Taiyuan Ancient Mosque

The Taiyuan Ancient Mosque is a historic religious site in Xinghualing built with two courtyards that contain a prayer hall, sermon hall, decorated gateway, and washing facilities. The layout follows traditional Chinese design principles while incorporating Islamic architectural features developed over many rebuildings.

The site was originally called Qingxiu Mosque and was founded during the Tang dynasty in the 8th century to serve the Muslim community. Major renovations after the 11th century reshaped its layout and preserved many of its structures to the present day.

The prayer hall displays a blend of Chinese, Arabic, and Islamic architectural elements that shows how different traditions mixed over centuries in this region. This fusion appears in the decoration and room layouts, shaping how the entire site looks and feels.

The mosque is located west of Taiyuan Railway Station and is easily reached from there, especially for those wanting to explore religious architecture. Visitors should respect the active worship practices at the site, as the community continues to use it for prayer and religious gatherings.

The original name Qingxiu means "pure and spotless" in Chinese, reflecting the spiritual values important to the Muslim community that has worshipped here for over a thousand years. This naming choice reveals how the site was understood as a place of spiritual cleanliness from its earliest days.