The Great Mosque

The Great Mosque is located in Huajue Lane, which branches off from the West Main Street. It is the major spot for the religious activties of over 60,000 Muslim in Xi'an. It is also an important historical monument in Shaanxi province. Unlike Arabian mosques with splendid domes, skyward minerats,and dazaling patterns, this mosque posses much Chinese tradition in both design and artistic outlook. It assumes the striking features of Chinese pavilions, with painted beams ad engraved ridgepoles.

  The Greast Mosque is the most sizable of its kind in the city of Xi'an, and also one if the oldest and best perserved mosque in China, The Stone Tabllet on the Building of the Mosque says that it was built in the Tang Dynasty. However, judging from the architectural style, it was probably built in the Ming dynasty. Its four courtyards cover an area of more than 12,000 square meters, with a building area of 4,000 square meters.The Still intact wooden memorial arch in the front yard was built at the turn of 17th century. With glazsed titles, spectacular corners and upturned eaves, it stands about nine meters high, and has a history of about 360years.