This is a list of notable mosques in China. A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the religion of Islam. The first mosque in China was the Huaisheng Mosque in Guangzhou, built during the Tang dynasty in 627 CE. In of 2014 there were 39,135 mosques in China, in 2009 an estimated 25,000 of these were in Xinjiang, a north-west autonomous region, having a high density of one mosque per 500 Muslims.

 

In China, mosques are called Qīng Zhēn Sì (清真寺, “Temples of the Pure Truth”), a name which was also used by Chinese Jews for synagogues. Other names include Huí Huí Táng (回回堂, “Hui people’s hall”), Huí Huí Sì (回回寺, “Hui people’s temple”), Lǐ Bài Sì (礼拜寺, “Temple of worship”), Zhēn Jiào Sì (真教寺, “Temple of the True Teaching”) or Qīng Jìng Sì (清净寺, “Pure and clean temple”).

 

During the Qing dynasty, at the mosque entrance of Hui Mosques, a tablet was placed upon which “Huáng Dì Wàn Suì, Wàn Suì, Wàn Wàn Suì” (皇帝萬歲,萬歲,萬萬歲) was inscribed, which means, “The Emperor, may he live forever”. Wansui means Ten thousand years, which means forever in Chinese. Westerners traveling in China noted the presence of these tablets at mosques in Yunnan and Ningbo.

 

Most mosques have certain aspects in common with each other however as with other regions Chinese Islamic architecture reflects the local architecture in its style. China is renowned for its beautiful mosques, which resemble temples. However, in western China the mosques resemble those of Iran and Central Asia, with tall, slender minarets, curvy arches and dome shaped roofs, as well as the unique multi-layered portals. In northwest China where the Chinese Hui have built their mosques, there is a combination of eastern and western styles. The mosques have flared Buddhist style roofs set in walled courtyards entered through archways with miniature domes and minarets.

 

List of iconic mosques

NameImagesCity or DistrictProvince or MunicipalityYearRemarks
Afaq Khoja MausoleumHaohanXinjiang1640Ā Bā Hé Jiā Má Zhá
Bukui MosqueQiqiharHeilongjiang1684Bo Kuí Qīng Zhēn Sì
Daowai MosqueDaowaiHarbin1897Dào Wài Qīng Zhēn Sì
Dongguan MosqueXiningQinghai1380 
Dunhuang MosqueDunhuangGansu1917Dūn Huáng Qīng Zhēn Sì
Fuyou Road MosqueHuangpuShanghai1870Fú Yòu Lù Qīng Zhēn Sì
Great Mosque of HohhotHohhotInner Mongolia1693Hū Hé Hào Tè Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì
Great Mosque of Xi’anXi’anShaanxi742 
Hangzhou New Grand Mosque HangzhouZhejiang2020 
Huaisheng MosqueGuangzhouGuangdong627 
Huasi MosqueLinxiaGansu1487Huá Sì Qīng Zhēn Sì
Id Kah MosqueKashgarXinjiang1442 
Jiezi mosque Xunhua SalarQinghai??
Jinan Great Southern MosqueJinanShandong1295
Jì Nán Qīng Zhēn Nán Dà Sì
Khotan MosqueHotanXinjiang1870
Hé Tián Qīng Zhēn Sì
Lhasa Great MosqueLhasaTibet1716Lā Sà Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì
List of mosques in Hong Kong  Hong Kong  
Macau MosqueOur Lady of Fatima ParishMacau  
Najiaying MosqueYuxiYunnan1370Nà Jiā Yíng Qīng Zhēn Sì
Nanning MosqueNanningGuangxi1707Nán Níng Qīng Zhēn Sì
Niujie MosqueXichengBeijing996 
Qingjing MosqueQuanzhouFujian1009Qīng Jìng Sì
Tongxin Great MosqueTongxinNingxiaca.1400Tóng Xīn Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì
Xiaotaoyuan MosqueHuangpuShanghai1917Xiǎo Táo Yuán Qīng Zhēn Sì
en_USEnglish