Guangzhou Mosque Guide

Located in the south of China, Guangzhou has played an important role as one of themain port cities for the Sea Silk Road with a long history of more than 2,000 years.With the development of the sea trade, Guangzhou is recorded to have businessconnections with countries form the Arab region in the far ancient Sui and TangDynasties. Guangzhou is recorded to be the place has the earliest introduction ofIslam into China in the history.

When Muslim businessmen from the Arab region travel to Guangzhou to do businessin the Tang Dynasty, they started to build mosques when they settled down inGuangzhou. The Guangzhou Huaisheng Mosque constructed in the Tang Dynasty isrecorded to be the oldest mosque in China.

Later more mosques are built because of the increasingly religious needs. The existingmajor Guangzhou mosque include Huaisheng Mosque, Xianxian Mosque,Xiaodongying Mosque and Haopan Mosque.

Guangzhou Huaisheng Mosque

Huaisheng Mosque, also called as Guangta Mosque or Light Tower Mosque, islocated in Guangzhou city. It is one of the oldest mosques in China and is one of thefour most notable mosques in China with the other three being Yangzhou CraneMosque, Quanzhou Kylin Mosque and Hangzhou Phoenix mosque.

Huaisheng Mosque was constructed in the purpose to the memory of the prophet ofIslam, Mohammed. As its name suggesting, Huaisheng means “remembering thesaint" in Chinese. Huaisheng Mosque was firstly constructed in Tang Dynasty(618-907) and was rebuilt several times.

It covers a total area of 3,000 square meters with buildings of the main hall, WangyueBuilding, east and west galleries, scripture-stored room, stele pavillion, Xuanlitower(Guangta or Light Tower) and other facilities.

Facing south, Huangsheng Mosque was built in the symmetrical layout of Chinese

traditional style with styles of West Asia in the decoration and colors. Its main hall,which is situate din the center of the courtyard, occupies an area of 400 square meters.

What stands the mosque most is the Light Tower. The marnet is constructed withArabic styles with a height of 36 meters. The tower was built with green bricks in around bottom and coated gray sands in the surface. There are small holes in the bodyof the tower for lighting. This light tower was used for the service of navigation forships on the Zhujiang River when sailors climbing up the tower for the observation ofweather conditions.

Even with a history of thousand years, Huaisheng Mosque still plays an important role.It welcomes thousands of Muslims every year and it is where the Guangzhou IslamicAssociation seated. Tourists are allowed if they are Muslims.

Address, No. 56, Guangta Road, Yuexiu District, GuangzhouLocation, Near Zhongshan Sixth Road and Jiefang RoadTelephone, 0086-20-83333593

Guangzhou Xianxian Mosque

Guangzhou Xianxian Mosque, located in Guihuagang, is a famous Islamic historicsite. It was first constructed during Tang Dynasty (618-907), now it has a history morethan 1,300 years. Xianxian Mosque covers an area of 1,860 square meters with aconstruction area of 1,077 square meters.

Xianxian Mosque is also called HuiHui Cemetery. It is actually a cemetery for thehonor 40 famous Arabic Muslim missionaries who were buried in this cemetery.

The Guangzhou Xianxian Mosque is a cemetery in garden style. It was surroundedwith walls with prayer hall, square pavilion, and wing-room inside. The threewing-rooms are located in the west and the prayer hall situated in the north. There areplanted many trees and flowers inside the mosque. The cemetery was constructed inarch style in the roof, resembling a hanging clock. Whenever Muslims or touristscoming here to honor missionaries, sound would be loud when talking or chanting andpraying.

Xianxian Mosque has a two-storeyed prayer hall, which is capable to hold a capacityof 3,000 people to do prayer. Those halls and other facilities inside the cemetery are

all built in the style of Ming Dynasty. Today, Xianxian Mosque still stands as apopular site for Muslims.

Address, 901 Jiefang North Road, Yuexiu District, GuangzhouLocation, Near GuihuagangTelephone, 0086-20-86692743

Guangzhou Haopan Mosque

The Guangzhou Haopan Mosque is one of the oldest existing mosques in Guangzhou.It is situated in Haopan Street, Renmin Middle Road of Guangzhou. Haopan Mosquecovers an area of 1,491 square meters. It was enlisted as a city and county levelcultural relics protection unit in 1993.

Haopang Mosque was constructed in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This mosque wasbuilt in the Southern garden style. But the existing buildings of the mosque are themain hall and the gate. The gate was built to face the south while the main hall wasconstructed to face the east with a width of 18.8 meters and depth of 19.6 meters.

In the Southern garden style, the Haopan Mosque is quite outstanding in architecture.There are exquisite carving in the pillars and beams inside the hall. Haopan Mosquewas used to serve as a public place for Muslims to attend religious activities. Now it isonly open to Muslims.

Address, 378 Rennin Middle Road, Happen Street, Yuexiu District, GuangzhouTelephone, 0086-20-68924279

Guangzhou Xiaodongying Mosque

Guangzhou Xiaodongying Mosque is one of the four mosques in Guangzhou locatedin Xiaodongying Street of Guangzhou. It was first constructed in the Chenghua Periodof Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and was renovated two times at Qing Dynasty.Xiaodongying Mosque covers an area of 530 square meters with a main hall of 153square meters.

Xiaodongying Mosque has an excellent cultural tradition as it has made greatcontribution and provided ultra convenience for the development of Islam. It hasserved as a place for church education since its construction. Xiaodongying Mosquehas set up Guangzhou Muslim YMCA and other organizations. It also provides theservice for funeral ceremony for Muslims.

Built in Chinese traditional style, the main hall of Xiaodongying Mosque wasconstructed in Chinese palace-style. Now the mosque contains 100 households ofMuslims and has a total population of 300 people.

Address, 1, Xiaodongying, Yuehua Road, GuanghzouLocation, Near Guangzhou City Hall and Yuexiu ParkTelephone, 0086-20-3333593

Reference, http://www.muslim2china.com/china-mosques/list-Guangzhou.html