Great Mosque of Xi'an

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The Great Mosque of Xi'an, one of China's largest mosques

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The Great Mosque of Xi'an (Chinese: 西安大清真寺), located near the Drum Tower (Gu Lou) on Huajue Lane of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China, is one of the oldest and most renowned mosques in the country.

First built in the Tang Dynasty (reign of Emperor Xuanzong, 685-762), at the eastern end of the Silk Road, and subsequentially renovated in later periods (especially during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty), it remains one of the most important tourist sites of Xi'an, and is still used by Chinese Muslims (particularly the Hui people) today as a place of worship. Unlike most of the mosques in the Middle East and Arab countries, the Great Mosque of Xi'an is completely Chinese in its construction and architectural style, as the mosque has neither domes or minarets, except some Arabic lettering and decorations [1].