Why is Dongguan Mosque special?
The Dongguan Mosque is a famous mosque. It is located in eastern Xiling City, and is the largest mosque in Qinghai province and one of the four greatest mosques in Northwest China. First built in 1379 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the mosque enjoys a long history of more than 600 years and still remains the most well preserved ancient building. Architecture of the mosque combines traditional Chinese style with the local features, with grand appearance and delicate, dazzlingly inside ornaments. Now this mosque serves as an educational center and institution of higher learning for Islamism, and also is the leading mosque in Qinghai.
Dongguan Mosque Highlights
There is a complex of traditional Chinese palace-style buildings in the mosque. The gate of the mosque is an elegant archway with the name of the mosque on it. One pavilion-like building of about 8 meters high stands on each side of the courtyard, and is designed for the imam to call the prayers to worship. The prayer hall is the main building in Dongguan Mosque with the area of 1,136 square meters. The mosque has a prayer hall which can hold up to 3,000 people. The main worship hall faces the east, therefore the prayers can pray facing the holy city of Mecca. Its wall is made of great cyan stones, and its roof is decorated with colored glaze. The ridge of the hall is decorated with Tibetan style Aquarius. The majestic main worship hall resembles a palace of the Han nationality. There are two-storied ambulatory-like wing halls on both sides of the main worship hall. A water hall is built in the mosque for prayers to wash their hands and feet before entering the worship hall. Islamite worships every Friday. Since the Mosque was built, it has become an important place of worship and assembly for Muslims. When Islam's important festivals come round, tens of thousands of the Prophet's followers come to participate in ceremonies and religious activities.