Great Mosque of Xi'an

The Great Mosque of Xi'an is a mosque in Xi'an, China, that spreads across a large area with four courtyards arranged along an east-west axis. The compound displays pavilions with curved tile roofs, stone bridges over small ponds, and painted wooden beams that recall Buddhist temples.

The mosque was founded in 742 during the Tang Dynasty when Arab merchants settled in Xi'an along the Silk Road. The present buildings were built in the 14th and 15th centuries under the Ming Dynasty through extensive reconstruction work.

The mosque follows the layout of a traditional Chinese temple with its courtyards and pavilions, yet the prayer direction points toward Mecca. Arabic script decorates the walls beside Chinese dragon motifs, and the prayer hall displays woodcarvings that unite both worlds.

The prayer hall in the fourth courtyard is visible only from outside for visitors, as it remains in active use. The tower in the third courtyard serves as the call to prayer and offers a view over the compound when accessible.

More than 600 Chinese inscriptions in wood and stone are found throughout the compound, including works by Song Dynasty calligrapher Mi Fu. During the Cultural Revolution the mosque was temporarily used as a steel factory, which damaged many of the decorations.