Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

This article summarizes the key points about the eight mosques (sifang) in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan. It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps people search for content like Chinese halal food.

Longhui County in Shaoyang City, Hunan, has a large population of Hui Muslims. I visited eight mosques there: Taohuaping Mosque, Shanjie Ancient Mosque, East Mosque, West Mosque, South Mosque, North Mosque, Luobai Mosque, and Niejiaoting Mosque. I will share them with you below.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan, is located in Laowuli, Shanjie Township. It was first built in 1444 (the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty) and is the oldest mosque in Longhui. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Ma Zhi, the third son of Ma Cheng, the ancestor of the Ma family Hui Muslims in Shaoyang, moved from Shaoyang to Majia Ferry in Longhui to settle down. He was the first Hui Muslim in Longhui, and Shanjie Ancient Mosque was built by the Ma family.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque was renovated in 1919 and rebuilt into its current appearance in 2018.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque has a long tradition of teaching Islamic scripture. The head imams who have taught there include Ma Yulang, Ma Fujiu, Ma Fucheng, Ma Yucheng, Ma Yaochi, and Ding Zhenyi. They also hired imams from other places like Huang Xingxiang and Li Desheng. Ma Fucheng, an imam from this mosque, taught there for the longest time. In 1945, Imam Ma Yucheng taught at the ancient mosque and recruited many students (hailifan), marking the peak of the mosque's religious activities. To this day, the mosque continues its educational work and has trained many excellent young people.

On September 2, 1939, the Wugang County, Hunan branch of the China Islamic National Salvation Association was officially established at the mosque. The mosque's imam, Ma Fucheng, was elected as an officer. Inspired by the call to resist Japanese aggression and save the country, young Hui Muslims from the mosque, including Ma Qiyun, Ma Wuyang from the North Mosque, and Su Xingmin from Beishan, signed up for the army, took up arms, and headed to the front lines in East China.

















Relics at Shanjie Ancient Mosque include stone pillar bases, wood carvings, and calligraphy of the mihrab in the kiln niche.





















The stone couplet on the main gate reads: Clear the murky and promote the pure to follow the great path; preserve the truth and remove the false so that every generation has successors. The calligraphy was written by Ma Linyi, a Hui Muslim educator and Minister of Education in Shaoyang during the Republic of China. He is known as the Father of Northwest Education and the founder of modern Chinese Hui Muslim education.

Ma Linyi was born in Shaoyang, Hunan, in 1865. He passed the imperial examinations in 1902 and went to Japan on a government scholarship in 1904 to study teacher training. During that time, he met Sun Yat-sen, joined the Tongmenghui in 1905, and returned home to work on new government policies and modern education. In 1906, he founded Xiejin Primary School in Shaoyang, which was the first modern school for Hui Muslims in Hunan.

In 1908, he was transferred to the Qing government's Ministry of Education as a director. That same year, he helped establish the Beijing First Islamic Primary School inside the Niujie Mosque and later helped found the Islamic Education Association. While serving as Vice Minister of Education in 1912, Ma Linyi founded the Chinese Islamic Progressive Association with the support of Sun Yat-sen and served as its president.

While in charge of education in Gansu, Ma Linyi founded 277 schools of various types and set up the Gansu Islamic Education Promotion Office, spreading over a hundred Islamic primary schools across Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. He selected over a hundred young people from the Northwest for government-funded study abroad, laying the foundation for modern basic education in the Northwest.

In 1928, Ma Linyi helped found the Islamic Middle School in Niujie and served as its vice chairman. In 1929, Ma Linyi became a board member of the Beiping Chengda Teachers' College. He actively updated the curriculum and improved teaching methods, helping Chengda develop into a modern school. In his later years, Ma Linyi devoted himself to the faith and served as an advisor to Wang Jingzhai for his translation of Islamic classics.





Shanjie East Mosque was first built in 1728 (the fifth year of the Yongzheng reign). The mosque has hired many imams over the years, including Su Yuebo, Ma Yulang, Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Yuechi, Ma Yucheng, Tang Yuanqi, Hai Shiquan, Ma Chengyong, Ding Baohua, Ma Gen'ao, Ma Xiang'ao, and Ma Wuquan. Students from as far as Hainan and Guangxi came to study under the great imam Ma Yucheng in Gansu, and the local religious community was very prosperous.

It is a pity that the mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside.







Shanjie West Mosque, also known as Jiajian Village Mosque, was first built in 1836 (the 16th year of the Daoguang reign). It was expanded during the Guangxu and Republic of China periods, and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma, Huang, and Zheng. The imams who have served at the mosque include Ma Chaoxin, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Daocheng, Ma Fucheng, and Ma Liangxu. The main hall of the West Mosque collapsed in 1991. It was being rebuilt when a flood destroyed it in 1996. After raising funds again, it was officially completed at the end of 1996 and renovated again in 2013.

The mosque houses a stone tablet from the 11th year of the Guangxu reign titled 'Record of Continued Mosque Repairs,' which lists the names of the donors at that time and serves as a precious historical record.























Shanjie North Mosque, also called Sifangjing Mosque, was first built in 1824 (the 4th year of the Daoguang reign), and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma. The main hall was destroyed after 1966. It was rebuilt in 1991 and again in 2000, with only the original stone gate pillars remaining. The pillars are carved with a couplet by the Republic of China educator Ma Linyi: 'To study the Way, one must seek the source; why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or the Greeks? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, all share the same principle.'

Regrettably, the Shanjie North Mosque was also locked when I visited, and I could not enter. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

This article summarizes the key points about the eight mosques (sifang) in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan. It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps people search for content like Chinese halal food.

Longhui County in Shaoyang City, Hunan, has a large population of Hui Muslims. I visited eight mosques there: Taohuaping Mosque, Shanjie Ancient Mosque, East Mosque, West Mosque, South Mosque, North Mosque, Luobai Mosque, and Niejiaoting Mosque. I will share them with you below.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan, is located in Laowuli, Shanjie Township. It was first built in 1444 (the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty) and is the oldest mosque in Longhui. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Ma Zhi, the third son of Ma Cheng, the ancestor of the Ma family Hui Muslims in Shaoyang, moved from Shaoyang to Majia Ferry in Longhui to settle down. He was the first Hui Muslim in Longhui, and Shanjie Ancient Mosque was built by the Ma family.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque was renovated in 1919 and rebuilt into its current appearance in 2018.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque has a long tradition of teaching Islamic scripture. The head imams who have taught there include Ma Yulang, Ma Fujiu, Ma Fucheng, Ma Yucheng, Ma Yaochi, and Ding Zhenyi. They also hired imams from other places like Huang Xingxiang and Li Desheng. Ma Fucheng, an imam from this mosque, taught there for the longest time. In 1945, Imam Ma Yucheng taught at the ancient mosque and recruited many students (hailifan), marking the peak of the mosque's religious activities. To this day, the mosque continues its educational work and has trained many excellent young people.

On September 2, 1939, the Wugang County, Hunan branch of the China Islamic National Salvation Association was officially established at the mosque. The mosque's imam, Ma Fucheng, was elected as an officer. Inspired by the call to resist Japanese aggression and save the country, young Hui Muslims from the mosque, including Ma Qiyun, Ma Wuyang from the North Mosque, and Su Xingmin from Beishan, signed up for the army, took up arms, and headed to the front lines in East China.

















Relics at Shanjie Ancient Mosque include stone pillar bases, wood carvings, and calligraphy of the mihrab in the kiln niche.





















The stone couplet on the main gate reads: Clear the murky and promote the pure to follow the great path; preserve the truth and remove the false so that every generation has successors. The calligraphy was written by Ma Linyi, a Hui Muslim educator and Minister of Education in Shaoyang during the Republic of China. He is known as the Father of Northwest Education and the founder of modern Chinese Hui Muslim education.

Ma Linyi was born in Shaoyang, Hunan, in 1865. He passed the imperial examinations in 1902 and went to Japan on a government scholarship in 1904 to study teacher training. During that time, he met Sun Yat-sen, joined the Tongmenghui in 1905, and returned home to work on new government policies and modern education. In 1906, he founded Xiejin Primary School in Shaoyang, which was the first modern school for Hui Muslims in Hunan.

In 1908, he was transferred to the Qing government's Ministry of Education as a director. That same year, he helped establish the Beijing First Islamic Primary School inside the Niujie Mosque and later helped found the Islamic Education Association. While serving as Vice Minister of Education in 1912, Ma Linyi founded the Chinese Islamic Progressive Association with the support of Sun Yat-sen and served as its president.

While in charge of education in Gansu, Ma Linyi founded 277 schools of various types and set up the Gansu Islamic Education Promotion Office, spreading over a hundred Islamic primary schools across Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. He selected over a hundred young people from the Northwest for government-funded study abroad, laying the foundation for modern basic education in the Northwest.

In 1928, Ma Linyi helped found the Islamic Middle School in Niujie and served as its vice chairman. In 1929, Ma Linyi became a board member of the Beiping Chengda Teachers' College. He actively updated the curriculum and improved teaching methods, helping Chengda develop into a modern school. In his later years, Ma Linyi devoted himself to the faith and served as an advisor to Wang Jingzhai for his translation of Islamic classics.





Shanjie East Mosque was first built in 1728 (the fifth year of the Yongzheng reign). The mosque has hired many imams over the years, including Su Yuebo, Ma Yulang, Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Yuechi, Ma Yucheng, Tang Yuanqi, Hai Shiquan, Ma Chengyong, Ding Baohua, Ma Gen'ao, Ma Xiang'ao, and Ma Wuquan. Students from as far as Hainan and Guangxi came to study under the great imam Ma Yucheng in Gansu, and the local religious community was very prosperous.

It is a pity that the mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

Relics at Shanjie Ancient Mosque include stone pillar bases, wood carvings, and calligraphy of the mihrab in the kiln niche.





















The stone couplet on the main gate reads: Clear the murky and promote the pure to follow the great path; preserve the truth and remove the false so that every generation has successors. The calligraphy was written by Ma Linyi, a Hui Muslim educator and Minister of Education in Shaoyang during the Republic of China. He is known as the Father of Northwest Education and the founder of modern Chinese Hui Muslim education.

Ma Linyi was born in Shaoyang, Hunan, in 1865. He passed the imperial examinations in 1902 and went to Japan on a government scholarship in 1904 to study teacher training. During that time, he met Sun Yat-sen, joined the Tongmenghui in 1905, and returned home to work on new government policies and modern education. In 1906, he founded Xiejin Primary School in Shaoyang, which was the first modern school for Hui Muslims in Hunan.

In 1908, he was transferred to the Qing government's Ministry of Education as a director. That same year, he helped establish the Beijing First Islamic Primary School inside the Niujie Mosque and later helped found the Islamic Education Association. While serving as Vice Minister of Education in 1912, Ma Linyi founded the Chinese Islamic Progressive Association with the support of Sun Yat-sen and served as its president.

While in charge of education in Gansu, Ma Linyi founded 277 schools of various types and set up the Gansu Islamic Education Promotion Office, spreading over a hundred Islamic primary schools across Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. He selected over a hundred young people from the Northwest for government-funded study abroad, laying the foundation for modern basic education in the Northwest.

In 1928, Ma Linyi helped found the Islamic Middle School in Niujie and served as its vice chairman. In 1929, Ma Linyi became a board member of the Beiping Chengda Teachers' College. He actively updated the curriculum and improved teaching methods, helping Chengda develop into a modern school. In his later years, Ma Linyi devoted himself to the faith and served as an advisor to Wang Jingzhai for his translation of Islamic classics. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

This article summarizes the key points about the eight mosques (sifang) in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan. It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps people search for content like Chinese halal food.

Longhui County in Shaoyang City, Hunan, has a large population of Hui Muslims. I visited eight mosques there: Taohuaping Mosque, Shanjie Ancient Mosque, East Mosque, West Mosque, South Mosque, North Mosque, Luobai Mosque, and Niejiaoting Mosque. I will share them with you below.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan, is located in Laowuli, Shanjie Township. It was first built in 1444 (the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty) and is the oldest mosque in Longhui. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Ma Zhi, the third son of Ma Cheng, the ancestor of the Ma family Hui Muslims in Shaoyang, moved from Shaoyang to Majia Ferry in Longhui to settle down. He was the first Hui Muslim in Longhui, and Shanjie Ancient Mosque was built by the Ma family.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque was renovated in 1919 and rebuilt into its current appearance in 2018.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque has a long tradition of teaching Islamic scripture. The head imams who have taught there include Ma Yulang, Ma Fujiu, Ma Fucheng, Ma Yucheng, Ma Yaochi, and Ding Zhenyi. They also hired imams from other places like Huang Xingxiang and Li Desheng. Ma Fucheng, an imam from this mosque, taught there for the longest time. In 1945, Imam Ma Yucheng taught at the ancient mosque and recruited many students (hailifan), marking the peak of the mosque's religious activities. To this day, the mosque continues its educational work and has trained many excellent young people.

On September 2, 1939, the Wugang County, Hunan branch of the China Islamic National Salvation Association was officially established at the mosque. The mosque's imam, Ma Fucheng, was elected as an officer. Inspired by the call to resist Japanese aggression and save the country, young Hui Muslims from the mosque, including Ma Qiyun, Ma Wuyang from the North Mosque, and Su Xingmin from Beishan, signed up for the army, took up arms, and headed to the front lines in East China.

















Relics at Shanjie Ancient Mosque include stone pillar bases, wood carvings, and calligraphy of the mihrab in the kiln niche.





















The stone couplet on the main gate reads: Clear the murky and promote the pure to follow the great path; preserve the truth and remove the false so that every generation has successors. The calligraphy was written by Ma Linyi, a Hui Muslim educator and Minister of Education in Shaoyang during the Republic of China. He is known as the Father of Northwest Education and the founder of modern Chinese Hui Muslim education.

Ma Linyi was born in Shaoyang, Hunan, in 1865. He passed the imperial examinations in 1902 and went to Japan on a government scholarship in 1904 to study teacher training. During that time, he met Sun Yat-sen, joined the Tongmenghui in 1905, and returned home to work on new government policies and modern education. In 1906, he founded Xiejin Primary School in Shaoyang, which was the first modern school for Hui Muslims in Hunan.

In 1908, he was transferred to the Qing government's Ministry of Education as a director. That same year, he helped establish the Beijing First Islamic Primary School inside the Niujie Mosque and later helped found the Islamic Education Association. While serving as Vice Minister of Education in 1912, Ma Linyi founded the Chinese Islamic Progressive Association with the support of Sun Yat-sen and served as its president.

While in charge of education in Gansu, Ma Linyi founded 277 schools of various types and set up the Gansu Islamic Education Promotion Office, spreading over a hundred Islamic primary schools across Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. He selected over a hundred young people from the Northwest for government-funded study abroad, laying the foundation for modern basic education in the Northwest.

In 1928, Ma Linyi helped found the Islamic Middle School in Niujie and served as its vice chairman. In 1929, Ma Linyi became a board member of the Beiping Chengda Teachers' College. He actively updated the curriculum and improved teaching methods, helping Chengda develop into a modern school. In his later years, Ma Linyi devoted himself to the faith and served as an advisor to Wang Jingzhai for his translation of Islamic classics.





Shanjie East Mosque was first built in 1728 (the fifth year of the Yongzheng reign). The mosque has hired many imams over the years, including Su Yuebo, Ma Yulang, Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Yuechi, Ma Yucheng, Tang Yuanqi, Hai Shiquan, Ma Chengyong, Ding Baohua, Ma Gen'ao, Ma Xiang'ao, and Ma Wuquan. Students from as far as Hainan and Guangxi came to study under the great imam Ma Yucheng in Gansu, and the local religious community was very prosperous.

It is a pity that the mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside.







Shanjie West Mosque, also known as Jiajian Village Mosque, was first built in 1836 (the 16th year of the Daoguang reign). It was expanded during the Guangxu and Republic of China periods, and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma, Huang, and Zheng. The imams who have served at the mosque include Ma Chaoxin, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Daocheng, Ma Fucheng, and Ma Liangxu. The main hall of the West Mosque collapsed in 1991. It was being rebuilt when a flood destroyed it in 1996. After raising funds again, it was officially completed at the end of 1996 and renovated again in 2013.

The mosque houses a stone tablet from the 11th year of the Guangxu reign titled 'Record of Continued Mosque Repairs,' which lists the names of the donors at that time and serves as a precious historical record.























Shanjie North Mosque, also called Sifangjing Mosque, was first built in 1824 (the 4th year of the Daoguang reign), and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma. The main hall was destroyed after 1966. It was rebuilt in 1991 and again in 2000, with only the original stone gate pillars remaining. The pillars are carved with a couplet by the Republic of China educator Ma Linyi: 'To study the Way, one must seek the source; why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or the Greeks? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, all share the same principle.'

Regrettably, the Shanjie North Mosque was also locked when I visited, and I could not enter. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

This article summarizes the key points about the eight mosques (sifang) in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan. It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps people search for content like Chinese halal food.

Longhui County in Shaoyang City, Hunan, has a large population of Hui Muslims. I visited eight mosques there: Taohuaping Mosque, Shanjie Ancient Mosque, East Mosque, West Mosque, South Mosque, North Mosque, Luobai Mosque, and Niejiaoting Mosque. I will share them with you below.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan, is located in Laowuli, Shanjie Township. It was first built in 1444 (the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty) and is the oldest mosque in Longhui. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Ma Zhi, the third son of Ma Cheng, the ancestor of the Ma family Hui Muslims in Shaoyang, moved from Shaoyang to Majia Ferry in Longhui to settle down. He was the first Hui Muslim in Longhui, and Shanjie Ancient Mosque was built by the Ma family.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque was renovated in 1919 and rebuilt into its current appearance in 2018.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque has a long tradition of teaching Islamic scripture. The head imams who have taught there include Ma Yulang, Ma Fujiu, Ma Fucheng, Ma Yucheng, Ma Yaochi, and Ding Zhenyi. They also hired imams from other places like Huang Xingxiang and Li Desheng. Ma Fucheng, an imam from this mosque, taught there for the longest time. In 1945, Imam Ma Yucheng taught at the ancient mosque and recruited many students (hailifan), marking the peak of the mosque's religious activities. To this day, the mosque continues its educational work and has trained many excellent young people.

On September 2, 1939, the Wugang County, Hunan branch of the China Islamic National Salvation Association was officially established at the mosque. The mosque's imam, Ma Fucheng, was elected as an officer. Inspired by the call to resist Japanese aggression and save the country, young Hui Muslims from the mosque, including Ma Qiyun, Ma Wuyang from the North Mosque, and Su Xingmin from Beishan, signed up for the army, took up arms, and headed to the front lines in East China.

















Relics at Shanjie Ancient Mosque include stone pillar bases, wood carvings, and calligraphy of the mihrab in the kiln niche.





















The stone couplet on the main gate reads: Clear the murky and promote the pure to follow the great path; preserve the truth and remove the false so that every generation has successors. The calligraphy was written by Ma Linyi, a Hui Muslim educator and Minister of Education in Shaoyang during the Republic of China. He is known as the Father of Northwest Education and the founder of modern Chinese Hui Muslim education.

Ma Linyi was born in Shaoyang, Hunan, in 1865. He passed the imperial examinations in 1902 and went to Japan on a government scholarship in 1904 to study teacher training. During that time, he met Sun Yat-sen, joined the Tongmenghui in 1905, and returned home to work on new government policies and modern education. In 1906, he founded Xiejin Primary School in Shaoyang, which was the first modern school for Hui Muslims in Hunan.

In 1908, he was transferred to the Qing government's Ministry of Education as a director. That same year, he helped establish the Beijing First Islamic Primary School inside the Niujie Mosque and later helped found the Islamic Education Association. While serving as Vice Minister of Education in 1912, Ma Linyi founded the Chinese Islamic Progressive Association with the support of Sun Yat-sen and served as its president.

While in charge of education in Gansu, Ma Linyi founded 277 schools of various types and set up the Gansu Islamic Education Promotion Office, spreading over a hundred Islamic primary schools across Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. He selected over a hundred young people from the Northwest for government-funded study abroad, laying the foundation for modern basic education in the Northwest.

In 1928, Ma Linyi helped found the Islamic Middle School in Niujie and served as its vice chairman. In 1929, Ma Linyi became a board member of the Beiping Chengda Teachers' College. He actively updated the curriculum and improved teaching methods, helping Chengda develop into a modern school. In his later years, Ma Linyi devoted himself to the faith and served as an advisor to Wang Jingzhai for his translation of Islamic classics.





Shanjie East Mosque was first built in 1728 (the fifth year of the Yongzheng reign). The mosque has hired many imams over the years, including Su Yuebo, Ma Yulang, Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Yuechi, Ma Yucheng, Tang Yuanqi, Hai Shiquan, Ma Chengyong, Ding Baohua, Ma Gen'ao, Ma Xiang'ao, and Ma Wuquan. Students from as far as Hainan and Guangxi came to study under the great imam Ma Yucheng in Gansu, and the local religious community was very prosperous.

It is a pity that the mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside.







Shanjie West Mosque, also known as Jiajian Village Mosque, was first built in 1836 (the 16th year of the Daoguang reign). It was expanded during the Guangxu and Republic of China periods, and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma, Huang, and Zheng. The imams who have served at the mosque include Ma Chaoxin, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Daocheng, Ma Fucheng, and Ma Liangxu. The main hall of the West Mosque collapsed in 1991. It was being rebuilt when a flood destroyed it in 1996. After raising funds again, it was officially completed at the end of 1996 and renovated again in 2013.

The mosque houses a stone tablet from the 11th year of the Guangxu reign titled 'Record of Continued Mosque Repairs,' which lists the names of the donors at that time and serves as a precious historical record.























Shanjie North Mosque, also called Sifangjing Mosque, was first built in 1824 (the 4th year of the Daoguang reign), and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma. The main hall was destroyed after 1966. It was rebuilt in 1991 and again in 2000, with only the original stone gate pillars remaining. The pillars are carved with a couplet by the Republic of China educator Ma Linyi: 'To study the Way, one must seek the source; why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or the Greeks? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, all share the same principle.'

Regrettably, the Shanjie North Mosque was also locked when I visited, and I could not enter.























Shanjie South Mosque was first built in 1768 (the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign). The local Hui Muslims are surnamed Ma, and the imams who have taught there include Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Li Bashan, Ma Fucheng, Ma Daocheng, and Ma Fu'en.

Ma Yingdong, a local resident, went to study in Japan in 1905 and joined the Tongmenghui. In 1907, he helped organize the 'Eastern Islamic Education Association' and founded its journal, 'Awakening the Hui' (Xing Hui Pian). After returning home from his studies, Ma Yingdong dedicated himself to Hui Muslim education and founded the modern Gongjin Primary School at Shanjie South Mosque, where he served as principal.

It is a pity that the Shanjie South Mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside.













Luobai Mosque was first built in 1933, and the local community members are of the Ding surname. Hui Muslims moved to Luobai in the early Qing Dynasty. For a long time, they were affiliated with the Shanjie South Mosque, but the distance made it very inconvenient. In 1933, Imam Ding Zhenyi, a Luobai Hui Muslim who taught at the Gansu Hui Language Institute, resigned from his teaching position to return home and organize the construction of a mosque. Imam Ding traveled everywhere to raise funds and finally built Luobai Mosque at the top of the Yaolong residential area in Luobai.

Imam Ding Zhenyi taught at the Luobai village primary school in 1939, and during that time, he started an introductory class for Islamic studies at Luobai Mosque. Later, he served as the imam of Hetian Mosque in Shaoyang and Liutang Mosque in Guilin, Guangxi. He also worked as a teacher at the primary school attached to Guilin Chengda Normal School, dean and professor at the Guilin Hui Language Institute, and professor at the Hainan Hui Language School. He helped organize the Wugang Branch of the Hunan Chapter of the China Islamic National Salvation Association and served as its general secretary.

Luobai Mosque was torn down in 1970, rebuilt in 1985, and rebuilt again in 2000 into the building that stands today. The mosque still has the original door plaque reading "Islamic Mosque" (Qingzhen Jiaotang) and a pair of couplets by the Republican-era educator Ma Linyi: "When seeking the source of the truth, why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or others? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, East and West, the principle is the same."















Niejiaoting Mosque was first built in 1926, and the community members are of the Ma, Hai, and Su surnames. Most of the Hui Muslims in Beishan Township, where Niejiaoting is located, moved there from other places in the late Qing Dynasty. Because it was inconvenient to perform namaz, Ma Youde, Ma Daofeng, Hai Liancheng, and others raised funds to build the mosque. The imams at the mosque include Ma Chunming, Ma Youlin, Imam Bu, Imam Zhang, Hai Siquan, and Deng Mengjun. Niejia Pavilion Mosque was destroyed after 1966, rebuilt later, and then rebuilt again in 2008.

The mosque houses the 1948 "Zhaoxiu Mosque Stele," which serves as a precious historical witness.





















Taohuaping Mosque is in the center of the county. It was first built in 1820 (the 25th year of the Jiaqing reign). In 1827 (the 7th year of the Daoguang reign), it was expanded after buying shops owned by the Su and Ma families on the front street. In 1834 (the 14th year of the Daoguang reign), it bought three more shops in front of the mosque. In 1841 (the 21st year of the Daoguang reign), the rear hall was renovated, and in 1850 (the 30th year of the Daoguang reign), the front gate archway, garden, and second gate were built.

In 1941, the Taohuaping branch of the China Islamic National Salvation Association was established inside Taohuaping Mosque. It did a lot of work for anti-Japanese propaganda, provided housing for refugees from other areas, raised money for winter clothes for soldiers, and helped with evacuations. In 1941, Bai Chongxi performed worship at Taohuaping Mosque and issued a plaque stating, "Troops are forbidden from stationing inside the mosque."

Taohuaping Mosque was expanded again in 1953 and was finally rebuilt into its current structure in 2019. Currently, Taohuaping Mosque is the mosque with the second-highest number of visitors in Longhui County, after the ancient Shanjie Mosque.













Taohuaping Mosque preserves a large number of stone tablets from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, which are precious historical records:

The 1859 "Stele for Renovating the Front Gate"



The 1846 "Restoring the School" stele



The 1841 "Renovating the Rear Hall" stele



The 1834 "Righteous School Stele Record"



The 1822 "Everlasting Innovation, Building and Repairing the Everlasting, Immortal Names of Public Donors" stele



The 1928 "School Construction and Repair Stele"



The 1910 "Jingxin Hall" stele



The 1875 stele view all

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Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

Relics at Shanjie Ancient Mosque include stone pillar bases, wood carvings, and calligraphy of the mihrab in the kiln niche.





















The stone couplet on the main gate reads: Clear the murky and promote the pure to follow the great path; preserve the truth and remove the false so that every generation has successors. The calligraphy was written by Ma Linyi, a Hui Muslim educator and Minister of Education in Shaoyang during the Republic of China. He is known as the Father of Northwest Education and the founder of modern Chinese Hui Muslim education.

Ma Linyi was born in Shaoyang, Hunan, in 1865. He passed the imperial examinations in 1902 and went to Japan on a government scholarship in 1904 to study teacher training. During that time, he met Sun Yat-sen, joined the Tongmenghui in 1905, and returned home to work on new government policies and modern education. In 1906, he founded Xiejin Primary School in Shaoyang, which was the first modern school for Hui Muslims in Hunan.

In 1908, he was transferred to the Qing government's Ministry of Education as a director. That same year, he helped establish the Beijing First Islamic Primary School inside the Niujie Mosque and later helped found the Islamic Education Association. While serving as Vice Minister of Education in 1912, Ma Linyi founded the Chinese Islamic Progressive Association with the support of Sun Yat-sen and served as its president.

While in charge of education in Gansu, Ma Linyi founded 277 schools of various types and set up the Gansu Islamic Education Promotion Office, spreading over a hundred Islamic primary schools across Gansu, Ningxia, and Qinghai. He selected over a hundred young people from the Northwest for government-funded study abroad, laying the foundation for modern basic education in the Northwest.

In 1928, Ma Linyi helped found the Islamic Middle School in Niujie and served as its vice chairman. In 1929, Ma Linyi became a board member of the Beiping Chengda Teachers' College. He actively updated the curriculum and improved teaching methods, helping Chengda develop into a modern school. In his later years, Ma Linyi devoted himself to the faith and served as an advisor to Wang Jingzhai for his translation of Islamic classics. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.





Shanjie East Mosque was first built in 1728 (the fifth year of the Yongzheng reign). The mosque has hired many imams over the years, including Su Yuebo, Ma Yulang, Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Yuechi, Ma Yucheng, Tang Yuanqi, Hai Shiquan, Ma Chengyong, Ding Baohua, Ma Gen'ao, Ma Xiang'ao, and Ma Wuquan. Students from as far as Hainan and Guangxi came to study under the great imam Ma Yucheng in Gansu, and the local religious community was very prosperous.

It is a pity that the mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside. view all

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Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

This article summarizes the key points about the eight mosques (sifang) in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan. It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps people search for content like Chinese halal food.

Longhui County in Shaoyang City, Hunan, has a large population of Hui Muslims. I visited eight mosques there: Taohuaping Mosque, Shanjie Ancient Mosque, East Mosque, West Mosque, South Mosque, North Mosque, Luobai Mosque, and Niejiaoting Mosque. I will share them with you below.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque in Longhui County, Shaoyang, Hunan, is located in Laowuli, Shanjie Township. It was first built in 1444 (the ninth year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty) and is the oldest mosque in Longhui. During the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, Ma Zhi, the third son of Ma Cheng, the ancestor of the Ma family Hui Muslims in Shaoyang, moved from Shaoyang to Majia Ferry in Longhui to settle down. He was the first Hui Muslim in Longhui, and Shanjie Ancient Mosque was built by the Ma family.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque was renovated in 1919 and rebuilt into its current appearance in 2018.

Shanjie Ancient Mosque has a long tradition of teaching Islamic scripture. The head imams who have taught there include Ma Yulang, Ma Fujiu, Ma Fucheng, Ma Yucheng, Ma Yaochi, and Ding Zhenyi. They also hired imams from other places like Huang Xingxiang and Li Desheng. Ma Fucheng, an imam from this mosque, taught there for the longest time. In 1945, Imam Ma Yucheng taught at the ancient mosque and recruited many students (hailifan), marking the peak of the mosque's religious activities. To this day, the mosque continues its educational work and has trained many excellent young people.

On September 2, 1939, the Wugang County, Hunan branch of the China Islamic National Salvation Association was officially established at the mosque. The mosque's imam, Ma Fucheng, was elected as an officer. Inspired by the call to resist Japanese aggression and save the country, young Hui Muslims from the mosque, including Ma Qiyun, Ma Wuyang from the North Mosque, and Su Xingmin from Beishan, signed up for the army, took up arms, and headed to the front lines in East China. view all

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Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.

















Taohuaping Mosque is in the center of the county. It was first built in 1820 (the 25th year of the Jiaqing reign). In 1827 (the 7th year of the Daoguang reign), it was expanded after buying shops owned by the Su and Ma families on the front street. In 1834 (the 14th year of the Daoguang reign), it bought three more shops in front of the mosque. In 1841 (the 21st year of the Daoguang reign), the rear hall was renovated, and in 1850 (the 30th year of the Daoguang reign), the front gate archway, garden, and second gate were built.

In 1941, the Taohuaping branch of the China Islamic National Salvation Association was established inside Taohuaping Mosque. It did a lot of work for anti-Japanese propaganda, provided housing for refugees from other areas, raised money for winter clothes for soldiers, and helped with evacuations. In 1941, Bai Chongxi performed worship at Taohuaping Mosque and issued a plaque stating, "Troops are forbidden from stationing inside the mosque."

Taohuaping Mosque was expanded again in 1953 and was finally rebuilt into its current structure in 2019. Currently, Taohuaping Mosque is the mosque with the second-highest number of visitors in Longhui County, after the ancient Shanjie Mosque.













Taohuaping Mosque preserves a large number of stone tablets from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, which are precious historical records:

The 1859 "Stele for Renovating the Front Gate"



The 1846 "Restoring the School" stele



The 1841 "Renovating the Rear Hall" stele



The 1834 "Righteous School Stele Record"



The 1822 "Everlasting Innovation, Building and Repairing the Everlasting, Immortal Names of Public Donors" stele



The 1928 "School Construction and Repair Stele"



The 1910 "Jingxin Hall" stele view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.











Shanjie South Mosque was first built in 1768 (the 33rd year of the Qianlong reign). The local Hui Muslims are surnamed Ma, and the imams who have taught there include Ma Baochu, Zheng Liansheng, Li Bashan, Ma Fucheng, Ma Daocheng, and Ma Fu'en.

Ma Yingdong, a local resident, went to study in Japan in 1905 and joined the Tongmenghui. In 1907, he helped organize the 'Eastern Islamic Education Association' and founded its journal, 'Awakening the Hui' (Xing Hui Pian). After returning home from his studies, Ma Yingdong dedicated himself to Hui Muslim education and founded the modern Gongjin Primary School at Shanjie South Mosque, where he served as principal.

It is a pity that the Shanjie South Mosque was locked when I visited, so I could not go inside.













Luobai Mosque was first built in 1933, and the local community members are of the Ding surname. Hui Muslims moved to Luobai in the early Qing Dynasty. For a long time, they were affiliated with the Shanjie South Mosque, but the distance made it very inconvenient. In 1933, Imam Ding Zhenyi, a Luobai Hui Muslim who taught at the Gansu Hui Language Institute, resigned from his teaching position to return home and organize the construction of a mosque. Imam Ding traveled everywhere to raise funds and finally built Luobai Mosque at the top of the Yaolong residential area in Luobai.

Imam Ding Zhenyi taught at the Luobai village primary school in 1939, and during that time, he started an introductory class for Islamic studies at Luobai Mosque. Later, he served as the imam of Hetian Mosque in Shaoyang and Liutang Mosque in Guilin, Guangxi. He also worked as a teacher at the primary school attached to Guilin Chengda Normal School, dean and professor at the Guilin Hui Language Institute, and professor at the Hainan Hui Language School. He helped organize the Wugang Branch of the Hunan Chapter of the China Islamic National Salvation Association and served as its general secretary.

Luobai Mosque was torn down in 1970, rebuilt in 1985, and rebuilt again in 2000 into the building that stands today. The mosque still has the original door plaque reading "Islamic Mosque" (Qingzhen Jiaotang) and a pair of couplets by the Republican-era educator Ma Linyi: "When seeking the source of the truth, why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or others? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, East and West, the principle is the same."















Niejiaoting Mosque was first built in 1926, and the community members are of the Ma, Hai, and Su surnames. Most of the Hui Muslims in Beishan Township, where Niejiaoting is located, moved there from other places in the late Qing Dynasty. Because it was inconvenient to perform namaz, Ma Youde, Ma Daofeng, Hai Liancheng, and others raised funds to build the mosque. The imams at the mosque include Ma Chunming, Ma Youlin, Imam Bu, Imam Zhang, Hai Siquan, and Deng Mengjun. Niejia Pavilion Mosque was destroyed after 1966, rebuilt later, and then rebuilt again in 2008.

The mosque houses the 1948 "Zhaoxiu Mosque Stele," which serves as a precious historical witness. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.







Shanjie West Mosque, also known as Jiajian Village Mosque, was first built in 1836 (the 16th year of the Daoguang reign). It was expanded during the Guangxu and Republic of China periods, and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma, Huang, and Zheng. The imams who have served at the mosque include Ma Chaoxin, Zheng Liansheng, Ma Daocheng, Ma Fucheng, and Ma Liangxu. The main hall of the West Mosque collapsed in 1991. It was being rebuilt when a flood destroyed it in 1996. After raising funds again, it was officially completed at the end of 1996 and renovated again in 2013.

The mosque houses a stone tablet from the 11th year of the Guangxu reign titled 'Record of Continued Mosque Repairs,' which lists the names of the donors at that time and serves as a precious historical record.























Shanjie North Mosque, also called Sifangjing Mosque, was first built in 1824 (the 4th year of the Daoguang reign), and the local Hui Muslims there are surnamed Ma. The main hall was destroyed after 1966. It was rebuilt in 1991 and again in 2000, with only the original stone gate pillars remaining. The pillars are carved with a couplet by the Republic of China educator Ma Linyi: 'To study the Way, one must seek the source; why ask about Jesus, Buddha, or the Greeks? To unite with Heaven is to enter the path of the sages; ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, all share the same principle.'

Regrettably, the Shanjie North Mosque was also locked when I visited, and I could not enter. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide covers eight historic mosque complexes in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan, with local Hui Muslim heritage and mosque travel details kept in clear English.



The 1875 stele view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Sichuan follows Dujiangyan during Ramadan, old mosque visits, and China mosque travel details from the original road trip.

This article summarizes the key points of 'Driving to Sichuan for Ancient Mosques during Spring Festival (Part 15): Dujiangyan during Ramadan.' It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps with searching for topics like Ramadan, Part 15, and Dujiangyan during Ramadan.

I had heard for a long time that the Ramadan atmosphere at the Dujiangyan mosque in Sichuan was excellent, and I finally got to experience it this time.

At the mosque, we had beef stewed with lotus root (niurou dun ou), cold chicken with sauce (liangban ji), steamed beef with rice flour (fenzheng niurou), twice-cooked beef (huiguo niurou), steamed eggs (zheng jidan), stir-fried garlic sprouts (chao suantai), lettuce stems braised with meat (wosun shaorou), and home-style tofu (jiachang doufu). These were all authentic Sichuan dishes.

Dujiangyan truly lives up to its reputation as the pearl of the Islamic community in western Sichuan. Many people came for the iftar meal. Chairman Sha said that in previous years they served eleven dishes and often had leftovers. This year, he specifically asked to simplify it to seven dishes and one soup. I felt the amount of food was just right.



















The Hui Muslims in Dujiangyan come from diverse backgrounds. The Hai family moved from Shaoyang, Hunan, during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. The Guanxian Ma family moved from Shaanxi in the mid-Ming Dynasty. The Lan family moved from Tuqiao, Chengdu, during the Qing Dynasty. The Su family moved from Xiaojin County, Sichuan, in the early Qing Dynasty. The Songpan Zhang family moved from Songpan, Sichuan, in the early Qing Dynasty. The Hebei Zhang family moved from Pidu District, Chengdu, during the Tongzhi period. The Shaanxi Ma family moved from Weinan, Shaanxi, during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. The Qi family moved from Weinan, Shaanxi, during the Daoguang period. The Li family moved from Huihuiying in Pidu District, Chengdu, in the late Qing Dynasty. The Maogong Ma family moved from Xiaojin County, Sichuan, in the early years of the Republic of China. The Shandong Jiang family moved from Yanting, Sichuan, in the early years of the Republic of China. The Taiyuan Cai family moved from Xiaojin County, Sichuan, in the first year of the Republic of China.

The ancestor of the Dujiangyan Hai family, Hai Mengshi, was from Shunyi, Beijing. In the first year of the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty, he was appointed as a commander of the Imperial Guard. His grandson, Hai Chaofan, moved from Shaoyang, Hunan, to Sichuan during the Ming Wanli period.

The 'Hebei Zhang' family's ancestral home was Zhangjiawan in Tongzhou, Beijing. At the end of the Ming Dynasty, three Zhang brothers moved to Lianglukou in Pidu District, Chengdu, and led the construction of the Zhang Family Mosque (Zhangjia Si). During the Tongzhi period, Zhang Yongchun ran a Muslim restaurant on West Street in Dujiangyan and settled there.

The 'Maogong Ma' family's ancestral home was Tianbei Village in Weinan, Shaanxi. They entered Sichuan during the Qianlong period and settled in Xiaojin County. In the first year of the Republic of China, they moved to Huangchengba in Chengdu due to the Railway Protection Movement. In the sixth year of the Republic of China, their house was destroyed during the warlord chaos, and they moved to Dujiangyan again. Ma Rucong, an imam from this family, served as an imam at the Dujiangyan mosque for 33 years and passed away in 1962.

The Li family of Hui Muslims moved here from Tangyuan Town in Pidu District, Chengdu, during the Tongzhi reign. Li Guangming, a member of the family, was known as one of the Three Heroes of Guan County. He served as the magistrate of Xiaojin County during the Republic of China era, stood up to powerful figures, and was later killed by bandits.

The ancestors of the Shaanxi Ma family came from Qiaotian Village in Weinan, Shaanxi. In the 13th year of the Jiaqing reign, Ma Yingxian moved to Dujiangyan because of the White Lotus and Tianli uprisings. In the 6th year of the Daoguang reign, he bought a piece of land on South Street in Dujiangyan and opened the Daxing Mule and Horse Inn, which operated until 1949.





















Next to the mosque is the Jiang Jiuxiang Pickles Workshop. Their five-kernel pine mushroom (wuren songrong) is delicious. It tastes great on its own and is a perfect match for porridge.













Dujiangyan Guan County Ancient City at night.









Starting the fast (suhur) at the Dujiangyan mosque in the morning is a special experience when everyone does it together.







Imam Sha Fuquan has been employed at the Dujiangyan mosque for 32 years. Imam Sha is from Xichang. His ancestors were descendants of Yelu Timur, the grandson of Sayyid Ajjal Shams al-Din. Yelu Timur served as the Pingzhang Zhengshi of Jianchang Road at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. He submitted to the Ming Dynasty in 1382 (the 15th year of the Hongwu reign) and was appointed as the Commander of Jianchang Guard. In 1392 (the 25th year of the Hongwu reign), he rebelled again, led an army of ten thousand to attack the city, and was captured and executed after failing. His descendants scattered. One branch fled to Huangcaoping in Miyi County, Panzhihua, where they hid their identities and changed their surname to Sha. By the third generation, they moved to Xichang, where they have lived ever since.

In 1987, Imam Sha studied under the famous Imam Yang Hua in Shaguoying, Xichang. He received his graduation robe (chuanyi guazhang) in 1990 and was admitted to the China Islamic Institute that same year. After graduating in 1994, he was hired by the Dujiangyan mosque, where he has worked ever since. Over the past thirty years, Imam Sha has taught hundreds of students (hailifan) and made significant contributions to the faith in Sichuan and the entire Southwest region. After the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, Imam Sha led the restoration of the Dujiangyan mosque, giving it a brand-new look. view all

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Summary: This Muslim traveler guide to Beijing covers the Africa Day event, local Muslim community scenes, and travel culture details from the original Chinese article.

This article summarizes the key points of the lively Africa Day event in Beijing. It keeps the original paragraph and image order, making it perfect for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic articles, as well as those searching for halal food in China.

May 25 is Africa Liberation Day, a day to remember the national liberation of Africa. It started on May 25, 1963, when 32 African countries signed the Charter of the Organization of African Unity. African countries hold celebrations around May 25 every year. This year, the embassies of various African countries in Beijing held a lively Africa Day event at Chaoyang Park.



As soon as I entered, I heard happy African drumming. I walked over and saw some men from Tanzania in East Africa playing drums and singing in Swahili. The most famous song was the one from The Lion King, 'Hakuna Matata,' which means 'no worries.' Everyone was very happy. My son, Suleiman, joined in and played an African drum, and he had a great time.





I kept walking inside and reached the music stage for Sierra Leone in West Africa. Besides African drums, I saw the beaded shaker (shegbureh) of the Mende people. It is made of a hollowed-out gourd handle inside a cotton net, with wooden beads or hard seeds strung into the net. When playing it, you hold the knot of the rope in one hand and shake the gourd with the other, making the gourd hit and rub against the net.





The third area was the drumming and music stage for Cameroon. I saw the classic Tam-tam drum used by Cameroonians during celebrations. It is played with two drumsticks and has a very powerful sound.





After listening for a while, I saw Dosdani from Sudan also playing the drums and singing. Sudanese Arabs have lighter skin, while the Nubian and Fur people have darker skin. Because of long-term intermarriage and integration, you can see that the appearance of the Sudanese people is very diverse, and their culture is very multicultural.





The last thing I listened to was the singing and dancing of people from Liberia in West Africa. Since the 19th century, many freed American slaves were settled in Liberia, so their music is a blend of African and American styles. Liberian dancing is very bold and uses large, sweeping movements.



The snacks at Africa Day in Beijing started with Barakawy dates from Sudan and Deglet Nour dates from Algeria. The Sudanese ones are drier, while the Algerian dates on the branch are oilier. Both are very sweet. The Sahara oases in North Africa are major date producers. Algeria's Deglet Nour dates are known as the "queen of dates." The flesh is soft and chewy with a honey-like flavor, hints of caramel and nuts, and a high sweetness that isn't cloying. Sudanese dates are mainly grown along the Nile and in northern oases. The Barakawy variety is the most common; it is dark brown, quite dry, firm, and very sweet.









Next, I tasted the beef jerky (kilichi) from Niger. Kilichi is a traditional food of the Hausa people in the West African Sahel region. It was originally invented to preserve meat during nomadic travel and trade, and it has since become a national snack in countries like Niger and Nigeria. The secret to kilichi is the roasted peanut powder, along with ginger, garlic, and onion powder. This makes it richer and more fibrous than regular beef jerky. Kilichi comes in three spice levels, and I tried all of them at the event. The spiciest version is Kilichi Rouge, which uses a lot of red chili and is very popular. The regular version is Roumouzou, which is mild and fragrant, making it perfect for those who don't like spicy food. There is another type called Tessaoua that is just wrapped in spices and sun-dried without smoking, giving it a fresher taste.







I also ate a flaky pastry made by a sister from Mali that tasted like a cookie. Mali is in the heart of West Africa and once built the wealthy Mali Empire, but it later became one of the poorest regions in the world. Right now, various riots are still breaking out across Mali, and the society is very unstable.







Ethiopian coffee, Djiboutian incense, Tunisian mosaics, and a Somali booth.

Ethiopia is the birthplace of Arabica coffee, and coffee is named after its place of origin, Kaffa. Local shepherds reportedly noticed their sheep were excited and sleepless after eating coffee beans, so they tried them and felt energized, and later the villagers started eating them too. However, early coffee in Ethiopia was only chewed or used in medicinal meals, and it was only after Yemeni merchants brought it across the Red Sea that commercial planting began.







Djibouti is located in the Horn of Africa in the northeast, guarding the throat of the Red Sea, and the vast majority of its citizens belong to the Shafi'i school. Djiboutian incense centers on frankincense and myrrh, mixed with jasmine, amber, and agarwood, and burned using a traditional incense burner (dabqaad). The frankincense comes from the resin of the frankincense tree and has a warm, woody, and slightly sweet scent with fresh citrus notes, making it the soul of Djiboutian incense. Myrrh has a deep, smoky, and slightly bitter scent and is often mixed with frankincense. view all

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Summary: This halal food guide to Tianjin covers Hui Muslim tea restaurants, handmade burger shops, halal food in China, and local Muslim dining details.

This article covers two new tea restaurants and one handmade burger shop opened by Hui Muslims in Tianjin. It keeps the original paragraph and image order, making it perfect for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing, as well as those searching for halal food in China.

I heard about two new tea restaurants and an American-style burger shop in Tianjin, so I went to try them out this weekend.

I took the intercity train to Tianjin West Station, then transferred to Line 4 to reach Tianmu. The new subway line was very empty. After leaving the Tianmu subway station, I crossed the street and saw the newly opened Cantonese tea restaurant, Hanmei, at the intersection. They used to sell rice noodle rolls (changfen) at the Shunyi Road night market before opening their own shop.

Their main dishes are roast goose and rice noodle rolls (changfen). We ordered half a roast goose, mushroom and shrimp rice noodle rolls, Cantonese-style beef rice noodle rolls, curry fish balls, tiger skin chicken feet, and radish beef offal. The roast goose tasted good, but the skin was quite fatty and felt more like the skin of Beijing roast duck. The shrimp tasted great, and the Cantonese-style beef tasted similar to the beef stew we Hui Muslims make, just a bit sweeter. The rice noodle roll skin was very thin and had a mild flavor. The curry fish balls were delicious, but the chicken feet felt a bit dry. The radish beef offal was not well-made, and the flavor was completely off. If you want to try Cantonese flavors, you can come here, but it still falls short compared to the Hui Muslim restaurants in Guangzhou or the restaurant in the Aiqun Hotel in Hong Kong. Next time I have a chance, I will come back to try their claypot rice (baozai fan).



















North of Tianmu in Tianjin is Tianzhong, which used to be the compound for the Tianjin Heavy Machinery Factory, and it has many different restaurants. A new Hong Kong-style tea restaurant called Xiao Chu Jie opened on Tianzhong Road. We ordered iced lemon tea, Hong Kong-style pulled milk tea, and passion fruit tea, and we ate the 'rich mudslide' dessert and the 'leaky milk' French toast (lounaihua). Their iced lemon tea is very refreshing, and the milk tea has a strong tea flavor that is very satisfying.

The leaky milk French toast is a viral dessert in Hong Kong-style tea restaurants, essentially a luxurious, exploding version of French toast (xiduoshi). To make it, they press a small dent into the top of two thick slices of toast and pour over a thick milk sauce made from milk, condensed milk, and butter, then sprinkle a thick layer of malt cocoa powder on top. When you cut into it, the milk sauce flows out like a mudslide. Because the malt cocoa powder used in Hong Kong-style tea restaurants is the Swiss brand Ovaltine, the dish gets its name 'leaky milk' (lounaihua).



















In the evening, I walked around the night market on Shunyi Road in Tianmu and ate shaved ice. Since Metro Line 4 opened, it is much easier to get to Tianmu, so I probably won't go to the Northwest Corner as often. I ate at this Ciertou Shaved Ice shop in Tianmu last year, and I came back to eat here again this time. I always order the old-fashioned shaved ice (baobing) I love, topped with sour hawthorn paste (suanmogao), sour apricots, red hawthorn berries, and red beans. It really whets the appetite. They also have fresh lychee milk ice, which is only sold during lychee season. When we arrived, the owner was just opening a crate of fresh lychees, and they looked very fresh indeed.













Shunyidao Night Market now has barbecue on one side and snacks on the other. It is great to walk around, with options like sweet soup (tangshui), teppanyaki squid, duck snacks, and octopus balls (takoyaki) available.







We kept walking through the Tianmu Shunyidao Night Market and bought some egg waffles (jidanzi). We got chocolate, beef floss, and original flavors. The egg and milk aroma was very strong. They were very hot when freshly made, so we had to let them cool down before eating. Suleiman really liked the chocolate flavor.







Then we bought some teppanyaki hot dogs, which were also very affordable.













We came to the Honghuli Food Street in Tianjin on the weekend to try a newly opened American-style burger shop. Honghuli is an old-fashioned residential area built in the 1980s. It is only one subway stop away from Tianjin West Railway Station, making it very convenient to reach. There are many Hui Muslim restaurants here, both traditional and modern. Unlike the Northwest Corner, it is not very commercialized, and most of the customers are locals.

Hello Handmade Burger Shop is on Honghu South Road, surrounded by many other food spots. The owner is a relative of the imam at Fuxingzhuang Mosque, so the food is halal and the quality is guaranteed. We had the American-style double beef burger and the black truffle black tiger shrimp burger. Both were huge. Their burger buns are unique. The green ones are made with spinach powder and the black ones with squid ink. They are custom-made and have absolutely no preservatives.

The beef patties are fresh and firm. After pan-frying, they are rich, fragrant, and juicy. The double patties give a great meaty texture, and with the sauce and toppings, the flavors build up and get better with every bite. The black tiger shrimp in the black truffle burger is plump and bouncy with a distinct sweet, fresh taste. It blends perfectly with the rich aroma of black truffle, creating a delicate yet chewy texture.

The shop is quite small, so you might have to wait for a table during meal times. If it is not too sunny, you can also eat outside by the door and chat while you eat.

















Next to the burger shop is Yuansu Zhai Lao Wei Juanquan. They sell homemade dark plum drink (wumeitang) and dried tangerine peel passion fruit pear juice. Both are all-natural and cannot be kept overnight. The dark plum drink contains licorice, mint, roselle, dried tangerine peel, hawthorn, mulberry, and osmanthus. The dried tangerine peel passion fruit pear juice contains lemon, lotus seeds, and lily bulbs. Both taste great. Cold drinks go really well with burgers.



















Previous Tianjin food shares:

Taking the kids to Tianjin in the summer to see the sea and eat seafood.

Tianjin's halal food is so comprehensive: pasta, yakitori, Yemeni flatbread, Swiss cheese fondue, and rice balls.

Autumn food tour in Tianjin: Syrian food, giant river prawns (luoshi xia), yellow broth ramen, Turkish restaurants, and Xinjiang fresh milk ice cream.

Taking kids out to eat in Tianjin: Yemeni food, Algerian desserts, rice noodle rolls (changfen), Japanese food, and water caltrop soup (lingjiao tang).

Eating Arabic food in Tianjin: Syrian, Yemeni, Tunisian, and Algerian.

Between the mountains and the sea: from Huairou farmhouses to seaside Western restaurants. view all

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Summary: This Muslim traveler guide to Beijing follows an Africa Day food experience at Beihang University, with campus culture and local food details preserved.

This article summarizes the key points of tasting food from Africa's smallest country at Beihang University. It keeps the original paragraph and image order, making it suitable for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps with searching for content on Ramadan, history, and social observations.

Since May, major universities in Beijing have held international culture festivals. International students showcased their home cultures, which was very interesting. Unfortunately, most school festivals were on weekdays, and some were not open to the public. On May 24, I finally made it to the Beihang University international culture festival.

Although it was a culture festival rather than a food festival, I could still taste specialty drinks and snacks from several countries. We first drank Turkish black tea and Moroccan mint tea, then ate the Pakistani specialty noodle milk dish Pheni, which is also a classic Ramadan snack for Pakistanis.











The highlight was eating spicy peanuts, Wonjo hibiscus tea, and the milk dessert Chakery from the Gambia. This was my first time tasting snacks from this country. The Gambia is located on the Atlantic coast of West Africa. It is the smallest country in all of Africa and one of the least developed countries in the world. As early as a thousand years ago, Arab merchants crossed the Sahara Desert to trade in the Gambia and brought Islam to the country in the 9th century. Today, 96% of Gambians belong to the Maliki school of Sunni Islam.



Wonjo is an iced drink made by soaking hibiscus flowers and adding sugar and mint. It is a classic summer chilled beverage for Gambians. The Gambia is one of the original homes of the hibiscus flower, and drinking hibiscus tea here has a very long history. Chakery is a milk dessert made with millet. It is a classic West African after-dinner treat. People of different faiths share Chakery with their neighbors after festivals, showing friendships that cross religious lines.







A young man from Bangladesh sang with deep emotion, a friend (dosti) from Senegal was full of energy, and brothers from Ghana played the drums. My son, Suleiman, also grew to love the African drums.



















After leaving the Beihang International Culture Festival, we went to the fourth floor of the Seventh Canteen for dinner. They were hosting a Food Voyage Culture Festival and invited Zhang Shuanqiang, the executive chef of the Ningxia Building in Beijing, to guide the cooking. We ate stir-fried beef, garlic fish fillets, and big plate chicken (dapanji). Overall, it was very affordable. The stir-fried beef went great with rice, and the garlic fish fillets were very appetizing. I really envy the students and teachers at Beihang. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Beijing halal food guide covers Moroccan iftar snacks, Tunisian Mawlid sweets, halal food in China, and Muslim campus dining at Beiyou.

This article summarizes the key points of the original text about eating Moroccan iftar snacks and Tunisian Mawlid sweets at BUPT. It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps people search for content on Ramadan, history, and Chinese halal food.

Since May, major universities in Beijing have been holding international culture festivals. Last week, I attended the one at Beihang University (tasting food from the smallest African country at Beihang), and this week I went to the one at BUPT. A friend (dosti) asked how to find this information. I just browse online platforms often and follow the news when I see it.

The BUPT international culture festival was held in the gymnasium, and the temperature was very pleasant. Although it was not very large, many stalls had special foods that are usually hard to find in Beijing.



First, I ate Moroccan chicken pie (bastilla) and small pancakes (baghrir). Beijing has not had Moroccan food for many years since the owner of the Camel Caravan restaurant on Guanghua Road left in 2020. I previously ate at a place in Guangzhou, and this time I finally had it again in Beijing.







There are many theories about the origin of bastilla. It is generally believed to have originated in the Ottoman Empire. After the French invaded Algeria in 1830, Algerian immigrants brought it to northern Morocco. To this day, many people in northern Morocco still consider this dish to be Turkish. In Morocco, bastilla usually comes with three types of fillings: pigeon, chicken, and seafood. The chicken filling is salty, fragrant, crispy, and layered. Before cooking, the chicken is stewed until soft with various spices including chopped onions, parsley, and saffron. Then it is deboned and shredded, and eggs are added to the thick chicken broth to make a sauce.



Baghrir is made with semolina and is full of tiny holes. Algerians and Moroccans like to soak them in honey and butter. It is a classic iftar snack.



Then I ate Tunisian steamed semolina (couscous), Fatma's fingers spring rolls (swabaa fatma), and Mediterranean pine pudding (assidat zgougou). The Tunisian stall had the widest variety of food this time.





Steamed semolina (couscous) is the national dish of Tunisia, and I ate it almost every day when I visited Tunisia before.



Fatma's fingers (swabaa fatma) are a classic Tunisian snack for breaking the fast. They are fried spring rolls made with thin pastry (malsouka) and filled with ground beef, shrimp, or minced tuna, with options to add mashed potatoes, eggs, and cheese.



Mediterranean pine pudding (assidat zgougou) is a classic Tunisian dessert that Tunisians eat every year for the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid). Mediterranean pine pudding (assidat zgougou) is made from Mediterranean pine powder, flour, milk, and sugar, topped with pine nuts and crushed pistachios. Mediterranean pine pudding (assidat zgougou) originated during the great Tunisian famine between 1864 and 1867. At that time, residents in northwestern Tunisia discovered that local Mediterranean pine nuts could be ground into powder and mixed with wheat flour to satisfy hunger, which later developed into a classic dessert for the Prophet's birthday.



Bambalouni is a type of Tunisian doughnut that is very common in street food shops and tourist areas in Tunisia. Tunisians like to sprinkle sugar and honey on their bambalouni.



At the Pakistan booth, I drank the classic South Asian fast-breaking beverage, mint rose syrup (Rooh Afza). Rooh Afza was invented in 1906 in British India by Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed based on traditional Arab-Persian Unani medicine. He picked a variety of herbs and fruit syrups to make a concentrated drink for heatstroke, which really helps with dehydration during fasting. After the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947, his descendants opened companies in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, making Rooh Afza popular all over South Asia.









Pakistani dancing





I had a strawberry syrup soda at the Indonesian stall.





Suleiman tried the Cambodian gongs and drums and was very happy. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This halal food guide to Hunan highlights halal food in China, Hui Muslim food in Longhui, Shaoyang, and local snacks from the original travel account.

This article summarizes the key points of why there is so much Hui Muslim food in Longhui, Shaoyang, Hunan. It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in Muslim life, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing, and it helps people search for halal food in China.

Traveling from downtown Shaoyang to Longhui County, you reach the area with the highest concentration of Hui Muslims in Hunan.

The first Hui Muslims to settle in Longhui were those with the surname Ma. The ancestor of the Ma family, Ma Cheng, was originally from Taixing, Jiangsu. During the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty, he served as the Commissioner of the Privy Council. After the start of the Hongwu era in the Ming Dynasty, Ma Cheng resigned from his official post and moved to Shaoyang, Hunan to settle down. During the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty, Ma Cheng's third son, Ma Zhi, moved from Shaoyang to Majia Ferry in Longhui. He became the first Hui Muslim in Longhui, and his family has lived there for over 600 years.

Hui Muslims in Longhui mainly live in Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township, but those who run restaurants and noodle shops are mostly in the Longhui county seat, especially near the south side of Longhui Bridge. If you need a place to stay, the area near Daqiao Road is the most convenient. You can eat noodles at various shops there in the morning.

On our first morning, we ate at the Laoshanjie Hui Muslim Noodle Shop at the entrance of Limin Street. We ordered beef noodle soup with large slices of beef and wood ear mushroom with tofu noodle soup. I really love Shaoyang beef noodles. The broth is rich, spicy, and savory. The beef is well-seasoned, and the thick rice noodles are smooth and chewy. The red chili oil smells amazing. Slurping them down is so satisfying; the more you eat, the more you want. The wood ear mushroom with tofu here is also delicious. It soaks up all the broth and is very flavorful.

When eating noodles in Shaoyang, you cannot miss the mountain pepper oil (shanhujiaoyou). The mountain pepper (shancangzi) has a special scent that is like a mix of mint and lemon, making it cool and refreshing.



















The next day, I went to another Hui Muslim noodle shop on Daqiao Road called Lanlan. I had the stir-fried beef rice noodles and beef wontons. I added 2 yuan of tofu and wood ear mushrooms, plus 2 yuan of eggs to both bowls, which made the texture much better. The stir-fried beef rice noodles were rich in beef flavor, and the noodles were smooth and well-seasoned with an authentic spicy kick. The beef wontons had thin skins and plenty of filling, and the meat was firm and bouncy. You can order a small portion if you have a smaller appetite.



















At the intersection of Daqiao Road in Longhui, there is a Hui Muslim restaurant called Xiangyijiaren. It is a great place to try authentic Hunan Hui Muslim farmhouse cooking. The owner is a man named Ma from the Dong Mosque in Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township. There is no menu in the shop. They focus on seasonal dishes, cooking whatever is harvested from the fields.

As a Hunan Hui Muslim restaurant, their signature dish is definitely stir-fried yellow beef. We had been eating beef for a few days, so we wanted to try chicken. Unfortunately, at these local Hui Muslim restaurants, you have to order chicken in advance. They go to the village to slaughter the chicken fresh and cook the whole bird. So, we ended up eating river food. The owner recommended stir-fried small fish and shrimp, which were caught from the pond that same day.

The vegetables and rice in the shop are grown by the owner's family. We ordered snow peas (caidou), which were very crisp and tasty, though Hunan vegetable dishes tend to use quite a bit of oil. The owner explained that they grow two rice crops a year in Hunan. The first crop grows with a smaller temperature difference, so the taste is average. The second crop grows with a larger temperature difference, making it more fragrant. The rice in their shop is the second crop they grew themselves.

The owner was very talkative and even gave us some pickled vegetable soup for free. Shaoyang pickled vegetables (yancai) are a homemade jarred dish made from bok choy that is dried and then pickled. It is dry, fragrant, and sour. It is perfect with rice when stir-fried with chili and minced meat, and it also makes a great soup. In the end, the owner even gave us two bundles to take home and cook ourselves.



















There are four Hui Muslim stir-fry restaurants on both sides of Longhui Bridge. We previously ate at Xiangyijiaren and another Hui Muslim restaurant, which both focus on small stir-fry dishes. The other two, Minzufengweilou and Yihesheng, specialize in banquet meals. We ate at Minzufengweilou this time. It seems to be the main place where Hui Muslims in Longhui host their banquets.

The restaurant has a great view overlooking the river, though it does not get many casual diners on a regular day. We ordered toothpick beef (yaqian niurou), specialty duck (fengwei ya), and yam with wood ear mushrooms (shanyao mu'er). The toothpick beef was quite salty, the specialty duck was delicious, and the yam with wood ear mushrooms was very fresh. It was a pity we still did not get to eat chicken, as you have to order it in advance to have it freshly slaughtered and cooked.



















You can find traditional Hui Muslim noodles and pastries at the entrance of Taohuaping Mosque in the county town. This pastry shop is run by Hui Muslims from Shanjie. Their handmade sponge cakes (jidan gao) and sesame flatbreads (zhima bing) are excellent, with authentic milk and egg flavors. Since they contain no additives, you must eat the sponge cakes quickly, and the sesame flatbreads must be kept away from moisture.













Besides the county town, Shanjie Hui Ethnic Township is also a great place to taste Hui Muslim food. At noon, we ate braised beef steak (hongshao niupai) and vegetable dishes at Laowu Restaurant, located at the entrance of the Shanjie East Mosque. They do not have a menu, so you just discuss what to order directly. The vegetables are all fresh from the field, and you have to order the chicken ahead of time so it can be freshly slaughtered. The steak is cooked in advance, and it tastes just like the kind you make at home. 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. 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. view all

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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 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 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

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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 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