Xi'an Mosque

The Great Mosque of Xi'an is one of the oldest and most remarkable mosques in China, and utterly unlike a mosque anywhere else, because it's built almost entirely in the style of a traditional Chinese temple. Tucked in the Muslim Quarter near the Drum Tower, it serves Xi'an's Hui Muslim community, whose presence dates back to the Silk Road era. Instead of domes and minarets, you find a series of tranquil courtyards arranged along an axis, with Chinese-style wooden pavilions, memorial archways (pailou), stone tablets, carved screens, and a striking pagoda-like minaret, all blending Islamic function with Chinese architectural form. Arabic calligraphy mingles with Chinese motifs throughout.

It's a serene, green oasis of contemplation amid the bustling Muslim Quarter, and a fascinating testament to centuries of cultural fusion along the Silk Road. (The prayer hall itself is reserved for worshippers.) Combine your visit with the lively food streets of the surrounding Muslim Quarter. Allow about an hour to wander the peaceful courtyards.

Don't miss

• A mosque built in traditional Chinese temple style
• Tranquil courtyards and wooden pavilions
• Memorial archways, stone tablets, and carved screens
• A pagoda-like minaret
• A blend of Islamic and Chinese culture on the Silk Road

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Xi'an Mosque

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★ · 1,545 travelers9-10 hoursFree cancellationFrom$24 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleXi’an Private Day Tour:Terracotta Army, City Wall, Pagoda&Pottery5★ · 31 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$25 per personSee dates →

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Getting there

Know before you go

• It looks like a Chinese temple, not a typical mosque, that's the fascination.
• The prayer hall is reserved for worshippers; the courtyards are open to visitors.
• Dress respectfully, it's an active mosque.
• Combine with the lively food streets of the Muslim Quarter.

A bit of history

Traditionally said to date from the 8th century (with most surviving structures from the Ming dynasty), the Great Mosque of Xi'an grew with the city's Hui Muslim community, descended from Silk Road traders and settlers. Its unique Chinese-temple architecture reflects centuries of cultural integration.