The Great Mosque of Xian, located just northwest of the Drum Tower (Gu Lou) on Huajue Lane, is one of largest and best preserved Islamic mosques in China. It was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) as a result of Islam being introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan during the mid-7th century. Many of them settled down and married Han women. Their descendents are today's Chinese Muslims. Because the Muslims helped unify China during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, this mosque was built to commemorate them.
The Great Mosque is worth seeing not only for its long history but also for its mixed Muslim and Chinese style architecture. The mosque covers an area of over 12,000 square meters, 250 meters long and 47 meters wide, divided into four courtyards. It is made even more beautiful and serene by the many gardens on its grounds.
You will find an elaborate wooden arch, from the 17th century, covered with glazed tiles in the first courtyard. In the center of the second courtyard, a stone arch stands with two steles on both sides with calligraphy written by famous calligraphers of the Ming dynasty.
In the third courtyard, you will find even more steles. There is the Xingxin Tower, where Muslims come for prayer services. Finally in the fourth courtyard, you will see a Phoenix as well as a Prayer Hall decorated with colorful designs on the walls. The Prayer Hall can hold 1,000 people for services that are held five times a day at dawn, noon, afteoon, dusk and night.
