Xi'an Muslim Quarter

Historic Hui Muslim Neighbourhood; The Great Mosque Of Xi'An Is A Major Historical And Cultural Site Protected At The National Level · Xi'an, Shaanxi

The lively heart of Xi'an's Hui Muslim community and one of the great street-food districts of China: a knot of lanes behind the Drum Tower where Muslims descended in part from Silk Road merchants have lived and traded for centuries. Beiyuanmen Street, its busiest artery, is lined with Ming- and Qing-style shopfronts, smoking grills of cumin-spiced lamb skewers, cauldrons of mutton soup, bakers slapping flatbreads onto oven walls and confectioners hammering sesame and peanut candy with wooden mallets. Side lanes such as Sajinqiao and Dapiyuan feed local families rather than tour groups. In a quiet lane of souvenir stalls stands the Great Mosque of Xi'an, one of the oldest and largest mosques in China, founded by tradition in 742 and rebuilt in the Ming dynasty entirely in Chinese temple style, with a pagoda-like minaret, carved stone arches and gardens instead of domes. By night the quarter glows with lanterns and fills shoulder to shoulder with diners from across China.

Beiyuanmen Street, Lianhu District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China

Streets open daily from morning until late evening, busiest roughly 18:00-22:00. Great Mosque of Xi'an about 8:00-19:00 April-October and 8:00-17:30 November-March, with visits paused at prayer times.

Xi'an Muslim Quarter on Spottos · Explore more places on Spottos