beef Noodles
A new small restaurant run by Hui Muslims has opened at the west entrance of Dongsi 7th Alley. The owner is from Dezhou, Shandong. It is a quiet place with no alcohol, and the kitchen is clean.
They specialize in beef noodles with old-pot stewed meat and beef pies (niurou bing). Beef noodles are 18 yuan, and with extra meat, they are 22 yuan. The taste is very authentic and on the salty side. The beef pies come in three fillings: beef and green onion, chives, and fennel. They are wrapped and pan-fried to order. We had the fennel one. The crust is dry and crispy, with a richer texture than Jingdong meat pies. The filling is neither greasy nor salty, and it tastes great with the free millet porridge (xiaomizhou). I also tried their deep-fried vegetable balls (suwanzi), and they tasted pretty good too. They are serving breakfast for the next two days, so I will go back to try it when I pass by.
JM Coffee and Bakery Daji Lane Branch
JM is a coffee and bakery chain opened in Beijing by Xinjiang Dosti. They have shops in major business districts like Niujie, Dongsi, Beiluoguxiang, and Tuanjiehu. The Daji Lane branch specializes in pizza, while the Niujie branch focuses on hot dogs.
I was surprised to find big plate chicken (dapanji) pizza at the JM Daji Lane branch; it really lives up to being a shop opened by Xinjiang Dosti. The big plate chicken uses Anjihai chili skins (lapizi) flown in by air, which are spicy with a hint of sweetness and taste very authentic. The only pity is that they use chicken chunks instead of stir-frying the whole chicken like they do back home in Xinjiang.
We also ate Korean-style spicy cream shrimp pasta and fried chicken. The pasta came with plenty of shrimp, and the cream sauce was very rich. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly, and I liked it a lot.
I also tried their pour-over coffee, and it tasted quite good. However, it is very crowded on weekends and not really a place for a quiet coffee; it is probably better on weekdays.
Wanhe Fatty Beef
The popular Wanhe Fatty Beef from Nanguan in Lanzhou has opened a branch in Dongsi, Beijing! It is right above Ziguangyuan in Longfusi, and there is an elevator that goes straight up. The new shop only opened at the end of November. We went during the trial period, but there were already quite a few people.
They specialize in small pots of fatty beef, but we ordered the Northwest warm pot (nuanguo), which is served ready-cooked in a charcoal-heated copper pot. Besides the traditional hot pot ingredients like meatballs, meat slices, and cabbage at the bottom, their warm pot has a rich variety of items, including tofu, fish balls, fish tofu, quail eggs, potato slices, Dingxi wide noodles (kuanfen), black fungus, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. The meatballs inside are very authentic, just like the taste of home in the Northwest.
The warm pot set also includes Lanzhou spicy meat skewers, roasted eggplant, and eight-treasure tea (babaotea). For the staple food, you can choose small fried dough (youxiang). Three adults and one child were very full. Later, we ordered Hezhou steamed buns (baozi). The beef and carrot filling was very authentic, just like what we ate in Hezhou.
Let me mention some shortcomings. Their service is quite good, but because it is newly opened, things are a bit chaotic. They put too little charcoal in the warm pot, so it wouldn't boil at all, and after they added more charcoal, it kept smoking and releasing ash. The hand-beaten beef balls were not good. They lacked chewiness because they were not pounded enough. We packed the leftovers and stir-fried the meat at home the next day.
Xiangqing Roast Duck
At noon, we went to Xiangqing Roast Duck next to Changhong Bridge and ordered half a roast duck, soybean paste noodles (zhajiangmian), corn with pine nuts (songren yumi), and nail-shaped meat pies (mending roubing). The restaurant faces Changhong Bridge directly. The large windows let in great sunlight in the afternoon, making it perfect for soaking up the sun in winter!
Little Suleiman liked the roast duck and the corn with pine nuts. The duck was a bit dry, but it wasn't greasy, so it was fine. The lotus leaf pancakes (heye bing) should be served with an alcohol lamp underneath, otherwise they get cold very quickly.
The corn with pine nuts had very few pine nuts, but they gave us a huge plate of corn.
The noodles in the soybean paste noodles were not good. They were not chewy at all and were very disappointing. I won't order them again.
My father-in-law ate the nail-shaped meat pie. He said it tasted good, the crust was thin, and there were no hard bits inside.
Culture Pakistani Restaurant
On Saturday at noon, we had curry at Culture, a new Pakistani restaurant that opened this year in Sanlitun SOHO. The long-standing Pakistani restaurant Khan Baba is in this same building. It used to be on the 5th floor but moved down to the 2nd floor, which is the same floor as Culture. Taiba Middle Eastern restaurant is downstairs. Sanlitun SOHO now has three Pakistani restaurants—Khan Baba, Ahmed, and Culture—plus one Indian halal restaurant called Dastan. The options are really getting better.
We ordered the set meal for two, which included fried fish, Karhai chicken curry, vegetable curry, lamb biryani rice, vegetable salad, crispy pani puri balls, plain roti flatbread, pudding, and two glasses of sweet lassi yogurt drink. The set meal for two is a great value, but most of the food is spicy and not suitable for children. They gave us a huge pot of biryani rice. It is the largest portion I have ever had in Beijing.
The curry is very spicy. Karhai curry originated near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Karahi refers to the iron wok used to stew the curry, which can also be flipped over to cook roti flatbread. The difference between Karhai curry and other curries is that it doesn't use onions. Instead, it uses tomatoes, ginger, garlic, green peppers, and cilantro as ingredients.
Their roti flatbread is delicious and very fragrant since it is made to order. The lassi yogurt drink was not very sour and was quite sweet.
Firenze Italian Restaurant
We took the kids out in Tongzhou on the weekend and ate at Firenze Italian restaurant in Tongzhou Beiguan in the afternoon. The chef is Pakistani, and the restaurant specializes in pizza, pasta, and Pakistani dishes. They also have a simple Pakistani buffet for lunch and dinner.
We ordered a snack platter, beef cheese pizza, and basil pesto pasta. The kids eat beef pasta often, so they really liked the change to basil pesto. They are generous with the cheese on their pizza, and both the beef and the crust have a great texture. Before leaving, we bought chicken sandwiches to eat on the big lawn at the nearby North Canal Greenway, which was very relaxing.
Dashuntang on Niujie Street
We had a dinner gathering at Dashuntang on Niujie Street. We ate almond tofu (xingren doufu), sugar-rolled fruit (tang juanguo), fried meat pockets (zha huitou), stir-fried beef with vinegar (culiu muxu), braised meat strips (ba routiao), roast duck, honey-glazed lamb (ta simi), fermented bean curd (ma doufu), and sesame lamb. Everything was delicious, especially the sesame lamb, which is hard to find with such a tender, non-chewy texture these days. The skin of the fried meat pockets is made with hot water dough, which is very different from the ones in Tianjin or Northeast China and has a unique character.
Their dishes have the distinct flavor of traditional halal banquets, making it feel like attending a religious celebration at a mosque. This is one of the restaurants where Hui Muslims from Niujie often go for religious gatherings (nietie), but because they do not do marketing or promotion, and young people do not care for traditional halal banquet dishes, there are very few walk-in customers now.
Dashuntang was opened by the Liang family of Niujie, known as Dashuntang Liang. It is said the Liang family originally came from Nanjing, where their ancestors were military cooks. They came to Beijing with the Prince of Yan in the early Ming Dynasty, and the name Dashuntang was bestowed by the Prince of Yan, Zhu Di. During the Qing Dynasty, the Liang family continued to work as cooks, so they were also called Chef Liang (chuzi liang).
Zhenweizhai Tianjin Cuisine
We went for lunch at the newly opened branch of the old Tianjin Northwest Corner shop, Zhenweizhai, at Yangqiao on the South Third Ring Road. Their original shop in Tianjin is right at the corner of the Northwest Corner, and I used to pass by it often.
We ordered the classic Tianjin dishes: stir-fried lamb trio (lao bao san), creamy mixed seafood (naizhi quanbao), stir-fried vegetables with cashews (yaoguo quansu), and silver thread rolls (yinsi juan). First, their portions are huge; we couldn't finish it all, so we packed it up and had it for dinner. Second, their food is salty, so if you bring children, tell the server to make it lighter.
The stir-fried lamb trio consists of lamb meat, liver, and kidney. It is a typical dish that goes well with rice, and I ate two bowls. Their version has a strong garlic flavor. I think it is fine, but friends (dost) who do not like strong garlic might not be used to it.
The creamy mixed seafood includes fish chunks, shrimp, scallops, squid, and chicken gizzards. This dish is more approachable for non-locals than soy-sauce-based stir-fries, and my wife and son both liked it. The only thing is that the fish chunks occasionally have bones, so be careful when feeding children.
I often order the stir-fried vegetables with cashews. The mix of vegetables is healthy, and the cashews are a big hit with the kids.
The silver thread rolls are basically buns filled with noodles. It is a fun, new experience for the kids.
Dardanelles kids' meal.
I brought Suleiman to Ritan Upper Street for a meal. My son really wanted to eat at Dardanelles, and since we hadn't been there in a long time, we went to have some Turkish/Azerbaijani food.
We ordered Azerbaijani beef pilaf (pilov), a cheese platter, a kids' meal, salty yogurt drink (ayran), and sesame flatbread (simit). The restaurant also gave Suleiman a free milk pudding. The Azerbaijani pilaf is sweet and contains dried apricots, raisins, and sour plums. I had it before in Baku, and this place makes it very authentic. The cheese platter includes salty cheese cubes, plain cheese cubes, and cheese balls, served with bread and grapes. It is perfect for a tea snack. The kids' meal features a cheese toast, along with french fries, pumpkin porridge, vegetable rolls, and other items. It is very filling. The yogurt flavor in the ayran is very strong, and I love drinking it.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Pakistani restaurant Lahore Courtyard, Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles Maimairehong, halal Mongolian food Hulun Aile, West African Ghana Tribe Garden, Xi'an Xing Laosi meatball spicy soup, Xinjiang Changji Jinying meatball soup, Xinjiang Hotan Canteen, Syrian BRBR, Beijing fusion food Gulou Chimian, and Beijing traditional food Xilaisun.
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): UAE restaurant Gulf Mandi Restaurant, Xinjiang Mansion Xihan meatball soup, Xinjiang Mansion lobby Altay afternoon tea, Muhejia revolving hot pot, Xinjiang Urumqi Nazilan (closed), Beijing pastry shop Baoyuanzhai (closed), Pakistani Samosa China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant, Ma Ye Roast Duck, Bangladeshi Benjiebi Restaurant, and Huairou Shihu Cheng Resort.
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee Dongsi branch, halal Hunan food Huixiangyun Xiaochao Wangjing branch (closed), Shandong Dezhou Lao Ma Jia lamb soup and steamed dumplings, Sanlitun Philly cheesesteak, Pakistani Roma Restaurant, Muyuzhai garlic lamb intestines, Inner Mongolia Lianying steamed dumplings (shaomai) Caoyuan Shiliuhong, Wangfujing Gansu spicy hot pot (malatang), and Yuezhen Yayuan halal courtyard restaurant.
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf Yizhuang branch, Taiba Western-style bakery, Taiba South Sanlitun Road street shop, Zhaotong small meat skewers Guijie Ganmaya BBQ, Bai Xiaobei Heilongjiang BBQ, Yunnan Muwenzhai dry-pot beef, Sanlitun Xinjiang restaurant Jiangjiang, Huixiangyun halal Hunan restaurant Zuojiazhuang branch, Yili ice cream shop Bazaar Sweetheart, and Dongzhimennei Qianyuan Hotel.
Part 5: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 5): Sandyq Kazakhstan restaurant, Kashgar Restaurant, Ahmed Restaurant, Jingbalang Naan Bazaar, MacMac Lebanese restaurant, Humaer Xinjiang specialty food, Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant Zoo branch, Fresh Milk Town Shuangjing branch (closed), Nawab Restaurant, and Liu Ji Watch Repair BBQ.
Halal Travel Guide: Sousse - Tunisia UNESCO Medina, Food and Mosques
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 24 views • 2026-05-21 02:11
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse. view all
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse.
Summary: Sousse's old medina became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988 and remains less commercialized than the medina of Tunis. This travel account follows the source's route through the old city, mosque sights, markets, restaurants, seafood, and street observations.
The old medina in Sousse, Tunisia, was named a UNESCO World Heritage site back in 1988, but it is much less developed for tourism than the medina in Tunis, which became a World Heritage site in 1979. The Tunis medina has many guesthouses and hotels converted from historic homes, ranging from budget to high-end options. We searched for a long time, but found very few historic guesthouses in the Sousse medina, so we finally chose Dar Badiaa.
The atmosphere at Dar Badiaa is lovely, but the rooms in these historic buildings are quite small. Don't trust the room sizes listed on booking websites; they are just guesses. The lady who checked us in didn't speak English, only French, so we spent a long time struggling to understand each other.
Breakfast at the Dar Badiaa historic guesthouse is quite generous, featuring egg pancakes (danbing), flaky pastries (subing), French bread (fagun), curd (ruza), cheese, various jams, pickled olives, Tunisian chili paste (harissa), and local Tunisian desserts, served with strong Tunisian coffee. While we were chatting in the courtyard at night, the guesthouse lady served us classic Tunisian mint black tea and date-filled semolina cookies (makroudh). Makroudh is a classic treat for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. It has a semolina crust, a filling of date paste and dried fruit, and is soaked in syrup after baking.
While drinking tea and chatting that night, we noticed some very old writing on one of the stone pillars in the house. We aren't sure if it is Phoenician.
The World Heritage old medina of Sousse, Tunisia. The area with better tourism development is the main street, Souk el Cald, which starts from the west gate of the old city, Bab El-Gharbi. It has many small shops and restaurants. We ate at a restaurant on the street called Dar Amna. We chose grilled fish for our main course, which came with French bread, french fries, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), and a Tunisian salad made of cucumber, tomato, and onion. Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, which is why French bread became a staple food here. Personally, I find the French bread dry and hard, and not nearly as good as the staple breads in the eastern Arab world.
Street view of Souk el Cald, the main road starting from the old city's west gate, Bab El-Gharbi.
Souk el Cald has many tea houses and cafes perfect for taking photos. You can drink local mint tea, eat some pine nuts, and enjoy a slow pace of life.
At the snack shop by the entrance of the Great Mosque of Sousse, they specialize in Tunisian folded sandwiches (makloub). It is like a mix of shawarma and pizza; the crust is like pizza dough, filled with grilled meat, cheese, harissa, and mayonnaise, then rolled up to eat.
Restaurant du Peuple, located under the north city wall, specializes in traditional Tunisian food. We ordered the fisherman's stew and Berber lamb tagine, which represent the coastal and inland cultures of Tunisia, respectively. The fisherman's stew contains fish, shrimp, and shellfish, while the lamb tagine is a potato and meat stew. In Tunisian restaurants, you just need to order the main dish. Once you order, they bring out French bread, harissa soup, roasted pepper salad (mechouia), Tunisian salad, and deep-fried Tunisian spring rolls (brik). After you finish, they serve mint black tea.
The Berbers are the indigenous people of Tunisia. Centuries of Arab migration starting in the 7th century led to the Arabization of most Berbers, and by the 15th century, Tunisia was essentially fully Arabized. Although the Berbers and Arabs in Tunisia have merged today, many traditional Berber cultural elements remain, including unique Berber food and music.
A candy stall on the old city street selling something like Xinjiang nut cake (qiegao), and the old-fashioned balance scale is a rare sight. Behind are some decorations from the old town streets, featuring classic Islamic themes like the Nuh boat, the Buraq ridden during the Ascension, and Hamsa (Fatima's hand) tiles.
Before the 19th century, all of Sousse's residents lived inside the old medina. After Tunisia became a French protectorate in 1881, the French began building a new city north of the Sousse medina. Sousse was bombed repeatedly between 1942 and 1943, and the new city suffered heavy damage. Authorities began rebuilding the new city in 1946, which eventually led to its current appearance.
Sousse is a major coastal city in Tunisia, but the beach is not very busy and has little entertainment. People mostly just walk, chat, zone out, or drink coffee at the seaside cafes. While strolling by the sea, we were surprised to find a shop called "Justinian" with a portrait of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I printed on it. We bought some pistachios from a handsome young man in the shop and learned to zone out by the sea just like the locals.
During the reign of Justinian I (527-565), many territories lost by the Western Roman Empire were reclaimed, including Tunisia. In 533, the Byzantine army under Justinian I landed in Tunisia and quickly defeated the Germanic Vandal Kingdom, allowing Tunisia to remain prosperous for over a hundred years.
The ABOU NAWAS BOU JAAFAR hotel by the Sousse beach is now abandoned, but surprisingly, their official website is still up. Looking at old photos, it was very luxurious back then.
At a small restaurant in the new city, we had a grilled meat platter, which was still served with a baguette and Tunisian salad. The platter included chicken, beef, and Tunisian sausage (Merguez).
Merguez is made with lamb and beef, mixed with cumin, harissa, chili, and various other spices, and is usually grilled. Merguez sausage was first seen in the 12th century in Andalusia, which was southern Spain under Arab rule, and later spread throughout North Africa.
Finally, here are some more street scenes from the old medina of Sousse.
Halal Food Guide: Tianshui - Laosanpian, Guagua and Jiangshuimian
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou. view all
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou.
Summary: Tianshui's old-town snacks include laosanpian, guagua, jiangshuimian, and other local foods tied to Qinzhou's Hui Muslim neighborhoods. This food note preserves the source's dish names, shop locations, flavors, and street details.
At the entrance of Chengyuan Lane in the old town of Qinzhou, Tianshui, Gansu, the most popular winter foods are the 'Old Three Dishes' (laosanpian): mixed stew (zahui), pork tenderloin (liji), and clear-stewed beef (qingdun). Mixed stew is made of egg skin and meat filling sandwiches topped with sauce. Pork tenderloin is beef coated in flour and egg white, fried, dried, and then topped with sauce. Clear-stewed beef is beef strips slow-cooked with meat seasonings. The Old Three Dishes are classic banquet dishes for Tianshui people during the Lunar New Year.
Eat a bowl of beef hand-pulled noodles (che mian) across from Chengyuan Lane. I really love the chili in Tianshui; it is incredibly fragrant. Inside Chengyuan Lane, there is a shop called Jushengxiang Maji Dabao Seasoning Workshop. Their hand-pounded chili powder smells amazing. They do not have an online store and only make it by hand in small batches on-site.
When visiting Tianshui, you must try the local snacks guagua and ranran. Guagua is made by grinding buckwheat into 'buckwheat pearls' (qiaozhenzi), soaking and filtering them, then boiling the buckwheat starch until it is semi-solid. After it sets, it is mixed with oil-poured chili (youpo lazi), garlic paste, and other seasonings. Ranran is made from potato starch and is softer and stickier than guagua. In the Northwest dialect, 'ran' means sticky and soft.
I ate guagua at a street stall at the north entrance of Zizhi Lane, and the freshly made crispy flatbread (subing) next to it was also delicious. I think the secret to guagua is the oil-poured chili made with Gangu chili powder, which makes it feel very warm when eaten in winter.
Eat hand-grabbed lamb (shouzhuo), fermented vegetable noodles (jiangshuimian), and eight-treasure tea (babaocha) at Yixianglan Restaurant on Jiefang Road. Hand-grabbed lamb and fermented vegetable noodles are probably my two favorite Gansu dishes. The tender lamb paired with fragrant chili sauce is addictive, and the fermented vegetable noodles served with pickled chives are also very appetizing. They also sell various vacuum-packed 'Eight Great Bowls' (badawan), including mixed stew, yellow-braised chicken (huangmenji), eight-treasure rice (babaofan), crispy meat (surou), bowl lamb (wanyangrou), and beef brisket, offering a wide variety.
Various delicacies on the streets of Qinzhou.
Halal Food Guide: Yangon - Burmese Muslim Cuisine and Dost Friends
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 25 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat. view all
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat.
Summary: This Yangon food account introduces Burmese Muslim cuisine through local Muslim friends, or dost, and records dishes shaped by Burmese, South Asian, and Muslim community life. It keeps the source's restaurant names, food descriptions, community terms, and personal route details.
Today, six Muslim groups live in Myanmar. Five of these are the Yunnan Hui Muslims (Panthay) in northern and eastern Myanmar, the Malays (Pathu) in the far south, the Kaman people who are descendants of the Rakhine royal archers, the Rohingya in Rakhine State, and the Indian-descended people who settled in large cities like Yangon during the British colonial period. The sixth group is the Burmese Muslims (Zerbadi), who were the first to settle in Myanmar, speak Burmese, and identify as Burmese.
Although Yangon does not have a mosque specifically for the Burmese Muslims, there are several restaurants run by them on Daw Thein Tin Street, known as the "Muslim Street," where you can taste their cuisine.
Compared to Indian restaurants, Burmese Muslim restaurants offer a wider variety of dishes, including various stir-fries, braised dishes, and soups. The food is relatively light, and they provide chopsticks, making the experience feel more like the Yunnan Hui Muslim restaurants in Myanmar.
The young Burmese man at the shop is very enthusiastic. Rice is unlimited, and he walks around with a rice pot, proactively adding more to your bowl when he sees you are running low.
As an important hub on the Maritime Silk Road connecting the Persian Gulf, the Malay Archipelago, and China, Arab and Persian merchants were trading in Myanmar's coastal ports as early as the 9th century. The first Arab trading post appeared in Bago at that time, and many Arab merchant ships docked there.
For the next few hundred years, Bago was the center of Islam in Myanmar. Many British and Portuguese travelers in the 16th century recorded the development of Islam in Bago during this period. The Burmese Muslims in Bago exported sugar, lacquerware, and rubies, and imported cotton and silk. After the 15th century, Tanintharyi grew into an important trading port in Myanmar. Many European sailors described it as a Muslim city that traded with Malacca, Bengal, and Mecca. Because the Indian Ocean monsoon made it impossible to sail between mid-May and mid-November each year, some Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants married local Burmese women while stranded in Myanmar. Their descendants became the main source of the Burmese Muslims. They were called "Pathi," which means "Persian."
Another Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street serves mixed vegetable soup, spicy diced chicken, and fried rice, with flavors that suit Chinese tastes very well.
Besides coastal merchants, many Burmese Muslims served as mercenaries for the Kingdom of Myanmar. They were recorded many times in documents from the 11th to 19th centuries, including officers, sailors, riflemen, and artillerymen, with many even serving in the royal guard. some Burmese Muslims served as messengers in the Burmese royal court. The King of Myanmar used Persian for foreign relations. Even during the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1824, communication between the British and the Burmese was still conducted in Persian. After the 16th century, Muslim soldiers captured in various wars were settled by the Kingdom of Myanmar in villages across Upper Myanmar. They quickly integrated into the Burmese environment, giving up their own languages, customs, and clothing, but they remained firm in their Islamic faith.
In 1855, Henry Yule came to the Konbaung Dynasty in Upper Myanmar as the secretary of the British mission sent by the Governor-General of India. He described that 8,000 to 9,000 Burmese Muslims, known as "Pathi," lived in the capital at that time, and some claimed to have been settled there for five or six hundred years. According to his description, they were indistinguishable from the Burmese in appearance, wore Burmese clothing, spoke Burmese, and had the same living habits as the Burmese. Although their marriages involved a "Nikah" (Islamic marriage contract) as required by their faith, there were no arranged marriages. Relationships could be established before getting parental consent, which surprised the Indian Muslims in the mission. They could recite scriptures, but most did not understand the meaning. Most people insisted on attending Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) every week, but few performed the five daily prayers. Some imams in the city would give sermons (wa'z) and teach scriptures in Burmese. What the Indian Muslims in the mission found most unacceptable was the open dress and lifestyle of Burmese Muslim women, who would worship in the same hall as men, which was not the case in India.
This Burmese Muslim restaurant on Yangon's Muslim Street specializes in roast duck. I ordered a plate of roast duck rice, which was quite delicious, especially the sauce, which went perfectly with the rice. The owner of the shop is a man with tattoos. Burmese Muslims (dosti) have had a tradition of tattooing for hundreds of years, just like Burmese Buddhists. This is something Indian Muslims (dosti) find hard to believe.
After the British fully occupied Burma in 1885, more Indian Muslims moved to major Burmese cities. At that time, both they and Burmese Muslims were called mixed-race people (Kalar or Zerbadi). However, Burmese Muslims strongly rejected this label and tried to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims. In 1915, Indian Muslims formed an education association and required that Islamic schools must teach Urdu. Burmese Muslims opposed this. In 1927, they established the All-Burma Burmese Muslim Education Organization, which advocated for teaching Islamic studies in the Burmese language.
Burmese Muslims began searching for their own identity in the 1930s. This started because the Indian population in Yangon surged. In 1930, a conflict between Indian and Burmese dockworkers over loading jobs triggered anti-Indian riots throughout Yangon. In the 1930s, Burmese Muslims published two important books: "Old Traditions of Burmese Muslims" by Hbo Chey and "A Brief History of Burmese Muslims" by Mya. The books mention that Burmese Muslims have lived in peace with Burmese Buddhists for a long time, and that past Burmese kings gave them the same rights as Buddhists.
In 1938, Burmese Muslims formed the Muslim Awakening Organization to push for social recognition of the Burmese Muslim identity. The most prominent representative of Burmese Muslims at the time was U Razak. He was the Minister of Education and National Planning in Aung San's cabinet and the chairman of the Burmese Muslim Congress. He worked hard to call for unity between Burmese Muslims and Buddhists, but he was assassinated alongside Aung San in 1947. Pe Khin served as the Burmese ambassador to Pakistan, Thailand, the United Nations, Egypt, Russia, and Singapore between 1947 and 1972. After 1945, he was actively involved in the Burmese Muslim Congress and was a patron of the Burmese Islamic Council and Muslim organizations.
After U Razak was assassinated, no new representative leader emerged for the Burmese Muslims. After Ne Win took power in 1962, all Burmese Muslims were dismissed from the military. In 1963, the Hajj pilgrimage was banned, and Burmese Muslims were quickly marginalized. Since then, Burmese Muslims have gradually downplayed their identity. They appear no different from other Burmese people in public, but they continue their religious practices at home.
The Secretariat Building is located in the center of old Yangon and was the administrative hub during the British colonial period. Built between 1889 and 1905, the building is a grand Victorian-style complex. On July 19, 1947, Aung San, the "Father of Modern Burma," and six cabinet members were killed here. This group included U Razak, the most important modern leader of the Burmese Muslims. After that, the attempt by Burmese Muslims to distinguish themselves from Indian Muslims and gain equal status with Burmese Buddhists gradually failed, eventually leading to their marginalization after 1962.
When we visited the Secretariat Building, there happened to be a market inside. We also ate a local Burmese Muslim snack, super spicy chicken meatballs, which made us cry from the heat.
Halal Food Guide: Songpan - Hui Muslim Snacks in Sichuan
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 28 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt. view all
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt.
Summary: Songpan's Hui Muslim snack culture includes local noodles, breads, beef and lamb dishes, and small shops around the old city. This food note preserves the source's dish names, restaurant details, street context, and Hui Muslim community observations.
I want to share the Hui Muslim culture of Songzhou City in Songpan, Sichuan with you all. Songpan and Xichang are the two areas in Sichuan with the largest Hui Muslim populations and strong religious traditions. The difference is that Songpan is influenced by Gansu, while Xichang has closer ties to Yunnan.
Hui Muslims have lived in Songpan for over 700 years. In 1271 (the eighth year of the Zhiyuan era of the Yuan Dynasty), after the Mongols conquered Tibet, they established the Songpan Dangdie Weimao Military and Civilian Pacification Commission. The administrative center was in Songpan, and Hui Muslim soldiers were sent there to guard the area. Some of these people settled down and became the first Hui Muslims in Songpan. According to the genealogy of the Mi family of Hui Muslims in Songpan, their ancestor arrived during the Yuan Dynasty with the Mongol Prince Wangsang. During the Yuan Dynasty, Dongshan Mosque (Dongshan Si) was built in Dongyu Village, east of Songzhou City. It was destroyed in the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty and was the first mosque in Songpan.
I stayed at the Fanfang Silk Road Hotel in Songpan. It is not inside the ancient Songzhou City, but in the new district to the north. However, you can ride a shared electric scooter to the ancient city, which is quite convenient. The hotel breakfast is simple, but it is halal. The restaurant thoughtfully explains how to eat roasted barley flour (zhanba). You put the zhanba and yak butter (suyou) in a bowl, pour in brick tea (macha), and you can also add dried cheese curds (naizha).
On the streets of the ancient Songzhou City in Sichuan during winter, if you have eaten too much yak beef, you can buy some soft citrus (papagan) from a brother named Dosti at the city gate to quench your thirst. Soft citrus (papagan) usually hits the market every December, and I ate them when I visited at the beginning of this year.
Some local snacks inside the ancient Songzhou City. Fresh beef offal (xian niuza) with steamed flower rolls (huajuan), handmade pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), and street-style highland barley milk tea (qingke naicha). The fresh beef offal (xian niuza) is mainly made of beef tripe, beef intestine, and beef tongue. Compared to those in the interior of China, it is relatively lighter and has a more natural flavor. Pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai mianpian), also called suancai miankuai, is a common dish for the Hui, Han, Tibetan, and Qiang people here. The pickled vegetables are naturally fermented, the dough is torn by hand and boiled on the spot, and yak butter is added to enhance the flavor.
At Deying Fresh Beef Offal, I had beef pastry (niurou subing) with yak butter tea (suyoucha). The beef pastry (niurou subing) here has more green onions and is a bit oilier. The yak butter tea (suyoucha) has a large piece of yak butter in it, which is very high in calories and suitable for the high-altitude environment. I also had a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) at Cancan Snacks. After eating too much spicy food in Sichuan, you need a bowl of fermented rice and egg soup (laozao dan) to cleanse your palate.
The Huiwei Snacks shop on Xiashuiguan Halal Street is very popular with locals. I ate potato rice cakes (yangyu ciba) and pickled vegetable noodle soup (suancai fentan) there. Food on the plateau is quite simple. Potato mash (yangyu ciba) is made by steaming potatoes, pounding them, cutting them into pieces, and drizzling them with chili oil. It tastes great. Pickled vegetable and vermicelli soup (suancai fentan) is served hot and is perfect for winter, though it is quite spicy.
Inside the ancient city of Songzhou, you can find yak meat skewers everywhere. They cost 10 yuan for 10 skewers, freshly cut and grilled, and they taste delicious with some local handmade yogurt.
Halal Travel Guide: Ayutthaya - Thailand's Oldest Muslim Community
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 35 views • 2026-05-21 02:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors." view all
Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors." view all
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Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors."
Summary: Ayutthaya is home to one of Thailand's oldest Muslim communities, shaped by Persian, Malay, Indian, and local Thai Muslim histories. This article keeps the source's mosque names, old settlement details, palace-era background, food notes, and community observations in clear English.
When we think of Muslim communities in Thailand, we first think of the Malays in the south, the Yunnanese Hui Muslims in the north, and the diverse, integrated mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok. In fact, Muslim communities in Ayutthaya began to thrive as early as 1351, when the city became the capital of Thailand. Although Ayutthaya lost its status as the capital after the Thai capital moved in 1767, the mosque neighborhood structure here has been passed down to this day.
Historically, there were six mosque neighborhoods in Ayutthaya that date back to the Ayutthaya Kingdom (1351-1767):
Thung Khaek / Kudi Chao Sen Mosque: Persian Shia.
Khaek Pae Mosque: Persian Shia.
Nurul Yaman Mosque: Persian Shia (formerly), Malay Sunni (later).
Takia Yokin Mosque: Indian Sunni (Qadiriyya Sufi order).
Surau Nai Klong Mosque: Cham Sunni.
Kudi Chofa Mosque: Makassar and Malay Sunni.
The original site of Kudi Chao Sen Mosque was in the southern part of the Ayutthaya city walls, founded in the early 17th century by Sheikh Ahmad, a Persian who came from Qom, Iran. During the 17th and 18th centuries, this was a residential area for Persian and Indian descendants in Ayutthaya. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there is a rebuilt gongbei (shrine) for Sheikh Ahmad here. For details, see 'The Persian Sheikh Gongbei in Ayutthaya, Thailand'.
Khaek Pae Mosque is located on the bank where the Chao Phraya River and the Pa Sak River meet. Persian merchants once lived on boats here, which locals called the 'floating village'. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved. Today, there are two mosque neighborhoods in Bangkok established by descendants of Ayutthaya's Persians. See 'Experiencing the Persian Shia Festival Atmosphere in Bangkok, Thailand' and 'Visiting Shia Communities in Bangkok'.
Nurul Yamal Mosque is located in the northern suburbs of the old city of Ayutthaya, near where the Ayutthaya Kingdom built an elephant kraal in 1580. According to the travelogue 'Safine-ye Solaymani' (The Ship of Suleiman) written by the Persian Safavid mission sent to Ayutthaya in 1685, there were over a hundred Persian merchants engaged in the lucrative elephant trade at the elephant kraal at that time. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, most residents moved south to Thonburi with the Thai king, and the mosque neighborhood dissolved.
After the Rattanakosin Kingdom was established in Bangkok in 1782, Thailand continued to invade the Malay Sultanate of Pattani in the south. In 1786, Thailand dealt a devastating blow to the Pattani Sultanate. Afterward, a large number of Pattani Malays were relocated to central Thailand, and some settled at the old site of the Nurul Yamal mosque neighborhood and rebuilt the Nurul Yamal Mosque.
Nurul Yamal Mosque was originally a wooden structure, but it was later rebuilt into a brick and stone structure under the guidance of a Chinese person. King Rama V of Thailand (reigned 1868-1910) visited here, gifted the mosque a green lantern, and bestowed the name Nurul Yamal Mosque.
We performed Jumu'ah at Nurul Yamal Mosque, where the imam gave the khutbah (wa'z) in Thai.
Takia Yokin Mosque is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. It was originally a Buddhist mosque, but it was rebuilt in the mid-16th century after the mosque's abbot, Diwan Chao, was guided by the Sufi sheikh Tok Takia of the Qadiriyya menhuan. The mosque preserves a traditional Thai-style imam's prayer pavilion and a minbar pulpit, both of which are beautifully crafted. Although the founder, Sheikh Tok Takia, was of Indian descent, the local community members are now primarily Malay. See "Visiting the Two Great Qadiriyya Gongbei of Thailand."
In the 15th century, Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants sailing east along the Indian Ocean monsoon winds preferred the powerful Malacca Sultanate as their trading hub. However, after the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511, trade was heavily restricted. Many Arab, Persian, and Indian merchants began moving to the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya to do business, and Siam welcomed them. At that time, a large number of merchant ships gathered along the banks of the Chao Phraya River south of Ayutthaya. These merchants would anchor their ships outside the city and then transport their goods into the city for sale. The riverbank where Takia Yokin Mosque is located was an important anchorage for these ships, and it later developed into an important mosque community.
Surau Nai Klong Mosque was founded by Cham people from Cambodia and Vietnam. The Cham community in Ayutthaya is spread along both banks of the Chao Phraya River south of the old city. With a history of over 600 years, it is the oldest and longest-standing Muslim community in Thailand.
Champa (Champa) was a country established by the Cham people (Chams) in southern Vietnam in 192 AD. Because their land was narrow and fragmented, Champa focused on maritime trade and became an important trading port on the Maritime Silk Road during the Song and Yuan dynasties. Whether they were Chinese merchant ships departing from Guangzhou and Quanzhou or Arab and Persian merchant ships from the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, all chose to stop in Champa.
After Ayutthaya became the capital of Thailand in 1350, Cham merchants came to trade and established a Cham village (Pata Ku Cham) on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya: Luang Prasoet Version, in 1409, the Thai King Ram Racha ordered the arrest of the minister Okya Mahasena, who successfully crossed the river and fled to the Cham village. He later supported the king's cousin, Nakarintratiraj, in overthrowing Ram Racha. After the new king ascended the throne, he exiled the old king to live in the Cham village.
After Vietnam broke free from Mongol control in the 14th century, it began moving south to invade Champa. In 1471, the Champa capital of Vijaya (Vijaya) was captured, and a large number of Cham royalty and civilians fled to Cambodia for refuge. These Cham people in Cambodia united with the Malays who had settled there earlier, forming a military alliance in the 16th century.
After the 16th century, the residential area of the Cham people in Ayutthaya expanded from the Cham village to both banks of the Chao Phraya River, and the nearby Cham canal port market became one of the four major floating markets in Ayutthaya. to selling goods, the Cham people in Ayutthaya also made a living by weaving straw mats and growing rice.
The Cambodian Cham military corps (Krom As-Cham) began to be employed by the Thai Ayutthaya Dynasty in the early 17th century. They were highly praised by the Siamese royal family for their superb shipbuilding skills and naval combat prowess. These Cham warriors were granted the honor of serving as rowers for the royal barges during Thai royal ceremonies.
After the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, many Cham people moved south near Bangkok, as recorded in the Complete Collection of Bangkok Mosques: The Five Cham Quarters. However, many Cham people still remained in Ayutthaya. Following the arrival of Pattani Malays at the end of the 18th century, this area is now a place where Cham and Malay people live together.
The original Surau Nai Klong mosque in Champa Village was gradually abandoned after the 19th century. Today, there are three mosques here: Aliyin Nuroi, Madinah Tusslihat, and Islam Vattana. I visited the first two on this trip.
Next to the Cham community is the Islam Vattana cemetery. The most prominent building inside is a tomb for a Persian Shia sage built in the 18th century. It has now become a gongbei for local Sunni followers, which is a very interesting cultural phenomenon.
The owner of the gongbei was named Chen. He served as the Chula Rachamontri, the leader of the Thai Muslim community, during the reign of King Ekkathat (1758-1767) and was the last leader of the Muslim community during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Chen was a descendant of the Sheikh Ahmad family, the most important Persian Shia family in Thailand. His family held a monopoly on Thai trade heading west to India, Persia, Arabia, and Europe, and they held the position of Muslim community leader by heredity. Chen's father, Jai, was a court attendant for King Narai. During the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), he was promoted to the general rank of Chao Phraya Phet Pichai and became the commander of the Cham and Japanese regiments. In 1750, Chen's father followed the Thai king and converted to Buddhism, but Chen held fast to his faith. He continued to serve as the leader of the Muslim community while also serving as the head of the Right Harbor, Chao Kromma Tha Khwa, responsible for managing Thailand's western trade.
After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, Chen did not follow the Thai king south to Thonburi. Instead, he stayed in his ancestral home in Ayutthaya, where he eventually passed away. His ancestral home is right next to the Cham Canal south of the city, adjacent to the Cham community. His grave is also here, and it has become an important gongbei for sages in Ayutthaya.
In 1797, Chen's son, Konkaew, inherited the titles of Muslim community leader and head of the Right Harbor in Thonburi. Another son, Akayi, built the Shia hall Kudi Charoenphat, which still stands today.
Some graves in the Vattana cemetery are decorated with fresh flowers and paper flowers, which is a Sufi tradition of the Thai Muslim community.
Traveling south from Champa Village in Ayutthaya, you reach the Klong Takian area. During the Ayutthaya Kingdom, communities of different ethnic groups—including Portuguese, Chinese, Cham, Malay, and Makassarese—were spread along the Klong Takian canal, making it the most culturally diverse area of Ayutthaya at the time.
There are several mosques in the Klong Takian area, the most famous of which is the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1666, the Dutch East India Company invaded Makassar on the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia, causing many Makassarese to flee to Java, Sumatra, and other places. A group of Makassarese also came to the Klong Takian area in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. People say the Kudi Chofa mosque was first built in 1677.
Starting in the 17th century, Thailand moved south to invade the Pattani Sultanate established by the Malays. Long-term wars led to many Pattani Malays being brought to Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand at the time. In the mid-18th century, thousands of Pattani Malay captives were settled in the southern and southwestern suburbs of Ayutthaya to grow rice, and some of them settled at the Kudi Chofa mosque. After Ayutthaya fell in 1767, some Pattani Malays returned to their hometowns, others followed the Thai king south to Thonburi, and some remained in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya. In 1786, following Thailand's invasion of Pattani, more Pattani Malays arrived at the Kudi Chofa mosque. In 1819, Imam Toh Ki Yam oversaw the reconstruction of the mosque from a wooden structure into a brick and stone building, incorporating styles from Catholic churches and Buddhist temples.
Legend has it that once, King Rama V (reigned 1868-1910) passed by the mosque on a boat, officially named it Kudi Chofa mosque, and gifted it a lamp called Takiang Chaw.
The Kudi Chofa mosque underwent several expansions after the 20th century and was finally rebuilt into its current form in 1978. The interior of the main hall was under renovation when we visited, and a kind friend (dosti) gave us water to drink.
Three hundred years after Sheikh Tok Takia came to Thailand in the mid-16th century to spread the Sufi Qadiriyya order, the Sufi Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri, who is honored as a saint (Wali), revived the Qadiriyya order in Thailand in the 19th century and helped it spread from Ayutthaya to Bangkok and Pattaya. See "The Gongbei of the Persian Sheikh in Ayutthaya, Thailand."
Sheikh Shukri's tomb shrine (gongbei) is located at the Aliyid Daroun Mosque (Masjid Aliyid Daroun) on the banks of the Chao Phraya River west of Ayutthaya city, which is a mosque community established by Pattani Malays in the 19th century. Thailand invaded Pattani twice in 1831-1832 and 1838, splitting it into seven small states, which was the period when the largest number of Pattani Malays moved to central Thailand.
After the 19th century, due to the preaching of the Sufi Sheikh Shukri, some Malay friends (dosti) who lived along the Khlong Ta Kian canal in the southern suburbs of Ayutthaya and originally belonged to the Kudi Chofa mosque community began to follow the Qadiriyya order, and in the early 20th century, Imam Omar Buleh founded the Yamiul Islam mosque community. Today, the tomb shrine (gongbei) of Imam Omar Buleh is built in the backyard of the mosque, and the Buleh family has held the position of mosque imam hereditarily ever since.
The Pakistan Mosque in Ayutthaya is located in the northern part of the city and is the only mosque currently situated inside the old city of Ayutthaya. In the 17th century, the Mughal Empire and the Ayutthaya Kingdom had a very close relationship, with many Mughals coming to Ayutthaya to do business, and some even entering the royal court to serve as advisors and ministers. In 1685, Chevalier de Chaumont, the first envoy sent by King Louis XIV of France to the Ayutthaya court, recorded that the "Moors" in Ayutthaya included Turks, Persians, Mughals, Golkondas (from the Deccan region of South India), and Bengalis. In 1690, the German doctor Engelbert Kaempfer visited Ayutthaya and described that "on the main road connecting the north of the city to the royal palace, there were shops owned by Chinese, Hindustanis, and Moors."
Halal Food Guide: Beijing - 10 Muslim Restaurants Worth Trying
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 36 views • 2026-05-20 23:51
Reposted from the web
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street). view all
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street). view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street).
Summary: This fifth Beijing halal restaurant list covers ten places worth trying, including Kazakh food, local Muslim dishes, Middle Eastern flavors, and neighborhood restaurants. It keeps the original restaurant names, food details, locations, and practical notes for readers planning halal meals in Beijing.
Sandyq Kazakhstan Restaurant
The high-end traditional Kazakh restaurant SANDYQ has opened in Beijing. I specifically ate at their location in Almaty before, so I was surprised to find one here now.
It is located across from the Liangma River in Solana, and the decor and menu are exactly the same as the Almaty branch. The interior features a nomadic style, the servers wear traditional Kazakh clothing, and the shop displays many traditional handicrafts. They serve the most traditional Kazakh nomadic dishes, which have not been influenced by Russian cuisine.
We ordered lamb five-finger stew (Beshbarmak), chickpea vegetable soup, Mi Palaw, camel milk (Shubat), and cheese-filled fried dough (Baursak). Including the 10% service charge, it was less than 200 per person. Since they just opened, there is a traditional Kazakh music performance every day at 19:00, which makes it worth the visit.
Their five-finger stew is delicious, and the lamb is stewed very well. Five-finger stew is a classic dish for Kazakh and Kyrgyz nomads and a must-have for festivals. When making it, one person cuts the meat while another prepares the dough. The meat is sliced and spread over the noodles, then served with potatoes. People usually eat lamb in the summer, and after the winter slaughter, they eat horse meat and horse sausage.
Mi Palaw is labeled as 'rice pilaf,' but it is actually a cheese-filled pastry, not pilaf. Be sure to note this when ordering, as they do not serve pilaf.
The fermented mare's milk (Kumis) we drank at the Almaty store had a very strong flavor, so this time we only ordered camel milk. It is also heavily fermented, so most people might not be used to it.
Their chickpea vegetable soup and cheese-filled fried dough also tasted quite good and suited the local Beijing palate.
The restaurant displays traditional Kazakh clothing, saddles, and a painting depicting the founding of the Golden Horde in 1225. The Kazakh Khanate is one of the successor states to the Golden Horde.
Next to the restaurant is the Kazakh Cultural Center, which is open until 19:00 daily and has many books on Kazakh culture to browse.
Kashgar Restaurant
After work, I went to the new Kashgar Restaurant that opened this year on Ritan Shangjie. There are more and more Xinjiang restaurants on Ritan Shangjie, and each one is very authentic with its own unique features.
We ordered pilaf, red willow skewer lamb (hongliu kaorou), pumpkin buns, alfalfa wontons, stir-fried lamb liver, and yogurt. The pilaf is very authentic, but you can only choose one type of meat; they don't have lamb leg or shredded meat options. The red willow skewers are very tender, the pumpkin buns are sweet with a hint of spice, and the stir-fried lamb liver is fragrant and tender. The biggest surprise was the alfalfa wontons and the yogurt. I didn't expect to still find spring-limited alfalfa wontons in the autumn. They are served dry with chili oil, and the kids really loved them. Their yogurt is amazing and tastes just like the local version in Xinjiang! It is top-tier for Beijing.
Ahmed Restaurant
We went to the newly opened Ahmed Restaurant in Sanlitun for dinner. The place is small, and the low platform tables (kangzhuo) are perfect for drinking tea and chatting.
They have all kinds of Western-style fast food. We ordered beef cheese pasta, a beef burger, chicken cheese loaded fries, and a vegetable salad. The service is great. Before the meal, they served everyone a cup of clear tea, and after the meal, they brought us each a cup of milk tea. It was not only free, but the milk tea was so fresh it even had a layer of milk skin on top.
They have several types of pasta, and we ordered the beef version of Pasta alla Carbonara. People say this dish originated in 1944 after the U. S. military occupied Rome and food was scarce. Roman citizens used the eggs, bacon, easy-to-store pasta, and cheese provided by the U. S. military to make Carbonara, finishing it with black pepper for flavor.
The loaded fries contain cheese, fried chicken, and black olives. This is a classic American snack often seen at the Super Bowl.
Their beef burger is also quite good with high-quality meat. The vegetable salad is light and does not come with dressing, which I like. Overall, this is a great place for tea and conversation.
Jingbalang Naan Bazaar
A new naan shop called Jingbalang has opened at the Chaonei Market in Dongsi, and many neighbors are lining up to buy naan. I asked the baker, and he is from Kashgar. We bought onion naan (piyazi naan), milk naan (naizi naan), baked buns (kaobaozi), and nut naan. They were all delicious and definitely as good as what you get in Xinjiang. The milk naan is very milky and not hard at all. The onion naan is made with onions (piyazi) and cumin. It is very thin, and I ate half of it right after it came out of the oven. The baked buns have a strong flavor of Sichuan peppercorns and salt. The nut naan is a bit like a white flour version of Xinjiang bread (lieba). It is filled with various raisins and nuts, and the kids love it.
MacMac Lebanese Restaurant
We had breakfast at the Lebanese restaurant MacMac in the Grand Summit center in Guomao. They open at 8:30 AM, and it is a nice, quiet place for breakfast on the weekend.
They have a special Beirut breakfast platter that includes three mini flatbreads (Manakish), an omelet, and a coffee or tea. We chose the sand-brewed Lebanese coffee. There is also a Levant Morning set, which is an egg and cheese sandwich with a coffee or tea. We chose a cappuccino. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which includes tabbouleh, hummus, and baba ganoush, served with two pita breads baked over an open flame, plus a milk pudding. These sets are all perfect for a morning meal.
The service here is quite good, and the servers always ask about our needs. The dishes are very authentic and taste just like what we ate in Lebanon. I recommend everyone try the Lebanese specialty, manakish flatbread (manakish).
Manakish flatbread originated from traditional ancient Phoenician bread and can be topped with Zaatar spice mix, cheese, or minced lamb. In 2023, manakish flatbread was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list as an iconic Lebanese food. They offer three types: cheese, Zaatar, and beef, with the Zaatar flavor being the most unique. Zaatar is a unique blend of thyme, sumac, oregano, marjoram, and sesame seeds. Zaatar dates back to ancient Egypt and has been used for thousands of years as a seasoning and health remedy; medieval Arabic texts mention its benefits for digestion.
We swapped the milk pudding for the classic Lebanese iftar pastry, crispy vermicelli milk pudding (osmalieh); the crunchy vermicelli, rich creamy flavor, and crushed pistachios take me right back to Lebanon.
They also sell small snacks like the Arabic mooncake (ma'amoul) and various filled chocolates, which all taste quite good.
Humaer Xinjiang Specialty Food
Following a recommendation from a friend (dosti), I went to Humaer, known as the best Xinjiang restaurant in Huilongguan. It is run by Salar Muslims from Yili, but because they live in a Uyghur community, they speak Uyghur at home and no longer speak the Salar language.
They have many specialty dishes like Xinjiang clay pot hotpot (tu huoguo), meat and noodle dish (naren fan), horse meat and horse sausage, grilled beef intestine, and fake kidney, which many new Beijing restaurants don't have. We ate the clay pot hotpot, rice-stuffed intestine and lung (michangzi mianfeizi), diced stir-fried noodles (dingding chaomian), and milk tea. The clay pot hotpot contains beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetables; the meat is tender and fresh, and both adults and children love it. Unfortunately, the owner said they didn't have meatballs or fried meat patties (jiasha) ready, so we just had to stick to eating meat this time.
Their rice-stuffed intestine and lung is also delicious, and the sauce is seasoned perfectly. The salty milk tea has cream in it, and it tastes exactly like a real Yili milk tea shop. The owner also gave the children some pilaf (zhua fan), which was shiny with oil and tasted very savory.
Next time I go to Huilongguan, I will definitely try their barbecue.
Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant
After taking my son to the zoo on the weekend, we biked to Zhanlan Road for a second visit to Lao Huihui Dumpling Restaurant. This time we specifically ordered beef with chives and shrimp dumplings and beef with fennel dumplings. Their handmade dumplings are packed with filling, our whole family loves them, and there is free dumpling soup served in a thermos. I think eating here after visiting the zoo is a great plan for the future.
Fresh Milk Town (Xiannai Xiaozhen) Shuangjing Branch
The Fresh Milk Town that Tanyang Puzi opened in Shuangjing has been a popular spot for friends (dostani) to visit since it opened, and we finally went this weekend.
The shop specializes in wood-fired pizza, fresh milk on tap, and various breads. We ordered durian pizza, fresh milk, avocado yogurt salad, cheese bread, cheesecake, chickpea soy milk, affogato, and a variety of freshly baked breads. The durian pizza has a thin crust, and they are generous with the durian, making the flavor very rich. The yogurt served with the avocado salad is healthy, and I think it is much better than using salad dressing. Affogato is the Italian version of a 'song of ice and fire,' with fresh milk ice cream soaked in espresso, creating a very complex flavor.
They have a wide variety of breads, including toast, rye bread (lieba), croissants, and cinnamon rolls, all of which are quite healthy. There are also many types of cakes, including those made with pure milk, which have a strong milky aroma. The only downside is that seating is limited, so if you eat there on a weekend, you will likely have to wait for a table.
Nawab Restaurant
On Saturday, our whole family went to the North Garden of the Olympic Forest Park to walk the kids, and we had lunch at the newly opened Nawab Restaurant in the Lin'ao Shopping Center. It is very convenient for those visiting the North Garden.
The restaurant is run by Bengali friends (dosti), and they serve all kinds of South Asian dishes. We ordered a Tandoori mixed grill, Korma coconut vegetable curry, Punjabi chickpea curry (Pindi Chole), saffron rice, roti flatbread, butter naan, and mango and strawberry lassi. The grilled meat was seasoned with many spices, and the chicken, lamb, and fish were all very fresh and tender, but the beef was overcooked and hard to chew. The Korma coconut vegetable curry is not spicy at all, making it suitable for children, and the coconut flavor is very refreshing. The chickpea curry is slightly spicy, which children can also eat, and I personally like it very much. The staple foods were also good, but the butter naan was quite thin, more like a roti than a naan. The lassi probably wasn't homemade, as it tasted a bit like fermented milk.
The name Nawab comes from the Arabic loanword 'naib' in Persian, which originally meant 'deputy.' During the Mughal Empire, it was a title bestowed upon South Asian Muslim nobles and later became the title for rulers of princely states in South Asia. The Nawab of Bengal ruled Bengal and its surrounding areas in the eastern part of the Mughal Empire starting in 1717, but after 1757, they were controlled by the British and gradually lost real power. The last Nawab of Bengal moved to the UK in 1869 and officially abdicated in 1882.
Liu's Watch Repair and Barbecue
A new barbecue restaurant has opened in Beixinqiao, which is said to be a reopening of the shop that used to be at the entrance of the Dongzhimen Mosque. The new shop is located in a small alley opposite the main Huda restaurant. The entrance is very hidden, and it says 'Liu's Watch Repair' on the door. Once you enter the main gate, you are in a standard courtyard house (siheyuan). The main room is filled with antique clocks, and they all start chiming after a while.
They mainly serve barbecue and dumplings. The lamb skewers (yangrouchuan) and crunchy cartilage are delicious. The beef and green onion dumplings are handmade, and they taste pretty good. I arrived before six o'clock when it was quiet, so the food came out fast. People started arriving after six, so I expect it gets quite busy at night. There are quite a few mosquitoes in the summer, so you might get bitten if you eat in the courtyard. Also, their prices are relatively high, as you are mainly paying for the atmosphere.
Part 1: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying: Lahore Courtyard (Pakistani restaurant), Maimairehong (Henan Jiaozuo beef knife-cut noodles), Hulun Aile (halal Mongolian food), Ghana Tribe Garden (West African), Xing Laosi Meatball Spicy Soup (Xi'an), Jinying Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Changji), Hotan Canteen (Xinjiang), BRBR (Syrian), Gulou Chimian (Beijing fusion food), and Xilaishun (Beijing traditional food).
Part 2: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 2): Gulf Mandi Restaurant (UAE restaurant), Xihan Meatball Soup (Xinjiang Building), Altay Afternoon Tea (Xinjiang Building lobby), Muhejia Rotating Hot Pot, Nazilan (Xinjiang Urumqi), Baoyuanzhai (Beijing pastries, now closed), China-Pakistan Friendship Restaurant (Pakistani Samosa), Maye Roast Duck, Benjiebi Restaurant (Bangladeshi), and Shihu Cheng Resort (Huairou).
Part 3: 10 recently tried Beijing restaurants recommended: JM Italian Coffee (Dongsi branch), Huixiangyun Small Stir-fry (halal Hunan food, Wangjing branch), Old Ma's Lamb Soup and Steamed Dumplings (Shandong Dezhou), Philly Cheesesteak (Sanlitun), Roma Restaurant (Pakistani), Muyuzhai Garlic Lamb Intestine, Grassland Pomegranate Red (Inner Mongolia joint venture shaomai), Gansu Spicy Hot Pot (Wangfujing), and Yuezhen Yayuan (halal courtyard restaurant).
Part 4: 10 halal restaurants in Beijing worth trying (Part 4): Hotan Rose Pilaf (Yizhuang branch), Taiba (Western-style bakery), Taiba (South Sanlitun street shop), Gamaya Barbecue (Zhaotong small meat skewers, Guijie), Baoxiaobei (Heilongjiang barbecue), Muwenzhai (Yunnan dry-pot beef), Jiangjiang (Xinjiang restaurant, Sanlitun), Huixiangyun (halal Hunan restaurant, Zuojiazhuang branch), Bazaar Sweetheart (Yili ice cream shop), and Qianyuan Hotel (Dongzhimen Inner Street).
Halal Travel Guide: Ayutthaya - Halal Farm Stay, Gongbei and Muslim Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 29 views • 2026-05-20 23:51
Reposted from the web
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism. view all
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism.
Summary: Ayutthaya offers halal resorts, Muslim-run restaurants, old mosque communities, and a gongbei gathering connected to local Sufi practice. This travel account keeps the original route, food, lodging, religious terms, and community details in one long English article.
We stayed at a halal resort called Vanida in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The resort is on a main road west of the historic city center and has beautiful scenery. It takes a bit longer to get a Grab here than in the city center, but we were always able to get one. If you take a Grab directly from Don Mueang Airport, it only takes a little over an hour.
We stayed in a townhouse-style villa with a lake and garden right outside our door. Besides breakfast, there is a formal restaurant in the courtyard, and the prayer hall is right across from it, which is very convenient.
Because it was the off-season and there were few tourists, the resort didn't serve a buffet. Instead, they prepared egg fried rice, fried eggs, sausages, various vegetables, bread, and watermelon for us. Eating by the lake was very relaxing. They keep miniature horses, cows, sheep, chickens, and rabbits in the yard, which children would probably love. There is also a children's pool in the yard where kids can swim.
The west and south sides of the Ayutthaya World Heritage historic city are surrounded by the Chao Phraya River. The area along the river in the south is mainly a residential area for the Cham people, and there are many halal restaurants there.
We had dinner on our first night at Kruta Steak on the north bank of the river. We found online that they had beautiful riverside seating, but when we arrived, the seats were flooded, so we ate inside instead.
They specialize in steaks and various mushrooms. We ordered mushroom chicken rice, fried mushrooms, and shrimp glass noodle salad, and we also drank fresh carrot juice. Their mushrooms were really good, especially the fried mushrooms, which were very fragrant. Even though we didn't speak the same language, the servers were very friendly and kept smiling at me. They also have a prayer room, which is very convenient.
You must experience taking a small boat across the Chao Phraya River when you come to Ayutthaya. We took a small ferry at a pier in the south of the city, which easily connects to the Cham community on the south bank of the old city.
The Ayutthaya World Heritage night market is right across from Wat Mahathat. The market is just one street long and has some halal snacks like fried chicken, roti flatbread (roti), and shawarma, but there are no seats, so you have to stand and eat. The nearby historic sites are lit up at night, so it's nice to walk around the night market and look at the ruins.
We ate a type of grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves at the night market, and it was very spicy. There is also a halal stall on the south side of the night market where I had some home-style dishes, shrimp fried rice and stir-fried crown daisy, which was a nice light meal.
On Friday, while attending Jumu'ah prayers in Ayutthaya, I was invited to lunch by two aunties who were also there for prayers. The aunties drove us to the Pakistani Noor Mosque in the northern part of the old city. I was surprised to find a snack shop in the courtyard run by an auntie of mixed Chinese and Pakistani heritage. And that is how we magically ended up eating authentic chicken char siu wonton noodles in the courtyard of a Pakistani mosque in Thailand.
The auntie who owns the shop no longer speaks Chinese. Through another auntie who treated us to a meal and translated for us, she explained that her father was Chinese and settled here after marrying a Pakistani woman. Although she has never been back to China, she was still very excited to see friends (dost) from China. Judging by the barbecued pork wonton noodles (chashao yuntun mian) she makes, her father was likely from Guangdong.
Our last stop in Ayutthaya was an important center for the Sufi Qadiriyya order in Thailand, the Sheikh Muhammad Ali Shukri shrine (gongbei) by the Chao Phraya River. Although we missed the religious gathering (a'mali), we unexpectedly caught a charity event (shesan) for flood victims. We were able to see how the Thai Sufi order performs their religious feast (nieti xi) and tasted the beef rice noodles served at the mosque.
Central and Southern Thailand are influenced by the Malay people, so most religious practices follow the Shafi'i school, and there are relatively few Sufi activities. This was my first time experiencing the warmth of Thai Sufi elders in Ayutthaya. I saw them using boat oars to stir a giant pot of rice for the first time, and I also saw the process of making coconut rice, which is very similar to how the Hui Muslims in Huihui Village, Sanya, set their tables. Because we arrived early and the meal hadn't started yet, the elders here very warmly arranged for us to eat rice noodles first. The beef rice noodles with soup poured over them were delicious. I was also surprised to meet several elders who could speak English and Chinese.
Since we had to rush to Bangkok that evening, we didn't stay at the shrine (gongbei) for long. If any friends (dost) are traveling to Ayutthaya, Thailand, I highly recommend visiting this shrine (gongbei). It is a rare opportunity to see this side of Thai Sufism.
Halal Travel Guide: Bangkok Arab Street - Muslim Food, Hotels and Mosque Life
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 39 views • 2026-05-20 22:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it. view all
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it.
Summary: Bangkok's Arab Street sits beside the Nana area and serves Arab and South Asian Muslim travelers with halal restaurants, hotels, breakfast shops, and prayer spaces. This account keeps the source's route, food, hotel, mosque, and street details in clear English.
I only learned this year that Bangkok has an Arab neighborhood called Arab Alley (Soi Arab), and it is separated from Nana, Bangkok's most famous red-light district, by just one light rail line. On this trip to Bangkok, we stayed at a hotel near Arab Alley that is popular with Arab guests, just to experience the atmosphere of the area.
Stepping out of the Nana light rail station, you can see an interesting pattern: Europeans head south to the bars and nightclubs of Nana, while Arabs and other friends (dosti) head north to the Middle Eastern restaurants, agarwood shops, and import supermarkets of Arab Alley. At night, Arab Alley is brightly lit. Tourists from the Middle East and Africa keep their home routines, drinking tea, smoking shisha, and chatting late into the night, while many others shop for fruit and agarwood. The Middle Eastern restaurants in Arab Alley do not sell alcohol and are brightly lit. Many people visit with their whole families, which is a sharp contrast to Nana to the south.
The rise of Bangkok's Arab Alley started with the Grace Hotel. The Grace Hotel opened in 1966 and was a famous luxury hotel in early Bangkok. It was popular with expats, tourists, and American soldiers who had just left the Vietnam War, and many Arab tourists also chose to stay here when visiting Bangkok. In 1983, the Egyptian restaurant Shahrazad officially opened in Arab Alley. Afterward, more and more Middle Eastern restaurants opened, and Arab Alley officially became the first stop for Arab tourists visiting Bangkok. People come here to exchange money, buy SIM cards, and eat Middle Eastern breakfast to start their day of travel.
As the first Arab restaurant in Bangkok, Shahrazad on Arab Alley is definitely worth a try. This Egyptian restaurant, which opened in 1983, still keeps its 1980s decor. The storefront is low-key, the interior is clean, the waiters wear uniforms, and the Arab staff greeting guests are all smiles.
I ordered their lamb trotter soup, Egyptian lamb rice (Fatteh), and hummus (hummus), all of which were delicious. The white broth of the lamb trotter soup was very fresh; the meat must have been flown in. Lamb rice (Fatteh) is a classic holiday dish from the eastern Arab region. It mixes rice, flatbread, and chickpeas, and the lamb is fried until it smells amazing. It was so good I couldn't stop eating. Their hummus was very refreshing and easy for non-Arabs to enjoy.
Above the Shahrazad restaurant is the Nana Mosque, one of the two mosques in Arab Alley. You have to go up a staircase next to the restaurant kitchen to reach the Nana Mosque. The location is hidden, but it is said to be very crowded during Jumu'ah.
The other mosque in Arab Alley is the Sukhumvit Road Mosque, located above the Middle East Hotel. Sukhumvit Road is the main road extending southeast from Bangkok, and Arab Alley is right next to it. The Sukhumvit Road Mosque is larger than the Nana Mosque and has more people. When I went, I caught the prayer (salah). After the congregation (jama'ah) finished, those who arrived late spontaneously formed another jama'ah, which is quite rare in East and Southeast Asia. After the prayer, there were dates (tamr) given out as charity (sadaqah).
Arab Alley has several Middle Eastern import supermarkets where you can buy almost all the ingredients and spices for Arab food. You can also buy authentic, unsweetened yogurt with a strong sour taste, whereas in other Thai supermarkets, you can basically only find sweet yogurt.
We stayed at the Zenith Sukhumvit Hotel near Arab Alley. There is a light rail to the south and a canal boat to the north, though the road in front is often congested. Their halal breakfast focuses on Arab and South Asian styles, catering to the Arab and South Asian tourists staying in Arab Alley. Breakfast includes hummus (humusi) and naan bread with curry. You can order eggs made to order, and the omelet (omelette) is packed with ingredients. Although omelets are found in many countries, they actually originated in ancient Persia and spread everywhere through Eurasian trade routes.
The Shengli Hotel has a gym and a rooftop pool. From the pool, you can look down over the entire Arab Street and see the Nana red-light district in the distance. The hotel has a private prayer room on the first floor. You need to ask the front desk staff to help you open it.
Halal Travel Guide: Baotou - Hui Muslim Food, Mosques and Local Snacks
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 34 views • 2026-05-20 22:08
Reposted from the web
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it. view all
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it.
Summary: Baotou has a lively Hui Muslim food scene around its mosques, with breakfast stalls, milk tea, shaomai, lamb racks, fried cakes, and old-style local dishes. This travel account follows the food streets near Shengli Road and Wayao Gou Mosque while keeping the original restaurant names, dishes, and street details.
There is a row of Hui Muslim food stalls outside the mosque on Shengli Road in Baotou (Gansu-Qinghai-Ningxia style), and it is very lively in the morning. We first ate steamed dumplings (shaomai) with clear tea at Yipinge. They only sell beef and lamb shaomai, served six to a portion, with four free side dishes and brick tea. The place was full of local uncles and aunties. Their shaomai wrappers are truly as thin as paper. It is the best Inner Mongolian shaomai I have ever had!
The most popular breakfast spot outside the Shengli Road mosque is Lao Da Soy Milk. They specialize in soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks (youtiao), along with Baotou-style starch noodle soup (fentang). The dough sticks come in two sizes, and everyone loves them fresh from the fryer. The starch noodle soup is made with starch noodles and dried tofu, and the noodles have a great texture.
Besides shaomai and starch noodle soup, baked flatbread with fillings (beizi jiacai) is another common breakfast for people in Baotou. Many people buy from Lao Niu Beizi near the Shengli Road mosque. to the flatbread with fillings or eggs, many people also buy ox tongue pastries, brown sugar crispy triangles, spiral flatbreads (youxuan), and thick griddle cakes (guokui).
There is a shop called Huixiang Food outside the Shengli Road mosque. It is a famous Hui Muslim pastry shop in Baotou, and everyone comes here to buy treats during the holidays. Beyond the traditional pastries on display, their cheese cakes, yogurt mooncakes, and milk skin mooncakes are worth trying. The yogurt mooncakes have a very rich milky flavor.
The most popular Hui Muslim restaurant in Baotou right now is Ma Shoujiang. They have opened several branches, and we went to the Jiuyuan branch. It was still crowded even after eight o'clock. The owner, Zhou Xuezhu, is a Hui Muslim from Ningxia. He opened the restaurant in 2018, naming it after Ma Shoujiang, a famous Hui Muslim chef from Baotou during the Republic of China era. It focuses on traditional Baotou flavors and is very popular.
We ordered milk tea (guocha), hot-water dough fried cakes (tangmian youxiang), chive pockets (jiucai hezi), and a beef mixed stew (niurou shijinhui). Everything was delicious and the portions were huge. The milk tea pot was very deep, and the milk flavor was incredibly fragrant. You cannot find milk this rich and mellow in Beijing. The chive pockets were crispy and fragrant, making them very appetizing. The mixed stew contains beef, fried tofu, meatballs, chicken, corn, and wood ear mushrooms. It is stewed until very tender, perfect for cold weather. I really liked the fried tofu; it had a wonderful bean aroma.
Wayao Gou Road, in front of the Wayao Gou Mosque in Baotou, is also a street for Hui Muslim food. Both sides of the street are lined with Hui Muslim restaurants, specializing in snacks like starch noodle soup, shaomai, buckwheat noodles, lamb racks, fried cakes (zha gao), pan-fried buns (youjian bao), and meat pies.
After leaving the Baotou Northern Weapons City, we went to a nearby shop called Master Ma's Lamb Rack. For two adults, a small pot is enough, and it comes with a side dish and a staple food. Clear-broth lamb racks are rare in Beijing. You can really taste the freshness of the lamb only when you eat it at the source. Gnawing on the delicious lamb bones is really satisfying; I couldn't stop.
At their place, we also drank a beverage made from Shanxi-style crabapple fruit (haihongguo). I wonder if anyone else has tried it.
Halal Travel Guide: Sidon, Lebanon - Mosques, Old City and Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 31 views • 2026-05-20 08:14
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps. view all
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps.
Summary: Sidon, also known as Saida, is shown through its old streets, mosques, sea views, markets, and local food. This account follows the original day trip south from Beirut while keeping the place names and photos in order.
We took a minibus from the southern suburbs of Beirut and traveled 40 kilometers south to reach Sidon, the third-largest city in Lebanon. Sidon has a history of over 6,000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It played a key role in Mediterranean trade and is now a well-preserved Sunni ancient city on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
Castle
The landmark of the ancient city of Sidon is the Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr) located on a small island to the north. It was built by the Crusaders in 1228 and connects to the mainland via an 80-meter-long bridge. The Sea Castle was destroyed many times and was repaired and expanded during the Mamluk and Ottoman dynasties. Today, the Sea Castle consists of two towers. You can see many Roman-era stone columns on the outer walls, and there is a small domed mosque built during the Ottoman period on the roof.
Opposite the Sea Castle, there is a Land Castle on a hill in the southern part of the ancient city. They guard the safety of the ancient city from both ends.
The Land Castle is also called the Castle of Mu'izz or the Castle of Saint Louis. It was ordered to be built in the late 10th century by the fourth Fatimid Caliph, al-Mu'izz li-Din Allah (reigned 953-975), and was named the Castle of Mu'izz.
In 1253, King Louis IX of France (known as Saint Louis), the leader of the Seventh Crusade, ordered the reconstruction of the walls of Sidon. The Land Castle was also rebuilt during this period and has since been called the Castle of Saint Louis. Fakhr al-Din II, the Druze Emir who ruled Lebanon in the 17th century, rebuilt the castle again, but it later fell into ruins, and parts of the walls collapsed in the late Ottoman era.
In 1948, when Israel carried out a mass expulsion of Palestinians, the Land Castle served as a shelter for Palestinian refugees. To persecute Palestinian refugees, Israel ruthlessly shelled the Land Castle, causing further damage. These scars have become a witness to the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Streets
Entering the labyrinthine streets of the ancient city from the north gate, many houses are built over the streets, forming tunnels. People set up stalls in these tunnels, selling a wide variety of goods, which makes the area feel very lively.
Market
In the market inside the ancient city of Sidon, you can buy fresh dates, which have a soft, powdery texture and taste great. You can also buy traditional clothing here, which feels very unique.
Food
On the shore next to the Sea Castle is a very famous restaurant called Saida Rest House. The restaurant preserves an Ottoman-era inn (Khan) with exquisite inlaid marble and colorful carvings, and the lighting inside is excellent.
Have a mint lemonade at Bab Al Saray Cafe in the small square in the center of the old city of Sidon. It is one of the oldest cafes in Sidon, and People say their brunch is also very authentic.
The famous falafel shop in the ancient city is Falafel Abou Rami. They opened in 1988 and are very famous in Lebanon. Their falafel is made from a mixture of chickpeas and fava beans, and it is fried fresh to order. You can add pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, and yogurt to make a salad, or wrap it in flatbread (bing). We bought one wrap and it was enough for two people; the portion is huge!
Mosque
El Kikhia Mosque was built in 1625 by Mahmoud Kitkhuda and is a representative Ottoman-era mosque in Lebanon. This mosque is famous for its six domes, and the main hall features a white marble pulpit (minbar).
Across from El Kikhia Mosque is Al-Qtaishieh Mosque, where we performed our afternoon prayer (asr). Al-Qtaishieh Mosque was built in the 16th century by Sheikh Ali Ibn Mohammad Qtaish and houses beautiful Ottoman tiles.
The Great Mosque of El-Omari is the main mosque in the old city of Sidon, and it is where the Eid prayer is held. The Great Mosque of El-Omari is located on a hillside on the west side of the old city of Sidon and is built of massive sandstone over a meter thick.
The architecture of the Great Mosque of El-Omari dates back to the Crusader era; in the 13th century, the Knights Hospitaller built it as a military fortress, including a dining hall, a church, and stables. In 1291, the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil (reigned 1290-93) conquered the Crusader castles, including Sidon, ending the Crusader states that had existed for nearly two hundred years. The Mamluk dynasty then built the Great Mosque of El-Omari on the foundation of the Knights Hospitaller fortress.
The main hall of the Great Mosque of El-Omari retains the style of the Crusader church, with a ten-meter-high ceiling supported by five sturdy buttresses. The Mamluk dynasty changed the orientation of the main hall from east-west to north-south, added a prayer niche (mihrab) and a pulpit (minbar) on the south side, and added an outer courtyard with a water room and a school on the north side. In the late 19th century, the Ottoman Empire renovated the Great Mosque of El-Omari and built the current minaret.
During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Great Mosque of El-Omari was hit by artillery fire multiple times and was severely damaged. The Hariri Foundation led the restoration of the site in 1986, and it received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1989.
Al-Bahr Mosque was built in 1373 with a donation from Hassan bin Sawah; it features Mamluk-era architectural styles, including thick walls and cross-vaults, and uses granite columns from the ancient Roman period.
El Barrane Mosque is at the entrance to the northern market. Many mosques in Lebanon only open for the five daily prayers and are locked at other times. This mosque was built in the late 16th and early 17th centuries during the reign of the Druze Emir Fakhr al-Din II. Barrani means "outside," because at that time, this mosque was located outside the north gate of the old city, the Beirut Gate.
Inn
From the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse, head west through the intricate alleys to reach the massive Ottoman caravanserai, Khan al-Franj. Khan al-Franj inn was built in the late 16th century by order of the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha, who served from 1565 to 1579. The inn has a large courtyard, with the ground floor used for storing goods and the second floor for travelers to live in, which is the typical structure of an Ottoman caravanserai.
The inn served as the residence for the French consul in the early 17th century, which is why it is called the French Inn. The property is currently owned by France, and the French Cultural Institute is located here. The Hariri Foundation leased the space for 35 years, restoring the heritage site and opening it as a cultural center that hosts various events from time to time.
You can buy handicrafts made by local Lebanese women at the inn, and we bought a hand-woven hat. This is part of the Hariri Foundation's effort to create jobs for local women and promote tourism and handicrafts in Sidon.
Entering the old city of Sidon from the north, the first attraction is the underground Khan Sacy Archaeological Museum. Khan Sacy consists of several arched rooms, which date back to stables and warehouses from the Crusader period (1099-1291). Since 2010, archaeological excavations at Khan Sacy have uncovered two bathrooms from the Mamluk period (1201-1517), three wells of different architectural styles, and a multi-purpose oven from the Ottoman period (1517-1918).
Hammam
Continuing south along the main road of the old city of Sidon, you can see the largest Turkish bath in the old city, Hammam Al Jadeed. Hammam Al Jadeed was built in 1720 by the Moroccan merchant Mustafa Hammoud and is a representative example of a Turkish bath in Lebanon during the Ottoman period. The bathhouse consists of 10 rooms, including bathing, massage, and sauna areas, each connected by corridors and decorated with unique marble floors and skylights.
This bathhouse was used until 1948, when it closed due to the spread of tap water pipes. The bathhouse was later used as a carpentry workshop and warehouse, and it was damaged during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). During the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, one of the domes of the bathhouse was shelled and has not been repaired to this day. In 2018, Said Bacho, founder and president of the Sharqy Foundation for Cultural Development and Innovation, acquired the Hammam Al Jadeed bathhouse. In 2019, the bathhouse, which had been closed for 71 years, reopened as a historical site.
Workshop
After leaving the Great Mosque of Omar, we went to visit the Sidon Soap Museum. The soap workshop where the museum is located was built by Hammoud in the 17th century, taken over by the Audi family in the 1880s, and had a residence added upstairs. In the 1950s, the Audi family left Sidon for Beirut, and the building became a school. It was abandoned during the Lebanese War in the 1980s, and refugees lived on the first floor. The Audi Foundation began restoring the workshop in 1996 and opened it as a soap museum in 2000.
At the soap museum, you can learn how traditional olive oil soap is made and see the remains of the workshop's plumbing from the 17th to 19th centuries. The museum's gift shop is worth a visit. You can buy traditional olive oil soap there, as well as a variety of creative scented soaps.
Halal Travel Guide: Tripoli, Lebanon - Mosques, Old City and Food
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 22 views • 2026-05-20 08:13
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread. view all
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread.
Summary: Tripoli in northern Lebanon is shown through its old city streets, mosques, markets, and everyday food. The account follows the original route from Beirut to Tripoli while keeping the local names, religious sites, and photographs in order.
Tripoli is in northern Lebanon. It takes about an hour to get there by minibus from across the street from the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in the capital, Beirut.
In 1289, the Mamluk dynasty took Tripoli from the Crusaders. They destroyed the old city and built a new one 4 kilometers inland below the castle, turning it into an important historic city for the faith. Today, about 35 ancient buildings from the Mamluk period remain in the old city of Tripoli. This makes Tripoli the city with the second-most preserved Mamluk monuments after Cairo.
After the Ottoman Empire left Lebanon in 1918, Tripoli fell into a long decline. The Lebanese Civil War that began in 1975 hit Tripoli hard. In 1985, a battle between Sunni and Alawite militias forced 200,000 people to leave their homes and led to the Syrian army staying in Tripoli until 2005. After the civil war ended, Tripoli seemed to be forgotten, and more than half of its residents live in poverty. At the same time, conflicts between Sunni and Alawite groups happen from time to time, often with bombings and suicide attacks, which has long made Tripoli an unsuitable place for tourism.
Table of Contents
Castle
Tripoli Castle: Rebuilt by the Mamluk dynasty in 1289 and again by Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire in 1521.
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate: Named after the military musicians who played to encourage the troops.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294.
Taynal Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1336.
Attar Mosque: Built in the 1350s by a local wealthy perfume merchant; it is currently closed.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1461.
Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque): Built by the Ottoman Empire in 1561.
Tawba Mosque: Rebuilt by the Ottoman Empire in 1612.
Burtasi Mosque: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th and early 14th centuries.
Madrasas
In the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty built six madrasas around the Mansouri Great Mosque.
Hammam
Al Jadid Hammam: Built during the Ottoman period in 1740; it is currently closed.
Ezzedin Hammam: Built by the Mamluk dynasty in the late 13th century; it is currently open for visitors.
Market
Haraj Market: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty.
Inn
Al Saboun Soap Inn: Built in 1480 during the late Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Misriyyin Soap Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional soap.
Khayyatin Tailor Inn: Built in 1339 during the Mamluk dynasty, where you can buy traditional clothing.
Askar Inn: Built in the 14th century during the Mamluk dynasty, currently closed.
Food
Cheese flatbread in the market.
Eat at Akra Restaurant: Traditional bean stew brunch.
Castle
The site of Tripoli Castle was originally a Shia cemetery from the Fatimid dynasty. During the Frankish Crusader siege of Tripoli in 1102-1103, the Crusader leader Raymond of Saint-Gilles ordered it to be built into a castle, so it was later also called Saint-Gilles Castle. In 1289, after the Mamluk dynasty captured Tripoli, they rebuilt the castle using many Roman columns and other building materials found nearby. In 1521, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent rebuilt the castle again, changing the arrow slits into cannon ports. In the early 19th century, the Ottoman governor of Tripoli carried out the last major renovation of the castle, giving it its current appearance.
The castle gate consists of two towers. The moat in front originally had a drawbridge, which has now been replaced by a stone bridge. The black and white marble facade on the gate was built by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1521. The stone inscription above reads: 'May the Emir never cease to obey his command, restoring this sacred castle, making it a strong fortress forever.'
City Gates
Al-Mahatra Gate in the old city of Tripoli. The name of this gate comes from the military musicians who played to encourage the army. Now that the war is over, houses have been built on top of the gate, and it has become a quiet alley.
Mosques
Mansouri Great Mosque, also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli, was ordered to be built in 1294 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil. It is the first building constructed by the Mamluk dynasty in Tripoli.
In 1109, the French Crusaders occupied Tripoli. For the next 180 years, Tripoli was ruled by European Christian nobles. In 1289, the Mamluk army arrived at the walls of Tripoli carrying large catapults. Under the assault of catapults, the two towers of Tripoli soon collapsed. The Mamluk army stormed the city and leveled it to the ground.
Shortly after, the Mamluk dynasty began building a new city at the foot of the castle on Tripoli's Pilgrim Mountain (Jabal al-Hajj). This included the Great Mansouri Mosque, built on the ruins of a Crusader church at the base of the hill. The mosque's minaret (mabkhara) is likely part of the Crusader Church of St. Mary, and the main gate may also incorporate the original Crusader church entrance. The main prayer hall was built by the Mamluk dynasty in 1294, and the courtyard's surrounding colonnades were added in 1314 by the Mamluk Sultan Al-Nasir Muhammad.
Taynal Mosque was built in 1336 by order of the Mamluk governor of Tripoli, Amir Taynal. The main prayer hall of Taynal Mosque consists of two consecutive halls. The most ornate feature is the entrance to the second hall, which has a gate with a stalactite-style cornice (muqarnas) and uses the ablaq technique of alternating black and white marble. Inside the prayer hall are some ancient Corinthian columns, which are thought to have come from a Crusader-era church or an even older Roman temple.
Attar Mosque was built in the 1350s by a wealthy local perfume merchant named Badr al-Din al-Attar on the ruins of a Crusader church. It was the first mosque in Tripoli not built by the Mamluks. Attar Mosque is known as one of the most beautiful mosques in Tripoli, but it has been closed for several years for renovations.
Al-Uwaysiyat Mosque was first built during the Mamluk period in 1461 and was renovated in 1534 during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Hanging Mosque (Muallaq Mosque) was commissioned in 1561 by the Ottoman governor of Tripoli, Mahmud Lutfi al-Za'im, during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. The first floor of the Hanging Mosque is a culvert on the street level, so you must take the stairs to the side to reach the second-floor prayer hall. The octagonal minaret next to the prayer hall is very eye-catching and features two levels of balconies.
The construction date of Tawba Mosque is unknown, though it is believed to have been built during the Mamluk period. Because it sits right next to the riverbank, the stone inscription marking its construction was likely washed away in a flood. The inscription currently at the mosque entrance states that it was rebuilt after a flood in 1612. Many mosques in Lebanon lock their doors outside of prayer times, so I could not enter and only saw the octagonal minaret.
Burtasi Mosque was built by Isa ibn Umar al-Burtasi during the Mamluk period. Since Isa passed away in 1324, we can assume the mosque was built between the late 13th century and 1324. A flood in 1955 destroyed all the houses around Burtasi Mosque, and it is now the only building left standing on the riverbank. The minaret above the main gate is considered the most beautiful minaret in Tripoli. Above the three-tiered muqarnas cornice is a square balcony featuring Moorish-style double-arched windows. This type of double arch is a classic structure found in Muslim architecture in Andalusia, southern Spain.
Madrasas
During the 14th century, the Mamluk dynasty established six colleges around the Great Mansouri Mosque, which trained a large number of students. These include al-Khayriyya Hasan (1309 or later), al-Qartawiyya (c. 1326), al-Shamsiyya (1349), al-Nasiriyya (between 1354–60), al-Nuriyya (14th century), and the Mashhad Madrasa. The al-Qartawiyya Madrasa outside the east wall of the Mansouri Great Mosque is the most magnificent, though we could not find the main gate in the maze-like alleys of the old city, we did see the calligraphy carvings on the school's wall.
Hammam
Right next to the Hanging Mosque is the Al Jadid bathhouse (Hammam), built in 1740 during the Ottoman period, which was used until the 1970s and closed after the outbreak of the Lebanese Civil War. This bathhouse was a gift to Tripoli from the Damascus governor Asad Pasha Al Azem, and its gate is exquisite, featuring a fourteen-link chain carved from a single piece of stone.
The Ezzedin bathhouse (Hammam) was the first public bathhouse built by the Mamluk dynasty after they occupied Tripoli, commissioned by Emir Ezzedin Aibek (who ruled Tripoli from 1293 to 1298) and constructed using many marble pieces from the Byzantine and Crusader eras. This bathhouse operated from the end of the 13th century until 1975, when it closed due to the start of the Lebanese Civil War. It has now been restored and is free to visit.
Market
The markets in Tripoli's old city are very lively, which is a sharp contrast to Beirut. Ibn Battuta wrote in his travelogue: 'Afterward, we arrived at the city of Tripoli.' It is an important town in Sham, with several small rivers flowing through it. It is surrounded by fragrant orchards and lush green trees. The sea surrounds it with its deep blue water, and the earth nourishes it with its treasures. The goods in the market are dazzling and truly amazing.
We drank street coffee at the market and saw all kinds of dairy products, which was very interesting.
The Haraj market was built in the 14th century and has an 8-meter-high vaulted ceiling supported by black granite columns, some of which may be architectural pieces from the ancient Roman or Byzantine eras. The market has two floors; the upper rooms were for merchants to stay in and had wooden windows through which their female relatives could look down at the market, while the lower floor was for selling goods.
The 1983 bombing during the Lebanese Civil War caused severe damage to the Haraj market, which was later restored to its current state after a long process.
Inn
Tripoli has always been famous for producing perfume and handmade soap, with the most well-known brand being Bader Hassoun's Khan Al Saboun (Soap Inn). The history of the Hassoun family producing soap in Tripoli dates back to the early Mamluk dynasty in 1256, while the Soap Inn (Khan Al Saboun) in the old city of Tripoli was built in the late Mamluk dynasty in 1480.
The Soap Inn has a courtyard with two levels of galleries and a pool in the middle. The second floor of the gallery was for caravan merchants to stay, while the first floor was for making and selling soap. People say the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent once received soap from Tripoli as a tribute, and at the urging of the Queen, Suleiman ordered the expansion of the Soap Inn in Tripoli. After it was built, the soap inn became a trade center for making and selling soap, and it started exporting soap to Europe. Today, the Bader Hassoun soap shop is located right here.
In 1993, Bader Hassoun's jewelry store in the old city of Tripoli was robbed, which led him to decide to restore his family's tradition of making soap. He and his wife spent one night making traditional soap with olive oil, dates, glycerin, natural coloring, and spices, and it all sold out the next day.
We bought the most traditional natural soap at the shop, which comes in three scents: green tea, lavender, and cedar. Cedar is an important symbol of Lebanon, and Lebanon is also known as the Land of Cedars. We also bought an olive oil soap safe for babies, which I can use for Suleiman.
Misriyyin Inn is located in the northern part of the old city of Tripoli and dates back to the Mamluk period in the 14th century. There is a Sharkass soap shop on the second floor of the inn, and they have been making traditional olive oil soap since 1803. The Tripoli Soap shop on the first floor opened in 1937, and you can watch the process of making natural soap on-site here.
Right next to the Ezzedin bathhouse is the Tailors' Inn (Khan Khayyatin), a Mamluk-era commercial inn built by Prince Badr al-Din in 1339 that mainly sold needles, thread, textiles, and other sewing supplies. This is not a typical courtyard inn, but consists of two rows of shops with stores on the first floor and guest rooms on the second, which are not connected in the middle, and the top is covered by ten horizontally connected arches. People say it has its current shape because it was built on the foundation of a Byzantine-Crusader building.
Askar Inn (Khan) was built during the Mamluk period in the 14th century and is the largest commercial inn in Tripoli.
Food
Cheese flatbread (manakish) at the market, which is likely the most classic snack in the market.
We had a traditional stewed bean brunch at Akra restaurant, ordering traditional stewed fava beans and chickpeas, along with hummus topped with cashews and peanuts, all eaten inside pita bread.
Halal Travel Guide: Tunis Medina Food, Guesthouses & Markets, Part 1
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 21 views • 2026-05-20 02:20
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town. view all
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town.
Summary: This is the first part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, with attention to historic guesthouses, food, markets, and daily street scenes. It keeps the original place names, cultural notes, and photographs in source order.
The Medina of Tunis was founded in 698. It grew to its current size after becoming the capital of the Hafsid dynasty in 1228. At that time, the Medina of Tunis was one of the grandest cities in Africa, with a population of 100,000, including many Andalusians who fled Spain. During the rule of the Muradids in 1613, the city of Tunis underwent large-scale construction, and many of those buildings still stand today. In 1979, the Medina of Tunis was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The main gate of the Medina of Tunis is Bab al-Bhar on the east side. Tourists visiting the old city usually take a taxi to this spot. There are stalls selling cactus fruit at the gate. It was my first time trying it; they cut it up and sell it by the piece for a cheap price.
Inside the east gate is the main market of the old city. The items sold here are geared toward tourists, and it is the only place in the old city where you will see Chinese tourists.
Accommodation
Just inside the east gate of the old city is the Hotel Royal Victoria, built in 1914. This was the site of the British Consulate in Tunis, founded in 1662. It was rebuilt in the Moorish Revival style in 1914. After Tunisia gained independence in 1956, it became an embassy. It opened as the Hotel Royal Victoria after the embassy moved in 2004. Many guesthouses in the Medina of Tunis do not allow check-ins in the middle of the night. If you arrive in Tunis on a late-night flight, I recommend this hotel, as it is also very easy to reach.
The hotel decor is very retro. Once you step inside, it feels like you have traveled back a hundred years. A plaque on the hotel's outer wall mentions the Treaty of Peace and Commerce between Great Britain and Tunis signed in 1662. In the late 17th century, Tunisia was a regency of the Ottoman Empire. At that time, Tunisia was nominally loyal to the Ottoman Sultan and provided military support, but it actually held the initiative in foreign trade and diplomacy, and it practiced state-sanctioned piracy. In 1662, Britain and Tunisia signed a treaty. Britain would redeem all slaves at the price they were first sold for in the market. At the same time, British ships would not be attacked, British merchants could practice their religion freely and be free from persecution, and all trade would be subject to fixed taxes. From then on, British merchants began to build trade networks in Tunisia. Imported British cloth began to be sold in Tunisian markets, and the British also ate grain products produced in Tunisia.
The hallways, elevators, and ceilings of the Hotel Royal Victoria are decorated with traditional patterns and are very ornate.
The traditional houses inside the old city are definitely worth staying in. There are several traditional houses in the old city where you can stay, but most are private guesthouses. Only a very small number are run by formal hotels, and the prices are very high. The environment of these guesthouses is certainly not as good as high-end hotels, but you can experience the real living environment of the Medina, so it is worth staying for a night.
We stayed at Dar Zyne this time. It is less than a 10-minute walk from the east gate of the old city along the bazaar. The interior decoration is very traditional, just like the old city scenery you would imagine. The room size listed on the booking website is fake; the rooms are actually quite small. Eating breakfast leisurely in the courtyard in the morning feels very worth it.
Inside and outside Dar Zyne, you meet history.
Food
There is a famous Tunisian restaurant called Bab Tounès in a small alley just inside the east gate of the old city, but it does not have the trendy vibe you see back home, and there are not many customers at night. They do not accept credit cards, so remember to bring cash.
They follow the typical Tunisian way of ordering: after you choose your main course, they automatically bring out appetizers and baguette bread. The appetizers are the common Tunisian green pepper salad (Mechouia) and Tunisian salad. Tunisian salad is made of diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions mixed with olive oil, topped with boiled eggs and tuna. Mechouia salad contains green peppers, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other ingredients; Tunisians love it, and it is rich in vitamins and very healthy.
The snack Brik pastry is a North African Berber dish. The filling usually contains eggs, tuna, harissa chili paste (Harissa), and parsley, then it is wrapped in a crispy dough called Malsouka or Warka and deep-fried.
The main course is lamb couscous (Couscous). Couscous is a staple food for the Berber people, made by rubbing semolina into millet-sized grains and then drying them.
The Tunisian specialty dessert Assidat Zgougou is something every family makes during the Prophet's Birthday, then shares with relatives and neighbors.
Assidat Zgougou is made from Mediterranean pine nut powder, flour, milk, and sugar. The dark layer at the bottom is made by grinding Mediterranean pine nuts and cooking them with wheat flour. The top layer is a milk pudding made from milk, starch, sugar, eggs, and orange blossom essence, topped with crushed nuts.
Near our homestay, there is a Tunisian family restaurant called Dar Essafa located in an old house. A grandmother is the owner and chef, and a young Black man is the waiter who speaks English. The shop also has an English menu and follows the same classic set meal style, where you can choose couscous or spaghetti. We had the couscous, served with Tunisian salad, tuna Brik pastry, and baguette, followed by tea and Makroudh cookies, which felt like a real home-cooked Tunisian meal. Makroudh is a classic dessert for breaking the fast in the North African Maghreb region. The outside is made of semolina, and the inside is filled with date paste and dried fruits, then baked and soaked in syrup.
Except for the first day when I had breakfast in the homestay courtyard, I chose restaurants in the Medina old city for breakfast for the following days. This Cafe Restaurant M'rabet is located just west of the Great Mosque of Kairouan (Zaytuna Mosque). The environment inside is excellent, and it is very popular with locals and tourists; if it were back home, it would definitely be a trendy spot for photos.
The ancient building where M'rabet is located was founded in the early 17th century by Ali Thabet, who was a close advisor to Youssef Dey, the ruler of the Ottoman dynasty in Tunisia. This place was a long-time meeting spot for the Ottoman Janissaries and features unique stone pillars and stone benches. The breakfast at the shop is very hearty, with many options ranging from small to large portions. We actually chose the large single-person meal, which includes coffee, fruit, juice, egg pancakes, sausages, various cheeses, and various breads; it is a true example of a healthy Mediterranean diet.
El Ali Restaurant & Cafe in the old town is also inside an old building, but the rooftop terrace is very bright and perfect for a relaxing brunch. We ordered the single-person breakfast set, which comes with various cheeses, bread, fried eggs, a large sausage and cheese wrap, lemonade, and coffee; it was just the right amount for two people.
Essaraya Restaurant is likely the most ornately decorated restaurant in the old town, styled entirely after the 18th and 19th-century Husainid dynasty, with very old-school waiters and live oud music performances. The entrance is inside the old town market and is very easy to miss; we happened to run into a waiter guiding people at the door when we arrived. I also recommend coming during the day, as they turn on purple mood lighting in the hall at night, which does not look good in photos.
At Essaraya Restaurant, we ordered a Tunisian-style tomato fish stew called Kabkabou, seasoned with onions, black olives, tomatoes, harissa, saffron, and capers. Capers are native to the Mediterranean coast, and the unique aroma in smoked salmon comes from capers. We also ordered an appetizer platter, which is quite worth it; it includes a little bit of everything so you can try them all at once.
When wandering around the old town, you must have a cup of mint tea on the street. El Qobba, located inside the West Gate, has a great atmosphere with very traditional interior decor and wonderful outdoor views. Ordering a cup of mint tea to chat and enjoy the scenery is very pleasant.
Tunisian chapati flatbread on the streets of the old town. Tunisian chapati flatbread has the same name as Indian chapati bread but is very different. Tunisian chapati flatbread is filled with eggs, minced tuna, and harissa; the ones in the north are round, while the Chapati Mahdia in the eastern coastal regions are semi-circular.
Desserts and lemonade in the market; eat while you walk to experience the charm of the old town.
Halal Travel Guide: Tunis Medina Food, Guesthouses & Markets, Part 2
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 30 views • 2026-05-20 01:49
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis. view all
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis. view all
Reposted from the web
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis.
Summary: This is the second part of a walk through the Medina of Tunis, covering historic guesthouses, food, shopping, and street life. The English version preserves the original names, places, food details, and photographs.
The old city has many street food stalls, and there is a huge variety of snacks inside.
Shopping
You can find shops selling traditional Tunisian robes (Djellaba) in the area south of the Great Mosque of Ez-Zitouna. These hand-embroidered robes are popular in the Maghreb regions of Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco, and both men and women wear them. Djellaba robes come in cotton for summer and wool for winter, with the wool versions usually made from sheep raised in the mountains.
The owner of one shop welcomed us warmly and even let me try one on. They make robes for various national leaders, so the quality is very high, with each piece costing over a thousand.
There are also shops in the old city selling traditional caps (Chechia). The Chechia cap comes from the Turkish fez. In 1829, Ottoman Sultan Mahmud issued a decree requiring all officials to wear the fez. It became a symbol of the Ottoman Empire and spread to the Husainid dynasty of Tunisia, which was nominally part of the empire. Tunisian Chechia caps are smaller than the fez.
The hat market (Souk El Chaouachine) in the Medina of Tunis still has the last remaining handmade Chechia craftsmen, but unfortunately, I could not find them when I visited. If any fellow Muslims (dost) visit Tunis, you can try to look for them.
The streets of the old city are filled with shops selling copperware, perfumes, spices, and old books, just as you would imagine an ancient Arab city.
Hand-painted doorways in the old city streets are becoming increasingly rare.
Day and night in the old city market. There are many street tea houses here where people drink tea and chat until late at night.
Strolling around
Street views of the Medina of Tunis.
Halal Travel Guide: Eid al-Fitr in Beijing
Articles • ali2007fr posted the article • 0 comments • 27 views • 2026-05-20 01:48
Reposted from the web
Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang). view all
Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang). view all
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Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang).
Summary: This article records Eid al-Fitr celebrations in Beijing from the viewpoint of a Muslim traveler. It keeps the original scenes, prayers, food, people, and photographs while avoiding extra commentary not found in the Chinese source.
Because of a bad pollen allergy, fasting this year was very difficult. My brain often felt like it was shutting down in the afternoon. After keeping at it, I finally finished my duties and welcomed the noble Eid al-Fitr.
Before the Eid prayer, there are seven recommended acts (mustahabb). At dawn (fajr), I made sure to eat one thing, so I ate a date. I performed the full ritual wash (ghusl), brushed my teeth, put on clean clothes before leaving, lit some incense (balan xiang), recited the takbir quietly on the way to the mosque, and paid my zakat al-fitr upon entering.
This year, I went to the Balizhuang Mosque just like in previous years. By seven in the morning, the mosque was already full of friends (dosti). There were international friends, brothers visiting Beijing from other places, local residents of Balizhuang, and the elders who broke their fast at the mosque every day during Ramadan.
The mosque had already prepared meat porridge, fried dough (youxiang), and various pastries and fruits. To make the meat porridge, you must crush the oil out of beef or lamb bones a day in advance, remove the bone fragments, and then simmer it with barley kernels. Drinking a bowl on the morning of Eid al-Fitr is very comforting for the stomach.
Beijing-style fried dough (youxiang) is made with leavened dough. It puffs up when fried and becomes very fluffy. After draining the oil, you should tear it apart to eat it.
After everyone caught up, chatted, and drank the good meat porridge, it was time for the ceremony of welcoming the imam to the main hall. Everyone held a stick of incense (balan xiang), followed the imam, recited the takbir, and walked slowly into the main hall.
After entering the hall, we began the opening scripture recitation, which consisted of the eighteen traditional surahs (suole) of North China. Each person in the front recited one surah, and the last person recited the Al-Fatiha and the first five verses of Al-Baqarah.
After the scripture reading, Imam Yang gave a sermon (wa'z) about the meaning of Eid al-Fitr, encouraged good deeds, warned against evil, and explained the procedure for the Eid prayer.
Then, we began the two-unit (rak'ah) Eid prayer. After the prayer, Imam Jin stood on the pulpit (minbar), held a wooden staff (al-asa), and recited the sermon (khutbah). Then we prayed four units of voluntary prayer (nafl). After finishing, we recited Al-Fatiha twice, followed by two duas. Finally, everyone gathered in a circle to shake hands. In North China, it is customary to recite blessings upon the Prophet (salawat) while shaking hands, while some friends from other places say 'salam' when shaking hands.
When the prayer ended, everyone lined up at the door to receive meat porridge and fried dough (youxiang). After that, we went out to the vegetable market near the mosque to buy ingredients for making starch noodle soup (fen tang).
After leaving the mosque, we went to Tiankelai at Jintai Road intersection for a meal. We ordered stir-fried eggs with yellow chives and shrimp, snow peas with garlic, mustard-marinated cabbage (jiemodun), a platter of savory and sweet fried yam rolls (juan-guo), slow-cooked beef (wei niurou), and roast duck. The stir-fried dishes are not pre-made, so you can ask them to leave out sugar or MSG. The slow-cooked beef was very tender, and my family loved it. The mustard-marinated cabbage was very pungent and a great appetizer. The roast duck is roasted to order. We waited an hour for it, but it tasted pretty good.
There are not many traditional Beijing-style stir-fry restaurants around the East Fourth Ring Road, so it is impressive that the old Niujie brand Tiankelai opened a branch here. The restaurant is right next to Jintai Road subway station. It is not crowded on weekday lunchtimes, and the environment is nice. The only regret is that many dishes on the menu were marked as unavailable, perhaps due to the chef, which limited our choices quite a bit.
We passed by the Longfu Mosque snack shop on Dongsi North Street.
I came home after work and had some noodle soup (fen tang). On this day, all Xinjiang Hui Muslims make festive noodle soup. They prepare pea starch in advance and then cook braised lamb chops. Stir-fry meat slices, cabbage, greens, and tomatoes, add water, then mix in the braised lamb chops and starch cubes to finish. One bowl is simply not enough. It tastes best when served with fried dough (youxiang).