Located in the city center just northwest of Bell and Drum Tower, Xian Great Mosque is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China. Different from other mosques in the world, the Great Mosque is a design of mixed architecture - Chinese style and Islamic design (Chinese pagoda-style upturned eaves that adorn its towering Arab-like minaret).

First built in the Tang Dynasty in 742, the Great Mosque was renovated in later periods especially during the reign of Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty. So the buildings we see today are mainly from the Ming Dynasty. Covering an area of 13,000 square meters, 250 meters long and 47 meters wide with a well-arranged layout, the Mosque consists of four courtyards.

In the first courtyard there is a elaborate wooden arch which is 9 meters high and is covered with glazed tiles. The history of this elaborate wooden arch could date back to 17th century. There is a stone archway standing in the center of the second courtyard with two steles on both sides. And the characters written on both steles are considered to be the treasure of Chinese calligraphy. At the entrance to the third courtyard, there is a hall keeping many ancient steles. In the middle sits the Shengxin Pavilion. This pavilion is an eight-squared wood-and-brick construction with faded color. In this courtyard, visitors will also find the place where Muslims come to attend prayer services. In the fourth courtyard there stands the Phoenix Pavilion, wing-halls, tablet inscriptions, two pavilions, a crabapple-flower-shaped fountain and a Prayer Hall. The Prayer Hall covers an area of 1300 square meters with more than 600 colored paintings and can hold 1,000 people pray at the same time.

During the visit to the Great Mosque, please pay special attention to the meticulous calligraphy on the buildings' entryways because all of them are considered to be a great treasure in the art of Chinese handwriting.

With such long history and unique architecture style, Xian Great Mosque really deserves your visit especially for muslims!