Xi'an Muslim Quarter

The Xi'an Muslim Quarter is a snack and commercial street in central Xi'an, near the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. It is famous for its culture and food, attracting visitors from around the world. The area is home to about 60,000 people, over half of whom are Hui Muslims, and contains ten mosques, including the Great Mosque, a state-level protected heritage site.

Don't miss

• The Great Mosque, a state-level protected heritage site with traditional buildings and religious significance.
• Beef/lamb stew of bread, where you personally break pita into small pieces before it's cooked in broth with rice noodles and lamb.
• Wooden cages mirror cake, a traditional dessert made from steamed sticky rice in small wooden molds, topped with sugar, nuts, and rose jam.
• Steamed soup dumplings with tender meat, soft skin, and rich, non-greasy soup.
• Meat skewers, including lamb, squid, and beef, roasted over hot coals with spices.

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Xi'an Muslim Quarter

Cheapest way inXi'an Airport Transfer5★ · 13 travelers~1 hourFree cancellationFrom$18 per personSee dates →Best full dayMini Group Xian Day Tour to Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda and Muslim Bazaar4.9★ · 1,542 travelers9-10 hoursFree cancellationFrom$24 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleXi'an: Top 3 Highlights All Inclusive Private Day Tour5★ · 126 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$168 per personSee dates →

Know before you go

• The area is connected by narrow roads, which often cause traffic congestion.
• The quarter lacks necessary municipal amenities such as parking lots and public restrooms.
• Most local Muslim families run private businesses like catering, butchery, and antiques, with many residential buildings converted into shop-fronts.

A bit of history

The quarter's history dates to the Tang dynasty, when Muslim merchants arrived via the Silk Road. During the Ming dynasty, the town hall near the Drum Tower attracted wealthy merchants, fostering a Muslim-led commercial lifestyle. The Qing dynasty saw a 'Three Mosque and Thirteen Blocks' pattern, and the quarter survived the late Qing Shan Gan Muslim Rebellion due to its commercial status and protected location inside the city wall. The Middle and West Mosques were built in 1919 and 1920, creating a 'Nine Mosques' pattern. After the founding of the People's Republic, religious activities ceased in many mosques, especially during the Cultural Revolution, with only the Great Mosque and Sajinqiao West Mosque in use. Later policy changes allowed mosques to reopen, and new ones were built, forming a 'Twelve Mosques' pattern.