List of mosques in China

{{Islam and China|culture}} 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,<ref>{{cite web|language=zh |url=http://dzb.rmzxb.com/detail.aspx?id=352820 |title=Strengthen and promote the standardization of mosque management |publisher=CPPCC News |date=2014-12-18 |access-date=2015-02-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222163343/http://dzb.rmzxb.com/detail.aspx?id=352820 |archive-date=2015-02-22 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=2015最新中国清真寺数量及分布|url=http://www.chinaislam.net.cn/cms/news/media/201503/03-8001.html|access-date=2021-01-11|website=www.chinaislam.net.cn}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|language =zh|url=http://zqb.cyol.com/content/2009-07/17/content_2761116.htm|title=The amount of mosques in Xinjiang is increasing to near 25,000|publisher=Chinese Youth Daily|date=2009-07-17|access-date=2015-02-22 }}</ref>

In China, mosques are called ''Qīng Zhēn Sì'' ({{lang|zh|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'' ({{lang|zh|回回堂}}, "Hui people's hall"), ''Huí Huí Sì'' ({{lang|zh|回回寺}}, "Hui people's temple"), ''Lǐ Bài Sì'' ({{lang|zh|礼拜寺}}, "Temple of worship"), ''Zhēn Jiào Sì'' ({{lang|zh|真教寺}}, "Temple of the True Teaching") or ''Qīng Jìng Sì'' ({{lang|zh|清净寺}}, "Pure and clean temple").<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XULERYYEJo0C&q=huihui+tang+mosque&pg=PA29|title=Islam in China|author=Shoujiang Mi, Jia You|year=2004|publisher=五洲传播出版社|page=29|isbn=7-5085-0533-6|access-date=2011-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6wEMAAAAYAAJ&q=mohammedan+temple+arabic|title=The Chinese repository, Volume 13|year=1844|publisher=Printed for the proprietors|page=31|access-date=2011-05-08}}</ref>

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''" ({{lang|zh|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.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ObcNAAAAIAAJ/page/n269  Broomhall 1910], p. 290.</ref> Westerners traveling in China noted the presence of these tablets at mosques in Yunnan and Ningbo.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xX8jAAAAMAAJ&q=happening+to+see+in+the+mosque+threshold+as+you+enter+a+tablet+temple+inscription+the+emperor+may+he+live+for+ever+the+emperor+the+everliving&pg=RA2-PA33|title=The Chinese repository, Volumes 11-15|year=1842|publisher=Printed for the proprietors.|page=33|access-date=2010-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hUEswLE4SWUC&q=mosques+tablets+wishing+the+emperor+long+life+prominent+position+entrance+mosque|title=China's Muslim Hui community: migration, settlement and sects|author=Michael Dillon|year=1999|publisher=Curzon Press|location=Richmond|page=77|isbn=0-7007-1026-4|access-date=2010-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Hagras|first=Hamada|title=An Ancient Mosque in Ningbo, China "Historical and Architectural Study"|date=2017|journal=Journal of Islamic Architecture|volume=4|issue=3|pages=102–113|doi=10.18860/jia.v4i3.3851|doi-access=free}}</ref>

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.<ref>Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985, page 3035</ref>

== List of iconic mosques == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name !align=center width=120px class=unsortable|Images !City or District !Province or Municipality !Year !class=unsortable|Remarks |- valign="top" | Huaisheng Mosque | 150x150px | Guangzhou | Guangdong | 627 |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamichina.com/page/hshmosquesinguangzhou.htm |title=存档副本 |access-date=2006-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004215114/http://www.islamichina.com/page/hshmosquesinguangzhou.htm |archive-date=2007-10-04 }}</ref> considered to be the oldest mosque in China |- valign="top" |Xianxian Mosque |120x120px |Guangzhou |Guangdong |7th century | |- valign="top" | Great Mosque of Xi'an | 160x160px | Xi'an | Shaanxi | 742 |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamichina.com/page/gmosquesinxian.htm |title=存档副本 |access-date=2006-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925190251/http://www.islamichina.com/page/gmosquesinxian.htm |archive-date=2006-09-25 }}</ref> largest and oldest mosque in Shaanxi province |- valign=top | Niujie Mosque | 120px | Beijing | Beijing | 996 |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamichina.com/page/niujiemosquesinbeijing.htm |title=存档副本 |access-date=2006-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814121536/http://www.islamichina.com/page/niujiemosquesinbeijing.htm |archive-date=2007-08-14 }}</ref> oldest and largest mosque in Beijing, as of 2024, most of the mosque is closed for renovations with a small prayer hall still active in it. |- valign="top" | Qingjing Mosque | 120px | Quanzhou | Fujian |1009 |Qīng Jìng Sì, oldest mosque in Fujian |- |Phoenix Mosque |120px |Hangzhou |Zhejiang |1281 |oldest mosque in Hangzhou |- valign="top" | Id Kah Mosque | 120px | Kashgar | Xinjiang | 1442 |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamichina.com/page/mosquesinkashgar.htm |title=存档副本 |access-date=2006-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061111161003/http://www.islamichina.com/page/mosquesinkashgar.htm |archive-date=2006-11-11 }}</ref> One of the oldest and most iconic mosques in Xinjiang, prayer access is limited |- valign="top" | Tongxin Great Mosque | 120px | Tongxin | Ningxia | ca.1400 |Tóng Xīn Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì |- valign="top" | Dongguan Mosque | 120px | Xining | Qinghai | 1380 |<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.islamichina.com/page/gmosquesinxian.htm |title=存档副本 |access-date=2006-10-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925190251/http://www.islamichina.com/page/gmosquesinxian.htm |archive-date=2006-09-25 }}</ref> |- valign="top" | Jinan Great Southern Mosque | 120px | Jinan | Shandong |1295 |Jì Nán Qīng Zhēn Nán Dà Sì |- |Huangcheng Mosque |120px |Chengdu |Sichuan |16th century |largest mosque in Sichuan province |- |Songjiang Mosque |120px |Shanghai (Songjiang district) |Shanghai |1391 |Oldest mosque in Shanghai |- |Dongsi Mosque |120px |Beijing |Beijing |1346 | |- |Xianhe Mosque (Crane Mosque) |120px |Yangzhou |Jiangsu |1275 |1390 (reconstruction) |- valign=top | Huasi Mosque |120px | Linxia | Gansu |1487 |Huá Sì Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" |Emin Minaret Mosque | 120px |Turpan |Xinjiang | |has the tallest minaret in China |- valign=top | Bukui Mosque | 120px |Qiqihar | Heilongjiang | 1684 |Bo Kuí Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Great Mosque of Hohhot | 120px | Hohhot | Inner Mongolia |1693 |Hū Hé Hào Tè Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì |- valign="top" | Afaq Khoja Mausoleum | 120px | Haohan | Xinjiang |1640 |Ā Bā Hé Jiā Má Zhá, the mausoleum includes a mosque |- valign="top" | Najiaying Mosque | 120px | Yuxi | Yunnan |1370 |Nà Jiā Yíng Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Nanning Mosque | 120px | Nanning | Guangxi |1707 |Nán Níng Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Daowai Mosque | 120px |Daowai | Harbin | 1897 |Dào Wài Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Dunhuang Mosque | 120px | Dunhuang | Gansu | 1917 |Dūn Huáng Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Fuyou Road Mosque | 120px | Huangpu | Shanghai |1870 |Fú Yòu Lù Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Lhasa Great Mosque | 120px | Lhasa | Tibet | 1716<ref>{{Cite journal |last=马 |first=天海 |date=2024-07-20 |title=智能手机在西藏中职学生中的普及现状及其影响深度分析和应对策略 |url=https://doi.org/10.61369/eti.9269 |journal=Education and Teaching Innovation |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=40 |doi=10.61369/eti.9269 |issn=2995-4894|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last = 房 | first = 建昌 | title = 西藏的回族及其清真寺考略——兼论伊斯兰教在西藏的传播及其影响 | trans-title = A Study of Hui Muslims and Mosques in Tibet—Discussing the Spread and Impact of Islam in Tibet | journal = 西藏研究 | volume = | issue = 4 | pages = 102–114 | date = 1988 | language = zh | url = https://mqikan.cqvip.com/Article/ArticleDetail?id=662420030 | access-date = 2025-08-03 }}</ref> |Lā Sà Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì |- valign="top" | Khotan Mosque | 120px | Hotan | Xinjiang |1870 |Hé Tián Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Xiaotaoyuan Mosque | 120px | Huangpu | Shanghai |1917 |Xiǎo Táo Yuán Qīng Zhēn Sì |- valign="top" | Macau Mosque | 120px | Our Lady of Fatima Parish | Macau |1980s | |- |Hangzhou New Grand Mosque |120px |Hangzhou |Zhejiang |2016 | |- valign="top" | Jiezi mosque<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/09/content_11159058.htm |title=China's oldest handwritten copy of the Koran to open to public_English_Xinhua |website=news.xinhuanet.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325173127/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-04/09/content_11159058.htm |archive-date=2010-03-25}}</ref> | | Xunhua Salar | Qinghai |? |? |- valign=top | List of mosques in Hong Kong | | | Hong Kong | | |}

== References == === Citations === {{Reflist}}

=== Sources === {{refbegin}} * {{PD-old-text |title = The Chinese repository, Volume 13 |year = 1844 }} * {{PD-old-text |title = The Chinese repository, Volumes 11-15 |year = 1842 }} {{refend}}

==External links== {{commons category|Mosques in China}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726190208/http://www.irsmm.org/category/image-galleries/mosques/mosques-china Mosques in China], a gallery at the site of the Institute for Research and Studies of Muslim Minorities (IRSMM) * {{Cite web |title=Precious old photos of mosques in China. Most of the Muslim mosques in Lanzhou have become memories. |url=http://www.360doc.com/content/20/0516/12/1252353_912677533.shtml |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.360doc.com |language=Zh}} * "[https://ig.ft.com/china-mosques/ How China is tearing down Islam]" * [http://www.china.org.cn/english/en-xjjz/index_1.htm Islamic Architecture in Xinjiang] * [http://www.china.org.cn/english/en-xjjz/index_2.htm Islamic Architecture in Xinjiang]

Category:Lists of mosques in China