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 (, "Temples of the Pure Truth"), a name which was also used by Chinese Jews for synagogues. Other names include Huí Huí Táng (, "Hui people's hall"), Huí Huí Sì (, "Hui people's temple"), Lǐ Bài Sì (, "Temple of worship"), Zhēn Jiào Sì (, "Temple of the True Teaching") or Qīng Jìng Sì (, "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" () was inscribed, which means, "The Emperor, may he live forever". Wansui means Ten thousand years, which means forever in Chinese. Broomhall 1910, p. 290. 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.Saudi Aramco World, July/August 1985, page 3035
List of iconic mosques NameImagesCity or DistrictProvince or MunicipalityYearRemarks Huaisheng Mosque Guangzhou Guangdong 627 considered to be the oldest mosque in ChinaXianxian MosqueGuangzhouGuangdong7th century Great Mosque of Xi'an Xi'an Shaanxi 742 largest and oldest mosque in Shaanxi province Niujie Mosque Beijing Beijing 996 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. Qingjing Mosque Quanzhou Fujian1009Qīng Jìng Sì, oldest mosque in FujianPhoenix MosqueHangzhouZhejiang1281oldest mosque in Hangzhou Id Kah Mosque Kashgar Xinjiang 1442 One of the oldest and most iconic mosques in Xinjiang, prayer access is limited Tongxin Great Mosque Tongxin Ningxia ca.1400Tóng Xīn Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì Dongguan Mosque Xining Qinghai 1380 Jinan Great Southern Mosque Jinan Shandong1295Jì Nán Qīng Zhēn Nán Dà SìHuangcheng MosqueChengduSichuan16th centurylargest mosque in Sichuan provinceSongjiang Mosque Shanghai (Songjiang district)Shanghai1391Oldest mosque in ShanghaiDongsi MosqueBeijingBeijing1346Xianhe Mosque (Crane Mosque)YangzhouJiangsu12751390 (reconstruction) Huasi Mosque Linxia Gansu1487Huá Sì Qīng Zhēn SìEmin Minaret Mosque TurpanXinjianghas the tallest minaret in China Bukui Mosque Qiqihar Heilongjiang 1684Bo Kuí Qīng Zhēn Sì Great Mosque of Hohhot Hohhot Inner Mongolia1693Hū Hé Hào Tè Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì Afaq Khoja Mausoleum Haohan Xinjiang1640Ā Bā Hé Jiā Má Zhá, the mausoleum includes a mosque Najiaying Mosque Yuxi Yunnan1370Nà Jiā Yíng Qīng Zhēn Sì Nanning Mosque Nanning Guangxi1707Nán Níng Qīng Zhēn Sì Daowai Mosque Daowai Harbin 1897Dào Wài Qīng Zhēn Sì Dunhuang Mosque Dunhuang Gansu 1917Dūn Huáng Qīng Zhēn Sì Fuyou Road Mosque Huangpu Shanghai1870Fú Yòu Lù Qīng Zhēn Sì Lhasa Great Mosque Lhasa Tibet 1716Lā Sà Qīng Zhēn Dà Sì Khotan Mosque Hotan Xinjiang1870Hé Tián Qīng Zhēn Sì Xiaotaoyuan Mosque Huangpu Shanghai1917Xiǎo Táo Yuán Qīng Zhēn Sì Macau Mosque Our Lady of Fatima Parish Macau1980sHangzhou New Grand MosqueHangzhouZhejiang2016 Jiezi mosque Xunhua Salar Qinghai?? List of mosques in Hong Kong Hong Kong
See also Islam in China Women's mosque Lists of mosques List of mosques in Hong Kong List of mosques in Taiwan
References Citations
Sources
External links
Mosques in China, a gallery at the site of the Institute for Research and Studies of Muslim Minorities (IRSMM)
"How China is tearing down Islam" Islamic Architecture in Xinjiang Islamic Architecture in Xinjiang