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. 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

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.





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.

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

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.

















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

Reposted from the web

Summary: This China mosque travel guide focuses on mosque plaques, couplets, Islamic calligraphy, Muslim heritage, and the original 151-200 item sequence.

This article summarizes the key points of "Appreciation of Islamic Plaques and Couplets (151-200)". 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 namaz, Islamic plaque and couplet appreciation, and guides for mosques and prayer.

151. "Mastering Heaven and Man" at Niujie Mosque in Beijing.

An auspicious day in the early tenth lunar month of the Jiaxu year, the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi reign.

Respectfully erected by Ma Rulong, Imperial-bestowed Yellow Jacket wearer and Commander-in-Chief of Hunan Province, titled Fashishang'a Baturu.

Ma Rulong was a Hui Muslim from Jianshui, Yunnan. He started as a military scholar and served as Commander-in-Chief of Yunnan and later Hunan.



152. "Governing the Principles of Numbers" at Niujie Mosque in Beijing.

An auspicious day in the first month of winter, the Jiaxu year, the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi reign.

Respectfully erected by Ma Rulong, Imperial-bestowed Yellow Jacket wearer and Commander-in-Chief of Hunan Province, titled Fashishang'a Baturu.



153. "Governing the Two and Five" at Nanxiapo Mosque in Beijing.

The third lunar month of the Renyin year (1902).

Calligraphy by Prince Qing.

The plaque is a replica. Yikuang was named Prince Qing in 1894 and served as a high official in the late Qing Dynasty.

Liu Zhi wrote in the Rites of Islam (Tianfang Dianli) that 'revering the five pillars fulfills the way of heaven;' 'upholding the five social relationships fulfills the way of man.' The five pillars are the declaration of faith, namaz, fasting, charity, and the pilgrimage, while the five relationships are ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, brothers, and friends.



154. Arabic plaque at Haopan Mosque in Guangzhou

An auspicious day in the first month of summer, the seventh year of the Republic of China

Respectfully presented by the Jiangnan Tongshan Hall

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, many Hui Muslims from the Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai regions came to Guangzhou for business. They often chose to live near the foreign trading houses on Haopan Street and the shops in the Xiguan area, which had a significant impact on Haopan Mosque.



155. Arabic plaque at Xiaodongying Mosque in Guangzhou

Erected on an auspicious day in the fifth lunar month of the Bingyin year, the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign

Respectfully inscribed by Li Chengyi from Dingyuan County, Fengyang Prefecture, Jiangnan



156. 'The Hundred-Word Eulogy to the Most Holy written by Emperor Taizu of Ming' at Xiaodongying Mosque in Guangzhou

Mid-third lunar month, spring of the sixth year of the Tongzhi reign of the Great Qing Dynasty, during the festival.

Respectfully written and erected by Zixiang Yang Yongchun after ritual cleansing.



157. Xiaodongying Mosque in Guangzhou, "The Teaching Has an Authentic Lineage."

An auspicious day in the eleventh lunar month, the thirty-fourth year of the Guangxu reign of the Great Qing Dynasty, which is 1,324 years after the passing of the Prophet.

Erected by Liao Shouqi, a member of the faith from Jiangxia County, Hubei, led by his son Dalian.



158. Wutong Mosque in Guilin, "All Things Reveal the Truth."

The second year of the Xuantong reign, Gengxu year, on an auspicious day.

Respectfully erected by Peng Jiahua.



159. Wutong Mosque in Guilin.

Praising Muhammad to honor the ancient teacher, through the ages keeping the true purpose.

Seeing the mosque filled with plaques and couplets praising the Prophet, I felt inspired by the literature and, despite my limited knowledge, dared to compose a couplet as a memento.

Respectfully inscribed by Su Zonghan, former commissioner of Longteng County and acting magistrate of Yining County.

Yining County was located around Wutong Town in the Lingui District of Guilin, Guangxi. It was abolished and merged into Lingchuan in 1951. In the early Republic of China period, it had a county magistrate.



160. Chongshan Mosque (Chongshan Si) in Guilin: "Rectify the heart and be sincere."

An auspicious day in the sixth lunar month of the jiashen year, the tenth year of the Guangxu reign.

Respectfully erected by local resident Zhang Weicheng.





161. Binju Mosque (Binju Si) in Dali: "The true source of all things."

An auspicious day in the last month of summer in the guihai year of the Republic of China.

Respectfully written by Yang Liren from Nancheng.



162. Binju Mosque (Binju Si) in Dali.

Only one, only pure, the essence of the teaching encompasses all phenomena.

Not two, not mixed, the way of the truth connects heaven, earth, and humanity.

An auspicious day in the summer of the twelfth year of the Republic of China.

Respectfully written by Yang Liren from Nancheng.



163. Dawumaolin Mosque in Dali

Broaden your vision and open your heart, break through the void and clear away worldly appearances, explore the divine and understand transformation to reach the original source.

Leave behind worldly feelings with sincere will, forget the distinction between self and objects to unite humanity and heaven, return to the truth and align with the profound mystery.

Respectfully presented by Ma Yuanshan, principal of Yanzhen School, along with all his students.

An auspicious day in the middle of winter, the 25th year of the Republic of China.



164. Daoyuan Qingzhen Mosque of the Mi family in Mami Factory, Dali.

Respectfully erected by the imperial guard wearing a peacock feather, acting major of the Menghua Right Battalion, and commander of the second battalion of the Yunnan provincial patrol force...

The first month of spring, the first year of the Xuantong reign.



Everyone is welcome to read and leave comments.



165. Chengyi Buer Mosque in Donglianhua, Dali.

An auspicious day in the first month of summer, the Bingyin year, the 15th year of the Republic of China.

Qing dynasty appointed General Zhenwei, acting deputy brigade commander, specially conferred as colonel of the Weiyuan Battalion in Yunnan.

Respectfully erected by Republic of China Army Major General Yang Shengqi.



166. "Universal Mercy and All-Encompassing" (Puci Wanyou) at Tuogu Mosque in Zhaotong.

The first month of winter in the 11th year of the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing Dynasty.

Ye Daxiong, Imperial-appointed Commander of Zhaotong and Dongxiong in Yunnan, Hereditary Cavalry Commandant.



167. "Pure Truth and Elegant Transformation" (Qingzhen Yahua) at Tiejiawan Mosque in Zhaotong.

Respectfully erected by Tie Chengjin, acting officer of the second company of the left vanguard, Zhaotong Garrison, Yunnan, with a one-rank promotion.

An auspicious day in the last ten days of the eighth lunar month, 24th year of the Daoguang reign.



168. "Great Virtue and Simple Transformation" (Dade Dunhua) at Tiejiawan Mosque in Zhaotong.

An auspicious day in the third month of autumn, 15th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Great Qing Dynasty.

Respectfully inscribed by Ye Daxiong, Imperial-bestowed Commander-in-Chief of Zhaotong, Dongxiong, and surrounding areas, Hereditary Cavalry Commandant.



169. "Mysterious Wonder and Great Power" (Xuanqi Daneng) at Chachong Mosque in Zhaotong.

Respectfully erected by Sa Depin, Vice-General authorized to wear the peacock feather and expectant Assistant Regional Commander.

An auspicious day in the first month of the Bingwu year, the 32nd year of the Guangxu reign.



170. "Eternal Breath" at Fengming Mosque in Dali.

An auspicious day in the spring of the 11th year of the Republic of China.

Respectfully erected by Ding Guotai of Shaanxi.



171. "Shining on Everything" at Dazhuang Mosque in Kaiyuan.

An auspicious day in the second month of the 11th year of the Guangxu reign.

... Erected by Ma Weiqi of the Suiyuan Left Battalion Training Army.

Ma Weiqi was a Hui Muslim from Dazhuang, Kaiyuan, Yunnan. He was skilled in calligraphy, following the style of Yan Zhenqing, with powerful brushwork and grand momentum. In the 9th year of the Guangxu reign, Ma Weiqi was ordered to Vietnam to resist the French. He defeated the French army many times and was promoted to the rank of vice-general for his military achievements, receiving the title "Boduo Huan Baturu".



172. "Nurturing All Things" at Dazhuang Mosque in Kaiyuan.

An auspicious day in the first month of winter in the Jiachen year, the 24th year of the Daoguang reign.

Respectfully erected by Ma Dingbang, the top-ranked military graduate in the imperial examinations of the 15th year of the Daoguang reign.



173. Dazhuang Mosque in Kaiyuan, 'Praise be to Allah without end' (Yu Mu Bu Yi)

An auspicious day in the middle of winter, the third year of the Daoguang reign (1823)

Respectfully erected by Xu Yaozong, acting commander of the Linyuan and Chengjiang military districts



174. Dazhuang Mosque in Kaiyuan

Reason is not found in sleep; to complete the beginning and the end, one must seek the one true Master

The Way is based on sincerity and uprightness; to emulate the virtuous and the holy, one must strictly observe the five daily prayers (namaz)

Respectfully erected by Xu Yaozong





175. Dazhuang Mosque in Kaiyuan

Analyzing ancient doubts and confusion in only thirty volumes

Including the scriptures of the former saints, a great collection of the Way

Inscribed by Ma Chuqing, a successful candidate in the imperial examinations during the Dingyou year of the Qing dynasty



176. 'Imperial Edict Platform' (Shengyu Tai) at Liren Mosque in Kunming

Erected in the 34th year of the Republic of China.



177. Tangzi Mosque in Xundian, Yunnan: "Ten Thousand Things from One Source" (Wanshu Yiben).

New Year's Day, 30th year of the Republic of China.

Respectfully gifted by Yunnan Army Major General Ma Deming.



178. Tangzi Mosque in Xundian, Yunnan: "The Only and the Pure" (Weiyi Weijing).

New Year's Day, 30th year of the Republic of China.

Respectfully gifted by Yunnan Army Lieutenant General Ma Cong.



179. Tangzi Mosque in Xundian, Yunnan: "Promote Religion and Build the Nation" (Xingjiao Jianguo).

New Year's Day, 30th year of the Republic of China.

Inscribed by Bai Chongxi.



180. Beiyingjie Mosque in Xundian, Yunnan: "The Original Source of All Things" (Wanyou Yuanzong).

Respectfully inscribed by Jin Huaijin, a palace graduate (jinshi) and imperial guard, serving as deputy commander of the military camp with a rank promotion of three levels.

The first year of the Yongzheng reign, the year of Guimao, in the middle of the sixth lunar month, on an auspicious day.



181. Beiying Street Mosque in Xundian, Yunnan: 'The Only True Faith' (Qingzhen Bu'er).

Respectfully inscribed by Qian Dengxi, the Circuit Intendant of the Eastern Yunnan Military Defense.

Erected in the summer of the 24th year of the Guangxu reign.



182. Jinniudao Mosque in Kunming: 'The Way Spread from the West' (Dao Zi Xi Chuan).

The middle of the fourth lunar month, in the Yiwei year of the Guangxu reign of the Great Qing Dynasty, on an auspicious day.

Written by Ma Weiqi, the acting Regional Commander of the Linyuan and Chengjiang areas in Yunnan, who holds the title of Boduohuan Baturu.

Respectfully erected by Zhang Mingming, the top scholar (zhuangyuan) of the Jiaxu year, first-rank imperial guard, and specially appointed acting Deputy General of the Chuxiong Garrison in Yunnan and Deputy General of the Yunnan-Guizhou Governor's Command.



Everyone is welcome to add more information.



183. Tangjia Mosque in Chengdu: 'Ascending to the Shore of the Way' (Dao An Dan Deng).

An auspicious day in the first lunar month of the Bingshen year of the Guangxu reign.

Tang Chuanyou from Dongzou.

Tang Chuanyou was a Qing Dynasty calligrapher whose art was famous throughout the capital. His son, Tang Chenglie, worked as an official in Sichuan, so he brought his father there to spend his final years in comfort. The plaque text comes from the Book of Songs (Shijing) phrase 'first climb to the shore,' and Liu Zhi also wrote in Five Watch Moon (Wugeng Yue): 'From here, step by step forward, climb to the shore of the path to see the mystery.'



184. Tuqiao Shang Mosque in Chengdu: 'Uphold Good Rules Forever' (Shishou Lianggui)

Jiayin year of the Yongzheng reign

29th year of the Guangxu reign

Inscribed by Prince Guo

Respectfully erected by Ma Zhonglong, a third-rank guard with a peacock feather from Guizhou Province

In 1734 (the 12th year of the Yongzheng reign), Prince Guo Yunli, the 17th son of Emperor Kangxi, was ordered to go to Kangding to handle the return of the 7th Dalai Lama to Tibet. Before reaching Kangding, he inspected troops in Chengdu and gifted two plaques to Gulou Mosque: 'Uphold Good Rules Forever' (Shishou Lianggui) and 'Origin of Worldly Laws' (Shifa Yuanliu). The original 'Uphold Good Rules Forever' plaque was kept at Huangcheng Mosque but was destroyed in the 1960s and 1970s. The one at Tuqiao Mosque was made during the Guangxu reign.



185. Chengdu Tuqiao Shang Mosque: 'Wonderful Origin of Islam' (Miaoyuan Qingzhen)

Imperial-appointed Commander-in-Chief of Yunnan Province, Left Metropolitan Commander, Hereditary Cavalry Captain, recorded six times for military merit, oversaw the construction of the Great Hero Hall.

Imperial-appointed Commander-in-Chief of Yunnan Province, General-in-Chief, recorded five times for military merit, erected by Ma Hua.

An auspicious day in the middle of winter, in the year of Jisi, the 27th year of the Qianlong reign of the Great Qing Dynasty.



186. Chengdu Tuqiao Upper Mosque, 'Like Timely Rain'.

An auspicious day in the last ten days of the third month of autumn, in the year of Guisi, the 13th year of the Daoguang reign.

Respectfully inscribed by Ma Tenglong, the Imperial-appointed Regional Commander of Chongqing, Sichuan.



187. Chengdu Tuqiao Upper Mosque, 'Boundless Nurturing'.



188. Chengdu Tuqiao Upper Mosque, 'Revere the Righteous and Expel the Evil'.

The third month of spring, the first year of the Republic of China.

The humble followers of the community.



189. Chengdu Dujiangyan Mosque, 'Uphold Good Traditions for Generations'.

The last month of winter, in the year of Jiayin, during the Yongzheng reign.

Inscribed by Prince Guo

Prince Guo was the seventeenth son of the Kangxi Emperor. In the twelfth year of the Yongzheng reign, he traveled to Taining to escort the Dalai Lama back to Tibet. While inspecting provincial garrisons and Green Standard Army troops, he passed through Chengdu and wrote a plaque for Gulou Mosque. The Dujiangyan Mosque also made a copy of the plaque to keep inside the building.



190. Dujiangyan Mosque in Chengdu: "Origin of Worldly Dharma"

The last month of winter, in the year of Jiayin, during the Yongzheng reign.

Inscribed by Prince Guo



191. Dujiangyan Mosque in Chengdu: "Success Through Non-Action"

Early summer of the Guimao year, the twenty-ninth year of the Guangxu reign of the Great Qing Dynasty.

Respectfully written and erected by Ma Weiqi, Commander-in-Chief of Sichuan.

Ma Weiqi was a Hui Muslim from Dazhuang, Kaiyuan, Yunnan. He was skilled in calligraphy, following the style of Yan Zhenqing, with powerful brushwork and grand momentum. In the 9th year of the Guangxu reign, Ma Weiqi was ordered to Vietnam to resist the French. He defeated the French army many times and was promoted to the rank of vice-general for his military achievements, receiving the title "Boduo Huan Baturu". While serving as Commander-in-Chief of Sichuan, Ma Weiqi led troops to suppress a rebellion by lamas and local chieftains in Batang, Tibet. He overcame snowstorms, dangerous terrain, and food shortages to restore peace to the entire region. He was rewarded with a first-rank button and granted the title of General Jianwei. During his time as Commander-in-Chief of Sichuan, Ma Weiqi greatly supported the local Muslim community. He recommended several imams for positions in Sichuan, including Imam Wang Jiapeng, who is known as one of the four great modern imams of Yunnan.



192. Dujiangyan Mosque in Chengdu: "Promote Religion and Build the Nation"

An auspicious day in the mid-autumn of the 35th year of the Republic of China.

Inscribed by Bai Chongxi.

Bai Chongxi wrote this in 1946 while visiting his in-law, Ma Jianqing, in Sichuan. Bai Chongxi was the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China at the time. Bai Chongxi cared deeply about ethnic education. He built Northwest Middle School in Chengdu, Sichuan, and Jiansheng Middle School in Xichang.



193. Dujiangyan Mosque in Chengdu: "Originality and Unique Respect"

An auspicious day in the seventh month of the lunar calendar in the seventh year of the Xianfeng reign.

Presented by Chen Tianzhu, a fifth-rank official with a blue feather and a battalion commander of the Anfu Camp in Sichuan, who held the priority rank of thousand-man commander.



194. Dujiangyan Mosque in Chengdu: "The Religion Flourishes in True Unity"

An auspicious day in the last month of winter in the 14th year of the Qianlong reign (the year of Jisi).

The signature section was destroyed in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2019, I photographed it without the signature. When I returned in 2026, I found the signature had been added: Presented by Ha Panlong, an imperial-appointed top scholar, first-rank imperial guard, and commander of the Songpan Garrison.

Ha Panlong was a Hui Muslim from Suning, Hebei. He passed the provincial civil service exam in the 10th year of the Yongzheng reign and earned the top rank in the martial arts imperial examination in the second year of the Qianlong reign, after which he was appointed as a first-rank imperial guard. In the 13th year of the Qianlong reign, Ha Panlong was ordered to Jinchuan. As the commander of the Songpan garrison, he led troops to attack Meinuo Valley, Kezu Village, and Qiushui City, winning every battle. In the second month of the 14th year of the Qianlong reign, the Jinchuan campaign ended. Ha Panlong was promoted by three ranks and received two additional merit records.





195. Dujiangyan Mosque, Chengdu, "Ancient Mosque (Qingzhen Gusi)"

An auspicious day in the tenth lunar month of the Xinwei year of the Tongzhi reign.

The West Mosque of Guan County in Dujiangyan was located on Shaanxi Lane inside the ancient city of Guan County. It was built in 1862 (the first year of the Tongzhi reign) by Hui Muslims from Songpan, Sichuan. During the Xianfeng and Tongzhi years, Hui Muslims from Songpan with the surnames Jia, Qi, Mi, and Yu traveled south along the Songmao Ancient Road for business. They settled in the ancient city of Guan County and pooled their money to build the West Mosque of Guan County.

In 1959, the West Mosque of Guan County was torn down to build the Guan County People's Hospital. Today, the second gate of the Dujiangyan mosque displays a plaque from the tenth year of the Tongzhi reign that reads "Ancient Mosque (Qingzhen Gusi)." This is the original plaque that hung on the gate of the West Mosque.



196. Qinggang Mosque, Meishan, Sichuan, "Ancient Faith of the Beginning (Kaitian Gujiao)"

An auspicious day in the first ten days of the eleventh lunar month of the Guihai year of the Jiaqing reign.

Respectfully presented by Ma X Yan, a soldier of the Left Garrison of the Chengdu City Guard stationed at the Renshou outpost, who received a two-rank promotion for military merit and a one-rank promotion for imperial favor, plus a two-rank promotion from the Emperor.



It is not very clear, so please feel free to correct me.



197. The "one and only" plaque at Qinggang Mosque in Meishan, Sichuan.

Respectfully presented by Ma Pengcheng, a battalion commander (qian zong) overseeing the Renshou garrison.

A lucky day in the second month of the 25th year of the Daoguang reign.



198. The "utmost silence and stillness" plaque at Qinggang Mosque in Meishan, Sichuan.

A lucky day in the fifth month of the eighth year of the Republic of China, respectfully presented.

In celebration of the mosque reconstruction.

Erected by nine members of the Cai family from the Kai generation.



199. The "a world apart" plaque at Qinggang Mosque in Meishan, Sichuan.

Respectfully presented.

In celebration of the mosque reconstruction.

Congratulations from the Han people of Qingshi.



200. Qinggang Mosque (Qinggang Si) in Meishan, Sichuan.

Erected by the mosque leaders in the third month of the eighth year of the Republic of China (1919).



Appreciating mosque plaques and couplets (items 101-150).

Appreciating mosque plaques and couplets (items 51-100).

Appreciating mosque plaques and couplets (items 1-50). 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 Muslim travel guide to Sichuan is also a China mosque travel guide for readers following old mosque routes, Hui Muslim heritage, and Fenghuangshan Mosque in Chengdu.

This article summarizes the key points of a self-driving trip to ancient mosques in Sichuan during the Spring Festival (Part 14: Chengdu Fenghuangshan Mosque). It keeps the original paragraph and image order. It is for readers interested in the lives of Hui Muslims, Islamic culture, and Chinese Islamic writing. It also helps people search for content related to Part 14 and the Chengdu Fenghuangshan Mosque.

The Chengdu Hui Muslim cemetery was originally located near the Old West Gate, in the areas of Diba, Tongchegeng, and Wanfu Mosque. In 1952, it was forced to move to Fenghuang Mountain to make room for railway department offices and staff dormitories. The Fenghuangshan Hui Muslim cemetery officially opened in 1952. The Fenghuangshan Mosque was built to serve the people visiting the graves, and it has been there for over 70 years.







The Fenghuangshan Mosque currently preserves a pair of Qing Dynasty drum-shaped stone bases (baogushi) from the Chengdu Huangcheng Mosque, as well as a pair of broken Qing Dynasty pillar couplets from the Chengdu Qisi Mosque.

The Huangcheng Mosque was located in the middle of Yongjing Street at Huangchengba in Chengdu. It was first built in 1666 (the fifth year of the Kangxi reign) with funds raised by a man named Qibaba from Yunnan. It was rebuilt in 1858 (the eighth year of the Xianfeng reign). In 1917, it was mostly destroyed during fighting between Sichuan and Yunnan warlords, but it was rebuilt that same year. In 1998, the Huangcheng Mosque was moved and rebuilt on the southwest side of Tianfu Square to make room for the square's construction.





The Chengdu Qisi Mosque was located on Donghua South Street at Huangchengba in Chengdu. It was first built in the early years of the Qianlong reign. It was the seventh mosque built for Hui Muslims in Chengdu, which is how it got its name. The Qisi Mosque was rebuilt in 1866 (the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign). In 1930, it was set back due to street renovations and later rebuilt. After 1950, it became a women's mosque, but it no longer exists today. The Qisi Mosque originally had four stone pillars with couplets. They were all stored at Fenghuang Mountain. Later, some were set up in a mosque on South Street in Dujiangyan (Guanxian). The Fenghuangshan Mosque now holds two of these broken pillars.

The text on the broken pillars at the Fenghuangshan Mosque reads: 'Who is the master, who is the guide, one must think of oneself... respectfully erected by Gui Fengming, a military officer of the Tiabiao Central Battalion, and his son Xin.' When connected with the other parts in Dujiangyan, the complete text is:

The Way cannot be left for even a moment. Whether manifesting or reflecting, it all exists in a place without sound or smell.

People each have an inherent nature. Who is the master, who is the guide? One must think of the origin of all things and their principles.

Respectfully erected in the second month of the Bingyin year, the fifth year of the Tongzhi reign, by Gui Fengming, a military officer of the Tiabiao Central Battalion, and his son Xin.

Summary:

The great path of truth must never be left behind. Whether you are honoring Allah or reflecting on your own character, this inner sincerity exists in a quiet, hidden, and subtle state.

Everyone is born with a kind heart. Who controls all things in the world, and what keeps the order? We should trace this back to the source where everything has its own essence and laws.

Gui Fengming was a Hui Muslim general during the Qing Dynasty. He was from Xiushan County, Sichuan. He fought in the Opium War and served as a military officer in Mianzhou, Chengdu, and other areas. He paid to publish the book Explanation of the Five Pillars (Wugong Shiyi) by Liu Zhi.









At the Fenghuang Mountain Hui Muslim Cemetery, you can see tombstones from the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China era. Unfortunately, because the stone is quite brittle, many people have placed new tombstones in front of the old ones, so the original stone carvings can no longer be seen. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim travel guide to Hong Kong covers halal airport food, prayer rooms with wudu facilities, Disneyland halal dining, local Muslim restaurants, Kowloon Mosque, and the century-old Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association.

A Halal Tour of Hong Kong: The Century-old Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association (Zhonghua Huijiao Bo'aishe) is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Hong Kong reopened after three years, and my travel permit for Hong Kong and Macau changed from a paper booklet to a chip card. The account keeps its focus on Hong Kong Travel, Kowloon, Muslim Travel while preserving the names, places, food, and historical details from the Chinese source.

Hong Kong reopened after three years, and my travel permit for Hong Kong and Macau changed from a paper booklet to a chip card. Getting the permit is simple. You just book an appointment online, then go to the local police station's entry and exit office to take a photo and pay. You do not need to do this in your hometown. You can apply for the permit and the travel endorsement at the same time. Each endorsement lets you stay in Hong Kong or Macau for 7 days. You can use a self-service machine for future endorsements, which takes less than 10 minutes.

To save money, I suggest entering Hong Kong from Shenzhen. Flights to Shenzhen are usually cheaper than flying directly to Hong Kong. Taking the subway from Shenzhen to Hong Kong takes about an hour, including customs, which is about the same time it takes to get from Hong Kong airport to the city center.



You need to call customer service at least 24 hours in advance to book a halal meal on Hong Kong Airlines. WeChat Pay and Alipay are now widely used in Hong Kong. You can also use your phone to pay for most subways and buses. I did not exchange any Hong Kong dollars for this trip, but some shops still insist on cash, so it is good to have some on hand just in case.

Old Town White Coffee (no alcohol)



Old Town White Coffee is the only halal-certified restaurant at Hong Kong International Airport. It serves Southeast Asian food and does not serve alcohol. It is open from 7:00 to 21:00 and is located in the food court.





I ordered a bowl of Ipoh chicken noodle soup (ipoh jisi hefen), a side of fried chicken, and lemon tea. It tasted good.



Hong Kong airport now has two prayer rooms, one near gate 43 and another near gate 211. The prayer rooms are for people of all six major religions and include a place to perform wudu. An airport cannot be called an international airport without a prayer room.



Gate 43 prayer room





Wudu area



Qibla direction







Gate 211 dua room



Disneyland Tahitian Terrace (alcohol-free)



Disneyland is a must-visit spot when bringing kids to Hong Kong. I went alone in 2015 and took the Disneyland Resort Line subway to get to the park.



You can book Disneyland tickets online in advance. The park has two halal restaurants that do not sell alcohol and serve Southeast Asian flavors. There is also one called the Explorer's Club Restaurant. You can see people dressed in Southeast Asian Muslim attire all over the streets of Hong Kong now.







Hong Kong-style halal Wai Kee (alcohol-free)



Wai Kee is a Hong Kong-style roast duck stall run by local Hui Muslims. It is located at Stall 5, Cooked Food Centre, 1/F, Bowrington Road Market. Wai Kee has been open in Hong Kong for over sixty years and has passed down through three generations. According to local Hui Muslims in Hong Kong, the original owner's surname was Wang, and Wai Kee was likely the surname of the owner's wife. Later, it was passed down to the son-in-law, whose surname was Chow.



I thought the elderly gentleman in the shop was the owner of Wai Kee, but I heard from a local friend (dosti) that these staff members are not the owners, just employees. The owner of Wai Kee is responsible for ingredient quality control and teaching the techniques. There is another roast duck shop in this market called Hoi Kee, which is said to have been opened by a former Wai Kee employee who went out on their own.



Wai Kee is quite famous locally and is open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Brother Jin brought me here to get takeout, including roast duck, curry beef, and pomelo peel with shrimp roe.



There is more than one halal restaurant run by local Hong Kong people, but as time passes, some families are no longer willing to take over the family business. People say the descendants of Ma Kee Halal Restaurant have all immigrated.



The famous hanging-oven roast duck is truly delicious, with crispy skin, tender meat, and great flavor. Later, during a gathering, another friend (dosti) brought some as takeout, and I ate more than half of it.



Famous hanging-oven roast duck



Smooth and savory curry beef

Beef curry tastes best mixed with rice. It is slightly spicy, salty, and savory, and I like it too.



Shrimp roe pomelo peel (xiazi youpi)

Shrimp roe pomelo peel (xiazi youpi) is a cold dish made by marinating pomelo peel. It has a strange, indescribable taste and a texture I have never had before, but locals seem to love it, and it is one of the signature dishes at Wai Kee.



To prepare for a dinner party, Brother Jin from Hong Kong specifically came to this Pakistani-run Mehrab Halal Beef Shop to buy steaks. He said some Pakistani shops in Hong Kong are unreliable and sell beef that seems to have been injected with water, but the meat at this shop looks more trustworthy.

Hong Kong-style Islamic Centre Canteen (alcohol-free)



The Islamic Centre is a mosque, also known as the Wan Chai Mosque. On the fifth floor, it opened Hong Kong's first Cantonese halal tea restaurant, which serves dim sum and main meals.





I filmed this restaurant in 2015, but to this day, it remains the only halal Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong that serves dim sum.



Most people wearing headscarves in Hong Kong are Indonesian. Many work in domestic service. Although the pay is not high, it is still more than what they earn in Indonesia, though sometimes they have to help their employers prepare non-halal food.



Dim sum is served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prices in Hong Kong are on the high side, and the average cost per person here is about 150 RMB. After eating, you can pray and study in the mosque.



Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association



The Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association was founded in 1917. It has a history of 106 years and is a Chinese Islamic organization approved by the Hong Kong government. The first chairman was Jin Yiqing, and the current chairman is Sa Zhisheng. This functions like a board of directors, and the imam is hired by the board. The association has its own properties, including the Islamic Kindergarten in Yau Oi Estate in Tuen Mun, the Islamic Fraternal Kindergarten in Cheung On Estate in Tsing Yi, an Islamic primary school, and an Islamic English secondary school. The income from these properties is used to cover the association's daily expenses.



There are currently 11 Muslim organizations in Hong Kong:

1. Chinese Muslim Cultural and Fraternal Association of Hong Kong;

2. The Chinese Muslim Association of Hong Kong;

3. Muslim Women's Association of Hong Kong;

4. The Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong;

5. Islamic Union of Hong Kong;

6. Hong Kong Islamic Youth Association;

7. Hong Kong Islamic Centre;

8. International Islamic Society of Hong Kong;

9. Pakistan Association of Hong Kong;

10. Hong Kong Indian Muslim Association;

11. Dawoodi Bohra Association of Hong Kong (Shia).



I met a Pakistani friend (dosti) here on Saturday. He has lived in China for over 40 years and speaks fluent Chinese. He studied in Beijing when he was younger, and his two children now work in Hong Kong. During our chat, he shared his views on the Afghan Taliban. When I learned he does not eat at the same table with women outside his family, I understood his perspective and once again marveled at Hong Kong's openness and tolerance.



Friends (dosti) gather at the Bo'ai Society every Saturday and Sunday because most people work during the week.



The Bo'ai Society has many books, including a large number of Chinese translations of Islamic law and doctrine that are no longer sold in mainland China.



One of my goals for this trip to Hong Kong was to buy books. Imam (ahong) Yang told me to check out the Eslite Bookstore in Hong Kong, saying I would find something good. The largest Eslite Bookstore is only about 800 meters from the Bo'ai Society.



Imam Yang showed me a rare book from the society's collection. The book in the picture below is a textbook for the Hui Evangelism (huixuan), an organization dedicated to spreading Christianity among Muslims. This book teaches missionaries how to communicate with Muslims. Hui Evangelism has been active in China for 200 years. They usually disguise themselves as Muslims and learn a little about basic Islamic concepts, then use deceptive methods to lead Muslims toward Christianity. However, there is no need to worry; in the 200 years they have been working in China, the number of Muslims they have converted is very small.



That is why I say Hong Kong is an open and tolerant place where you can always find something new, not just in people, but in these books as well. The books in the picture below are what I bought at the Eslite Bookstore. Just by looking at the titles, you can tell these books could not be published in mainland China anytime soon. The red book in the top left corner is an original, authentic copy of Al-Qaradawi's famous work, The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam. I have only read pirated versions in the mainland. This book was a gift from Imam Yang, and it is worth keeping. Imam Yang once visited the home of Elder Al-Qaradawi and speaks very highly of him.



These books were imported from Taiwan, and the book bands feature recommendations from several Taiwanese friends (dosti) I know. To show my support for Islamic academic work in Taiwan, I spent over 800 Hong Kong dollars on these five books, which is 1.5 to 3 times more expensive than the price in Taiwan.



The first floor of the Bo'ai Society is a prayer room. Men stand in the front row and women in the back. Imam Yang led everyone in prayer (namaz). Afterward, we sat in a circle to talk and learn. I happened to meet several local Hong Kong friends (dosti) that day, including two Hui Muslim elders. One was a retired police officer whom everyone called 'Sir,' and the other was a 'Miss Ma' who moved to Hong Kong from Beijing at age 17. 'Miss Ma' is a nickname; she is actually over 80 years old but is as lively as a young girl. When I first saw her from a distance, she was wearing a pink headscarf, which made me mistake her for a young girl.



Another person is a local convert in his twenties. He said he converted during the pandemic after being moved by the friends (dosti) around him, which led him to learn about Islam. There are also friends (dosti) from the mainland working or studying in Hong Kong. Some have already received Hong Kong residency, and some are new Hong Kongers who have brought their families to settle in the city.



The friends (dosti) brought lamb chops packed from a Hong Kong Pakistani restaurant (bayi canting). The address on the bag is 43 Water Street, Sai Ying Pun, ground floor. We chatted while eating. Many of the friends (dosti) working in Hong Kong are in the finance industry. We exchanged thoughts on current Islamic finance concepts, and I have published my ideas on my official WeChat account.



The picture below shows the steak Brother Jin bought from a Pakistani friend and pan-fried himself. Brother Jin is from Shandong. He is warm and generous, exactly the image of a typical Shandong man in my mind. He is not used to southern food and likes his steak well-done.



The picture below is the Henan version of Xinjiang big plate chicken (dapanji). The chef is a brother from Henan, or more precisely, from Luoyang. He didn't make the noodles like the traditional Xinjiang belt noodles (kudaimian) but tried something new. You could call them hand-pulled noodles (latiaozi), but the taste is just as great. Everyone said they had homemade Xi'an meatball spicy soup (rouwan hulatang) last week. I am very grateful to be able to eat these in Hong Kong.



Friends (dosti) who have the chance to visit the Bo'ai Society on weekends can also enjoy the homemade food, but it is best not to come empty-handed. The remaining Hong Kong food spots I haven't visited yet are listed below. These are screenshots from Dazhong Dianping, and you can use Google Maps to search for the restaurant names to find their locations.



There are currently five mosques in Hong Kong:

1. Jamia Mosque (Shelley Street Mosque): Located on Shelley Street in Central, Hong Kong Island.

2. Kowloon Mosque: Located in the "Golden Mile" of Nathan Road in Kowloon, right next to Kowloon Park.

3. Ammar Mosque (Oi Kwan Road Mosque): Located at 40 Oi Kwan Road.

4. Chai Wan Mosque: Located inside the Chai Wan Muslim Cemetery.

5. Stanley Mosque: Located on the Stanley Peninsula at the southern tip of Hong Kong.

I have visited three of them. I have not been to the Stanley Mosque, which is built inside a prison, or the Chai Wan Mosque, which is built inside a Muslim cemetery.

Kowloon Mosque



Kowloon Mosque was first built in 1896 by Muslim soldiers from the British Indian garrison. It is currently the largest mosque in Hong Kong. It is a three-story building with offices on the first floor, classrooms on the second, and a prayer hall on the third. It is managed by a committee of Muslims from different countries.







Pakistani brothers are teaching the children Arabic. In many places around the world where Muslims are a minority, Pakistani brothers often help maintain the faith. From my observations, these Pakistani brothers have strong language skills. Some born in Hong Kong speak fluent Cantonese and English, and some families have been rooted in Hong Kong for three generations.

Jamia Mosque



Jamia Mosque is the oldest mosque in Hong Kong, built in 1870. The street it is on is called Mosque Street.





It was initially built with funds raised by over 100 Hong Kong Muslims. In 1905, a Muslim philanthropist from Mumbai, India, named Ishaq, funded its reconstruction. He also built a shelter for elderly and widowed Muslims. The mosque is managed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong.



For someone like me born in the 1980s, Hong Kong symbolizes a memory of youth. My early impressions of Hong Kong all came from the Hong Kong and Taiwanese movies and TV shows I watched as a teenager. Back then, compared to the mainland, Hong Kong was more prosperous, fashionable, and international. But looking at Hong Kong now, I always feel like I am in a scene from an old movie.

The old street views, narrow alleys, and the crowds of busy workers all suggest that Hong Kong's economy has fallen behind major mainland cities. I entered Hong Kong from Shenzhen, and the gap in hotel facilities and service quality was very obvious. I do not know if Hong Kong will ever return to its former prosperity, but that does not matter to me. If it were not for nostalgia, the existence of the Hong Kong Muslim community would probably be the only reason I would come back. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: This Muslim travel guide follows a road trip from Beijing to Baotou for a Hui Muslim wedding, with stops at Zhangjiakou Dongguan Mosque, Inner Mongolia halal food, local shaomai, mosques, and community life.

A Halal Travel Journey in Baotou, Inner Mongolia is presented here as a firsthand travel account in clear English, beginning with this scene: Last weekend, I drove from Beijing to Baotou to attend the wedding of Zhe-Zhe, the COO of Halal Life. 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.

Last weekend, I drove from Beijing to Baotou to attend the wedding of Zhe-Zhe, the COO of Halal Life. I have known her for a long time. We first followed each other on Weibo, then added each other on WeChat. I only learned she grew up in Qinghai when she came to support the opening of my mother-in-law's new shop.

Zhe-Zhe is a Tsinghua University graduate who later studied in France. She is the kind of girl who looks smart and sharp at first glance, with high IQ and EQ, so she is very easy to get along with. When I was building my Mingya insurance brokerage team, I invited her to join. Mingya already had a Tsinghua alumni group. Although she did not refuse at the time, I could see her heart was set on continuing her career at Halal Life. Her dream was to do what she could for the Muslim community, so I did not push her. As a result, among the top domestic university graduates in my team, she is the only one missing from Tsinghua, which is a small regret.

I am honored that Zhe-Zhe is also my VIP client, so how could I miss her wedding? I decided to leave on Saturday with Jiche-Tian to attend the wedding on Sunday, then drive back to Beijing overnight. I did not have to rush, but Jiche-Tian had to be back at the office on Monday.



It takes about seven or eight hours to drive from Beijing to Baotou. We left at 5:00 after passing Bangda and arrived in Zhangjiakou around 8:00. We decided to stop for breakfast and visit the local mosque.



Following the GPS, we arrived at the Zhangjiakou Dongguan Mosque. There was a breakfast shop right next to it. I had hoped to have a bowl of lamb bone broth (yangtang) there, but unfortunately, the nearby shops were all closed. We ended up eating yuanbao soup and fried dough cakes (youbing) instead.



The fried dough cakes were very fluffy and crispy. Eating them with the yuanbao soup, also known as wontons, was delicious. Hui Muslims in North China usually call wontons yuanbao soup to distinguish them from non-halal versions.



Sesame flatbread (shaobing) and lamb bone broth are very special in the Zhangjiakou area. If you have the chance to visit, remember to find a place to try them.



The Zhangjiakou Dongguan Mosque was funded by Hui Muslims from Changping and was first built in 1919 during the Republic of China era. Many Hui Muslims in Changping worked as bodyguards. The Guangyu Escort Agency in Yangfang Xiguanshi, Changping, once escorted Empress Dowager Cixi as she fled to Xi'an.



The mosque we see today was renovated not long ago. According to the elders in the mosque, the original building had a dome. The main prayer hall has two floors, but the second floor is not open. About a hundred people can attend Friday prayers (Jumu'ah), mostly locals.



Zhangjiakou is a city in Hebei Province with a relatively large Hui Muslim population and some famous ancient mosques. We did not visit them because they were not on our way, but I hope to visit the Xuanhua Great Mosque next time.



After leaving Zhangjiakou, we drove straight to Baotou and arrived at 2:00 PM, just in time for the afternoon prayer (Asr). We prayed at the Baotou Qingkun Mosque. Since we were traveling, we were allowed to shorten and combine our prayers, so it was quite convenient.



I visited Qingkun Mosque before 2016, when it had a dome. Now it has been renovated into a traditional style. Three other mosques in Baotou are also being renovated and are currently closed; they all originally had domes.



The interior of Qingkun Mosque still looks the same as it did before 2016. I asked, and the time for the call to prayer (bangda) is 4:30. We arranged to meet our friends there for namaz the next morning.



Finding lunch after leaving the mosque was difficult. All the restaurants here close after 2:00 PM. We checked the entire Qingkun District but could not find a single place open.



The halal steamed dumplings (shaomai) on May 1st are something only those in the know understand; don't let your imagination run wild.



We decided to go back to our hotel to rest. The wedding was held at the Qingshan Hotel, where we were also staying. The hotel has a halal banquet restaurant.



We arrived at the Shalimai Music Restaurant at the wrong time; it doesn't open until 5:00 PM. We checked three or four halal restaurants. By 4:30 PM, we finally found one place open. It wasn't really a restaurant, but a beef and lamb butcher shop that sells halal barbecue.



The shop's storefront had pictures of cows, sheep, pandas, horses, and tigers, which looked quite interesting. I asked the owner what a panda sheep was, and he said it's a sheep with black circles around its eyes. The name is very descriptive.



We were almost past the point of hunger, so we ordered a set from the menu. It was surprisingly delicious, especially the crispy baked flatbread (beizi) stuffed with lamb skewers. I don't think many people can resist this way of eating meat in bread.



This is the same type of flatbread (beizi) I ate when I first came to Baotou. Before I arrived, I asked a local if they still sold this kind of bread. My friend said these shops that bake bread over coal fires are hard to find now and asked me to let him know if I found one. See the Halal Food Map for Ordos, Baotou, and Hohhot for details.



Remember that Sunite lamb skewers are better than beef skewers, and you should try the liver wrapped in fat (youbaogan).



If I come to Baotou again, I will definitely eat at this barbecue place. That day, the bride and groom were hosting us guests from afar in the evening, so we didn't dare eat too much for fear of not having room for dinner.



For our first dinner in Baotou, we chose the old Ma Shoujiang restaurant. I noticed this place when I visited Baotou before, but I was alone then and felt I couldn't order many dishes, so I skipped it. It shows that traveling and eating alone is much less fun.



Today the groom is hosting, and since many people came, we can try all the signature dishes and eat everything on the menu.



Ma Shoujiang lived in the late Qing Dynasty and was one of the first Hui Muslims to make halal steamed dumplings (shaomai) in Baotou. The current Ma Shoujiang restaurant is run by his apprentice, whose surname is Zhou.



Surprisingly, the signature dish at Ma Shoujiang is not lamb, but crispy bone fish (sugu yu). As the name suggests, you can even eat the fish bones. Almost every table orders this fish. When the server brings it out, they say some auspicious words, though I couldn't hear them clearly.



This is lamb head meat. You can eat lamb anywhere in Baotou, and it tastes good no matter how it is cooked. The quality of the meat is excellent and the supply is high, so you can really eat your fill.



Shredded potato stir-fry (yangyu caca) was likely brought over by people from Shanxi. The Baotou accent is very similar to the northern Shanxi dialect, and many Shanxi people have settled here, so the food is very similar.



This is Baotou lamb offal (yangza). You could say this table is a full lamb feast, with every part of the lamb included. The lamb in Baotou is cooked very tender and melts in your mouth, which is perfect for lazy people like us who don't want to chew too much.



Here is a photo of the bride and groom with us. On the left is Jiche Tian, and on the right is a part-time muezzin from the Huxi Mosque who came all the way from Shanghai. They are both our old friends. We were in a rush to get back to Beijing after the wedding and didn't get a photo with the newlyweds in their wedding clothes, but life is rarely perfect.



The next morning, we went to the Ma Family Shaomai Restaurant again. We missed the meal time the day before, so this time we ordered three liang of lamb shaomai, served in six steamer baskets. This shop is well-regarded by locals and has several branches.



Shaomai is a breakfast food, and it was very crowded in the morning. It was cooler sitting outside, but we waited a long time for the shaomai. An auntie next to us said regular customers call the shop to order before they leave home, so it's ready when they arrive, which saves time.



Baotou shaomai, also called shaomai, is pronounced 'shaomei' to better match the local Baotou accent. The biggest difference from Hohhot shaomai is the size. In Hohhot, one liang is eight pieces, while in Baotou, one liang is six pieces. This 'liang' refers to the weight of the dough wrapper, so don't order a whole jin, or you won't be able to finish it.



Besides the delicious shaomei, another favorite food of mine in Baotou is lamb offal soup (yangza). It is a bit pricey, costing 20 yuan for a small bowl.



I eat the lamb offal soup with fried dough (youxiang) dipped in the broth. The fried dough here is different from the kind in North China, and I still prefer the North China version.



Although the lamb offal soup is expensive, the side dishes are free and come in many varieties.



After breakfast, I returned to the wedding venue to watch the ceremony. It was held at the halal restaurant in the Qingshan Hotel.



The wedding venue was decorated with many brightly colored flowers. The color scheme was inspired by the French painter Monet, as the couple first met in Paris.



I cannot share the details of how they fell in love, but the point is to keep an open mind and travel more. Marriage is destined by Allah, but you still have to take action to find it.



At the wedding banquet, we sat with the bride's family and met her close relatives. The elders came to eat only after they finished their dua (pieshi).



Since we had to drive back to Beijing overnight, we met with Ma Dudu, the founder of Dudu Design Studio, after the wedding. She is a true Baotou local and happened to be visiting her parents. It is rare for us to get together. I have known Dudu for a long time, but we had not seen each other since she moved to Jiangmen. We last met in 2017 in Urumqi while eating at a Kazakh uncle's house. Now, she is a mother of two.



We took a different route back to Beijing when leaving Baotou. By nine in the evening, we passed through Datong and ate spicy hot pot (malatang) and grilled meat skewers at Jiang Jibing New Style Barbecue.



This was not my first time in Datong. I previously visited specifically to see the ancient mosque in Datong. See the Ulanqab and Datong Winter Halal Tour for details.



Jiang Jibing's way of serving barbecue is quite novel. You pick the skewers yourself and grill them at your table. You take only what you eat, which helps avoid waste.



The spicy hot pot (malatang) next door is owned by the same people, so you can bring it over to eat in the barbecue shop. The spicy hot pot tastes good, but it is really quite spicy.



We arrived in Beijing safely at 3:00 a.m., and this trip ended peacefully.

Traveling everywhere over these years, besides visiting Muslim communities and checking out mosques, the most valuable thing is meeting a group of friends who have faith and personality. Otherwise, my perspective would still be limited to my own life and work. Some travel experiences are not mentioned in books, and some feelings cannot be conveyed by books either. Through traveling these years, I have corrected some fixed ideas I previously gained from reading. So, if you have the ability, you should go out and travel more. Insha'Allah. view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Muslim Travel Guide China 2026: Xishuangbanna Hui-Dai Muslim Villages, Mosques and Halal Food is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, starting with this scene: —— Hello, Travel ——. It keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on Xishuangbanna Muslims, Mosque Travel, Halal Travel.



—— Hello, Travel ——

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

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

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

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



Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

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

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

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







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



The hundred-meter-tall Sky Tree.







We all walked across the suspension bridge in the trees.



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



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



Riding a horse-drawn carriage through Dayi Manor.



Tea plants cover the mountains and plains.

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



"Dai Show".

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









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

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



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



Jinghong Mosque, photographed in 2016.





Signs in the Dai language.



A snack stall next to the mosque.

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



Yijun Food.

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



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



Oil-drizzled beef jerky (youlin niuganba).

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



Dai-style fish (daiwei yu).



Lahu-style chicken (lahu ji).



Lemon shrimp (ningmeng xia).



Stir-fried squid (qiang youyu).



Stir-fried white flowers (chao baihua).



Stir-fried thorn buds (chao ciya).



Stir-fried baby corn (chao xiao yumi).



Ali Barbecue Shop.

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



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



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







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



Juedui Niu Hui Muslim Restaurant

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



Hongfu Halal Restaurant



Jinghong 786 Muslim Hotel

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



Halal Snack Bar

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



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





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



Paxidai Halal Restaurant

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



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





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



Dai-style beef rice noodles



Lemon shredded pounded beef jerky (shousi xiaochui niuganba)



Lemon jelly noodles (liangfen)



Passion fruit hot and sour fish



Nammi dipping sauce platter



Hui-Dai white-palm chicken (baizhangji)



Peanut and beef jerky platter



Lemongrass grilled fish



Stir-fried beef with sour bamboo shoots



Stewed oxtail with radish



Seafood pineapple rice



Hui-Dai style roasted chicken

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



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



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



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











There is Dai script written next to the donation box.















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



Boyaohehanmu Bridge

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

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

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



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







Main hall of Manluan Mosque

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















San Ge Farmhouse Restaurant

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



Hand-shredded small-hammered beef jerky (niuganba)

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



Scrambled eggs with toon buds



Sticky eggplant



Beef steak stewed with radish



Hui-Dai white-palm chicken (baizhangji)



Stir-fried pea pods



Deep-fried cow skin (zha niupi)

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



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



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





Thai Cottage Milk Tea Shop (Tai Xiaowu Naicha Dian)



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







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



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





Beef rice noodles (niurou migan)

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



Menghai Mosque

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



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







Eight Kilometers (Ba Gongli) is a place name.

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

TIPS: About accommodation



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



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





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





Zhiyu Homestay view all

Reposted from the web

Summary: Mosque Near Me in China: Beautiful Mosques from Beijing to Sanya and Hong Kong is presented here as a clear English account for Muslim readers, beginning with this scene: This is my hand-picked collection of mosques I have visited across China. I used photos and short descriptions to introduce them. I chose these mosques because they represent their regions well, such as those designated. The article keeps the original names, food details, mosque details, photographs, and cultural context while focusing on China Mosques, Mosque Travel, Muslim Heritage.

This is my hand-picked collection of mosques I have visited across China. I used photos and short descriptions to introduce them. I chose these mosques because they represent their regions well, such as those designated as national cultural heritage sites or those that showcase traditional architectural styles. Two years ago, I wrote a map of Chinese mosques that received a lot of attention from friends (dosti). This article updates, trims, and adds to that old post with significant changes.

So far, I have visited over 400 mosques. The ones in this post make up only one-tenth of those I have seen. If you think the mosque in your hometown is more beautiful, please leave me a message. I will visit them one by one when I have time, insha'Allah.

— Hello, Travel —

Beijing: Niujie Mosque



I have counted 78 existing mosques in Beijing. Among them, Niujie Mosque is the oldest, largest, and highest-ranked cultural heritage site in the city. It was first built during the Northern Song Dynasty by a scholar named Nasruddin who served in the Liao Dynasty. It has a history of over a thousand years and was named a national key cultural heritage site in 1988.















Beijing: Yongshou Mosque



Located on Sanlihe in the Yuetan sub-district of Xicheng District, Yongshou Mosque was first built in the 33rd year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. There was once a Hui Muslim cemetery within the mosque grounds, but it was moved in the 1950s. The scholar Wang Daiyu was once buried here, and now only a stone tablet recording his life remains.







Beijing: Tongzhou Mosque



Tongzhou Mosque was first built during the Yanyou era of the Yuan Dynasty. In the 21st year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty, the abandoned site of the Tongzhou Left Guard was added to expand it. Side halls were added in the 47th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, and classrooms were added in the 20th year of the Daoguang reign.





Tianjin: Jinjiayao Mosque



Jinjiayao Mosque was first built in the second year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1574) and is one of the oldest mosques in Tianjin.

It is known as the number one mosque in Tianjin.





Tianjin: Great Mosque of Tianjin



The Great Mosque of Tianjin is one of China's famous mosques. It is located in the Hongqiao District of Tianjin and covers an area of 5,000 square meters. It is generally believed to have been founded in the early years of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).







Hebei: Cangzhou

North Great Mosque



This mosque was first built at the end of the Jianwen era of the Ming Dynasty (1420). Many imams from Shaanxi, Gansu, North China, and Inner Mongolia completed their studies and received their certificates at the North Mosque of Cangzhou.





Cangzhou City, Hebei Province

Botou Mosque



Botou Mosque in Cangzhou was first built in the second year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1404) and is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Inside the main prayer hall, there is a large minbar (minbailou) donated by a Tianjin duosi, which is valued at 260,000 yuan.







Langfang, Hebei

Beiwu Mosque, Dachang Hui Autonomous County



It was first built during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1573–1619) and is one of the key mosques in Hebei Province.





Baoding City, Hebei Province

Dingzhou Mosque



Dingzhou Mosque was first built in the eighth year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty (1348). The mosque houses a stone tablet from the Zhizheng era titled 'Record of Rebuilding the Mosque,' which is the earliest record to link the term 'Huihui' with Islam, the earliest to use the four-character translation for 'Muhammad' (originally translated as Mahema), and the earliest to pioneer the integration of Confucianism with Islam. It is now a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.





Taiyuan, Shanxi

Ancient Mosque



This mosque was built during the Zhenyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (785–804) and rebuilt during the Jing era of the Song Dynasty (1034–1038). A stone tablet inside the mosque records its renovation during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty.





Datong, Shanxi

Great Mosque



Datong Mosque is located on Jiulou Lane in Datong. According to the History of Yuan (Yuan Shi), the mosque was first built in 1324. Most of the current structures date back to the Ming and Qing dynasties, and it is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. A stone tablet titled Imperial Edict to Build the Mosque, re-erected in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign (1742), claims the mosque was founded in the second year of the Zhenguan reign of the Tang dynasty (628), though this may be a false attribution.









Hohhot, Inner Mongolia

Great Mosque



It was built in the thirty-second year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing dynasty (1693). According to the Tablet Record of the North and South Lecture Halls of the Mosque, it has been established for many years since the Qing dynasty took power. It was quite simple when first built. It was renovated in the fifty-fourth year of the Qianlong reign (1789).





Ordos, Inner Mongolia

Dongsheng Mosque



This is the only mosque in Dongsheng District. It was completed in 1990 with a main building area of 375 square meters and 45 square meters of auxiliary facilities.











Chifeng, Inner Mongolia



Chifeng North Great Mosque is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. Built in the fourth year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty (1739), it was modeled after the style of the South Great Mosque of Fengtian (now the South Mosque of Shenyang). There are 26 mosques in the Chifeng area, and this is the only one with national protection status.







Xi'an, Shaanxi

Huajue Lane Great Mosque



The exact founding date of this mosque is unknown, but it dates back to at least the Ming Dynasty. It was renovated and expanded in the 25th year of the Hongwu reign (1392) and was known as Qingxiuzhuan. In the 30th year of the Qianlong reign (1765), the local Muslim community raised funds to renovate it again, and it was named the mosque (qingzhensi).







Hanzhong, Shaanxi

Luling Mosque, Xixiang County



Luling Mosque in Xixiang County, Hanzhong, was built in the late Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. It is 330 years old and is one of the three holy sites of the Qadiriyya (Gaderenye) gongbei menhuan. It is an important place where the founder Qi Jingyi practiced, preached, and passed away. It is as famous as the Great Gongbei in Linxia, Gansu, and the Baba Mosque in Langzhong, Sichuan. The designers were professors from Tongji University and professors Kunihiro and George from Japan.







Zhengzhou, Henan

Beida Mosque



It started in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties and houses two Ming Dynasty incense burners (xuandelu). China has four districts named after Hui Muslims, and

Henan has three of them, including the Guancheng Hui District in Zhengzhou.







Kaifeng City, Henan Province

Zhuxian Town Mosque



The Zhuxian Town Mosque in Kaifeng was built during the Ming Dynasty. It is the largest mosque in Kaifeng and is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level. The mosque contains stone tablets with Arabic inscriptions recording the Guxing sect. Starting in the early Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, the appearance of Guxing tablets in places like Kaifeng, Henan, was directly related to Ma Laichi coming to Henan to lecture. The main reason was to address the scriptural views of the new sect in Henan, which was influenced by both She Yunshen and Ma Laichi.







Jiyuan, Henan

Xiajie Mosque



This mosque was first built in the 35th year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty by the Yuan family of Hui Muslims. Their ancestors moved here from Chunshu Hutong near Qianmen during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties to escape war, and they built the Xiajie Mosque.







Mengzhou City, Henan Province

Shangpo Village, Upper Mosque (Shangsi)



First built in the 24th year of the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty (1819 AD), Shangpo Village has 11 mosques, including 6 for men and 5 for women. The Upper Mosque in Shangpo is the liveliest mosque I have ever visited, with children playing everywhere inside.







Qinyang City, Henan Province

North Great Mosque (Beidasi)



The North Great Mosque in Qinyang was built during the Yuan Dynasty and is now a major historical and cultural site under state protection. It is a classic wooden structure made of precious materials. It includes a women's mosque and a martial arts school, covering a total area of over 3,300 square meters. Qinyang is a home of martial arts, and the Hui Muslim style of Chaquan boxing is very popular here.





Tongxin, Ningxia

Great Mosque



The Tongxin Great Mosque was first built in the early Ming Dynasty on the site of a collapsed Lama mosque and has a history of about 600 years. It was renovated three times during the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 1936, when the Red Army marched west, they established the Shaan-Gan-Ning Province Yuhai County Hui Muslim Autonomous Government here.







Lanzhou, Gansu

Nanguan Great Mosque



According to local historical records and stone tablets kept at the mosque, the Nanguan Great Mosque has been one of the six most famous mosques in Lanzhou since the Ming and Qing dynasties, with construction starting during the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1398).





Tianshui, Gansu

Houjie Mosque



The Houjie Mosque in Tianshui is a major historical and cultural site under national protection. It was first built during the Yuan Dynasty as a wooden structure. The Arabic stone inscriptions kept inside the mosque are the earliest ones discovered in Gansu.



Zhangjiachuan, Gansu

Zhaochuan Mosque



Located at the foot of Xuanhuagang Mountain in Zhangjiachuan, Zhaochuan Mosque was completed on October 30, 2017. Zhaochuan is a place name, located in Zhaochuan Village, Zhaochuan Town, Zhangjiachuan County.





Longnan, Gansu

Wudu Grand Mosque



Based on the stone tablets and documents kept in the mosque, it was first built during the Chenghua or Jiajing periods of the mid-Ming Dynasty. It has been rebuilt eight times, merging the original front and back mosques into one on the same site.





Xining, Qinghai

Dongguan Grand Mosque



The mosque was founded in the early Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). It was damaged many times throughout history but was constantly repaired. The current building was rebuilt in 1913, renovated and expanded in 1946, and repaired again in 1979.





Xunhua, Qinghai

Jiezi Mosque



Jiezi Mosque in Xunhua is the second largest mosque in Qinghai. First built in the Ming Dynasty, it is a provincial-level cultural heritage site. It houses hand-copied Qurans from the early Salar people. In the square, there are the tombs of two Salar sages named Ahamang and Galamang, who moved from Samarkand in Central Asia to Qinghai during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties.







Haidong, Qinghai

Hongshuiquan Mosque



Hongshuiquan Mosque in Hongshuiquan Hui Muslim Township, Haidong City, was built during the Ming Dynasty and is a seventh-batch Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. The mosque uses a brick-and-wood structure and blends architectural styles from Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The main hall roof features a treasure vase (baoping), and the interior is decorated with the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism along with many carvings representing folk good fortune. The umbrella-like canopy structure (tianluosan) on the roof of the rear hall is unique to mosques in the Qinghai region, and you can also find this design at Kangjia Mosque in Jianzha and Heyin Mosque in Guide.







Xunhua, Qinghai

Zanbuhu Mosque (Hongguang Mosque)



Hongguang Village was originally called Zanbuhu. It was renamed Hongguang Village in 1987 to honor the martyrs of the Western Route Army. Hongguang Mosque is the only mosque in the country built by the Red Army. Between 1939 and 1946, Ma Bufang forced over 400 captured soldiers from the Red Western Route Army to work as laborers and brought them to what is now Hongguang Village in Xunhua County. While building the mosque, the Red Army soldiers carved patterns like the red five-pointed star, sickle, axe, the character 'gong' (for worker), and collar badges into the decorative bricks while they were firing them.







Chengdu, Sichuan

Upper Mosque (Qingzhen Shangsi)



The Upper Mosque is also called Tuqiao Mosque. It consists of two parts, an upper mosque and a lower mosque, and was first built in the 56th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1791).









Chengdu, Sichuan

Imperial City Mosque (Huangcheng Mosque)



The mosque gets its name because it is located near the ruins of a historical imperial palace. It was first built in the 16th century. The mosque was severely damaged by war in 1917. Although it was rebuilt shortly after, limited funds meant the original site area of over 6,600 square meters was reduced to just over 5,000 square meters. Even so, it remains the largest mosque in Sichuan Province.









Nanchong, Sichuan

Baba Mosque in Langzhong



The Baba Mosque in Langzhong was built after the 29th-generation descendant of the Prophet, Khwaja Abdullah, passed away while preaching in Sichuan during the Kangxi reign. His student Qi Jingyi and the Northern Sichuan military commander Ma Ziyun built the shrine (gongbei) under the order of the Kangxi Emperor to honor him and thank him for curing the Emperor's serious illness. Qi Jingyi was the founding master of the Qadiriyya order. He established the mosque's complete rules and a system for rotating imams to guard it. He also created the generational naming system to continue the Qadiriyya tradition. The Qadiriyya order has three major holy sites: the Great Shrine (gongbei) in Hezhou, Gansu; Luling Mosque in Xixiang, Shaanxi; and the Baba Mosque in Langzhong, Sichuan. The Baba Mosque is the first among these three.





Urumqi, Xinjiang

Shaanxi Mosque



First built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, it was later rebuilt with funds raised by Hui Muslims who moved here from Shaanxi. It is the largest mosque for Hui Muslims in Urumqi and serves as the headquarters for the Urumqi Islamic Association.





Urumqi, Xinjiang

Tatar Mosque



This is a Central Asian-style mosque built in 1897 with donations from the Tatar people. In 1919, a local company called Dehe Foreign Firm funded its reconstruction, so it is also known as the Foreign Firm Mosque (Yanghang Dasi).



Turpan, Xinjiang

Sugong Pagoda Mosque



Completed in 1778, it was funded by the Turpan Prince Emin Khoja during the Qing Dynasty and built by his son, Suleiman. That is why it is named Sugong Pagoda.





Shenyang, Liaoning

South Mosque



First built in 1627, it is the most influential mosque in Northeast China. According to the Tie Family Genealogy: 'Our ancestor Tie Kui performed military service in the early Qing Dynasty, reaching the rank of Cavalry Commandant and General. He was devoted to the faith and, with his prominent status, donated his own wealth to build the South Mosque in the Hui Muslim community of Xiaoxiguan, expanding the site to its current scale.'







Changchun, Jilin

Changtong Road Mosque



Founded in 1824, it is the largest mosque in Jilin Province, covering an area of over 16,000 square meters.





Harbin, Heilongjiang

Acheng Mosque



Acheng Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Harbin area, built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1777). This mosque looks very similar to the Niujie Mosque; the Arabic calligraphy on the main hall's beams and pillars and the plaque on Datianjun Road are both similar to those at Niujie.







Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province

Bukui Mosque



Bukui Mosque was built in the 23rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1684). It predates the founding of Qiqihar city, leading to the saying, 'First there was the mosque, then there was Bukui city.' The East Mosque was built first for the Gedimu tradition, and later the West Mosque was built for the Jahriyya menhuan. Together, the east and west mosques are called Bukui Mosque.







Jinan, Shandong

North Great Mosque



Located on Yongchang Street in the Shizhong District of Jinan, it is a municipal-level cultural heritage site. The mosque was first built during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty and underwent several renovations during the Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang, and Guangxu reigns of the Qing Dynasty, as well as during the Republic of China era. It now covers 8.1 mu with a building area of 2,252 square meters.







Qingzhou, Shandong

Zhenjiao Mosque



According to the stone inscriptions inside the mosque, 'The Hui mosque was established in the 6th year of the Dade reign of the Great Yuan Dynasty (1302 AD) by the descendants of Bayan.' It covers over 6,000 square meters with a building area of over 2,000 square meters.









Jining City, Shandong Province

Jining East Mosque



Jining East Mosque sits by the Grand Canal, so it is called the River-Side East Mosque (Shunhe Qingzhen Dongdasi). It was first built during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty and is a major historical site under national protection. Chang Zhimei, a famous master of Islamic scripture and founder of the Shandong school, once wrote books and biographies here.







Linqing City, Shandong Province

Halal

East Mosque



Linqing East Mosque was first built during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty and is a major historical site under national protection. Linqing is full of halal restaurants, but there are only two mosques. The other is the North Mosque. The two mosques are two hundred meters apart, and the North Mosque is also a major historical site under national protection.





Nanjing, Jiangsu

Jingjue Mosque



It was first built in the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1388 AD) and later rebuilt by Zheng He. It is currently the largest mosque in the Nanjing area.





Yangzhou, Jiangsu

Xianhe Mosque



It was first built in the first year of the Deyou period of the Song Dynasty by Pu Hadin, a descendant of the Prophet. The building looks like a crane, and it is one of the four great ancient mosques in the Jiangnan region.









Zhenjiang, Jiangsu

Shanxiang Mosque



According to the Zhenjiang Prefecture Records revised during the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, it was first built in the second year of the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty (628 AD), but this cannot be verified. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the mosque was used as a shelter. The mosque was once a center for printing Islamic scriptures in Chinese. It printed more than 20 types of woodblock-printed Chinese classics, including The Philosophy of Islam (Tianfang Xingli), The Rites of Islam (Tianfang Dianli), The True Interpretation of the Orthodox Religion (Zhengjiao Zhenquan), and The Essential Collection of the Four Classics (Sidian Yaohui).





Shouxian, Anhui Province

Mosque



The Shouxian Mosque in Huainan, Anhui, was first built during the Tianqi era of the Ming Dynasty (1621-1627). It is now a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. The famous imam Wang Jingzhai taught here for two months during the Republic of China era. He left for Taiwan after being invited to help revitalize the Muslim community there and because he could no longer tolerate harassment from the Eighth Route Army.





Anqing City, Anhui Province

Mosque



The Nanguan Mosque in Anqing, Anhui, was built by Ma Yi, a second-rank regional military commander during the Ming Dynasty. It is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. In 1381, Ming Dynasty General Ma Jucheng led Hui Muslim soldiers to garrison Anqing and established the Anqing Garrison, which has a longer history than the Tianjin Garrison. The first mosque in Tianjin, the Jinjiayao Mosque, was also founded by Hui Muslim boatmen from Anqing. To this day, many Hui Muslims in Tianjin still say their ancestral home is Anqing Prefecture.





Jiaxing, Zhejiang

Mosque



First built in the Ming Dynasty, the Jianzhen Mosque in Jiaxing has a stone tablet record. The writer of the inscription, Jiaxing Prefect Che Daren, and the calligrapher, local resident Ma Mengzhen (who served as a deputy director for compiling national history and has a biography in the History of Ming), were both Muslim officials.







Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Phoenix Mosque (Fenghuang Si)



This mosque was first built in the Tang Dynasty, destroyed in the Song Dynasty, and rebuilt in the Yuan Dynasty. It is one of the four great ancient mosques in the Jiangnan region. The roof of the main hall features three octagonal spire-topped structures dating back to the Song Dynasty. One of them is carved with verses from the Quran, a relic said to date back to the second year of the Jingtai era of the Ming Dynasty. The stone scripture platform and the stone pillar bases inside the Phoenix Mosque have also been verified by cultural heritage authorities as relics from the Song Dynasty.





Ningbo, Zhejiang

Yuehu Mosque



Built in the 38th year of the Kangxi reign, this is currently the only mosque in Ningbo and serves as the headquarters for the Ningbo Islamic Association.







Lishui, Zhejiang

Mosque



Lishui Mosque was first built in the 12th year of the Guangxu reign (1886) and was funded by the religious leader Ma Huanzhang. Records show that in the mid-Qing Dynasty, Hui Muslims with the surnames Ma and Yuan moved from Shaanxi to Lishui, and the Lishui county magistrate was also a Hui Muslim from Yunnan. Lishui Mosque was built right across from the local government office at that time and covers about 5 mu of land. Before 1958, an imam from Shandong named Li Yuliang managed religious affairs at the mosque, but religious activities stopped after that. However, several elderly women including Jin Maizi, Yuan Aiwu, Ma Xiuzi, and Grandma Wu continued to practice their faith.





Songjiang Mosque, Shanghai



Shanghai Songjiang Mosque is the oldest mosque in the Shanghai area. It was first built during the Yuan Dynasty (1341-1367). It contains a cemetery for Hui Muslims, where a Yuan Dynasty Songjiang official known as a Darughachi is buried. The main prayer hall (yaodian) features a style that blends Chinese and Arabic architecture, similar to the mosques in Dingzhou, Dongsi, Hangzhou Phoenix, and Shanghai Songjiang.







Quanzhou, Fujian

Qingjing Mosque



First built in 1009, this is the oldest existing mosque in China with an Arabic architectural style and is one of the four great ancient mosques in the Jiangnan region.









Shaoyang, Hunan

South Mosque



Built in 1914, Shaoyang is a city in Hunan Province with a relatively large Muslim population, and there are two mosques in the urban area.







Guiyang, Guizhou

Mosque



This is the only mosque in Guiyang, built in the second year of the Yongzheng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1724). The great imam Wang Jingzhai once taught here, and after he passed away, he was buried in the Muslim cemetery on the outskirts of the city.







Najiaying, Yunnan

Gucheng Mosque



The Gucheng Mosque is located in Najiaying Village, Nagu Hui Muslim Township, Tonghai County. It was first built in 1370, the third year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty, when Nasulu and his son settled in Najiaying.





Shadian, Yunnan

Great Mosque



The Shadian Grand Mosque was first built in 1684, the twenty-third year of the Kangxi reign. It has a long history and covers a total area of 21,000 square meters. The current building was started in 2005, and its architectural style is similar to mosques in Southeast Asia.







Xishuangbanna, Yunnan

Mansaihui Mosque



Xishuangbanna has two Hui-Dai villages, one called Manluanhui and the other Mansaihui. The Hui-Dai are Dai people who practice Islam and speak the Dai language. I came here to see the legendary bamboo-style mosque. After arriving, I was told that the bamboo mosque existed in the early days, but because it was not practical, it has been rebuilt into a brick and tile building. This Mansaihui Mosque was built in 1985, and you can see Dai script inside.







Guilin, Guangxi

Liutang Mosque



The mosque in Liutang Village, Guilin, is the largest existing mosque in the city. It was first built during the Kangxi and Qianlong reigns of the Qing Dynasty. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, when the Beiping Chengda Normal School moved south to Guilin, it established its first affiliated experimental primary school at this mosque in early 1939. There are currently 9 mosques in Guilin.







Lhasa, Tibet

Great Mosque



Lhasa has five mosques. The Lhasa Great Mosque was built during the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty and is the largest mosque in the city. The imam at the mosque is a Tibetan Hui Muslim. Many Tibetan Hui Muslims live in the old city of Lhasa. Their ancestors came from Kashmir. They speak Tibetan and look just like other Tibetans today, but their ID cards list them as Hui Muslims, and they practice Islam.











Shigatse, Tibet

Mosque



Built in 1343, it was funded by Arabs, Indians, and Chinese people. The mosque's architectural style shows clear Tibetan influences.









Guangzhou, Guangdong

Huaisheng Mosque



The exact date of its founding is unknown, but it was destroyed in 1343 during the third year of the Zhizheng era of the Yuan Dynasty. Also known as the Light Tower Mosque (Guangta Si), it is one of the four great ancient mosques in the Jiangnan region.





Shenzhen, Guangdong

Mosque



Shenzhen Mosque was completed in 2016. The main building has five floors, with a prayer hall on every level and a restaurant on the first floor. You can reach the floors by elevator.





Muslim Cemetery, Macau

Mosque



Built on June 27, 1973, it was funded by Mrs. Halima Bisheik. The mosque does not have a full-time imam, so an imam from Hong Kong comes to lead the Friday prayers (Jumu'ah) each week.









Kowloon, Hong Kong

Kowloon Mosque



Hong Kong has five mosques, with the first built in 1896. The Kowloon Mosque is the largest, and a Pakistani imam teaches religious classes there.





Sanya, Hainan

Huixin Village South Mosque



The South Mosque is in the center of Huixin Village in the Tianya District of Sanya. It was the first mosque in ancient Yazhou, with its original site dating back to the Southern Song Dynasty. It was severely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, rebuilt in 1978, and renovated in December 2016. I was lucky to attend the completion ceremony in January 2017. The ceremony was held on a Friday, and the Sanya imam gave a sermon (wa'ez) in the Huihui language. view all