Niujie Mosque

The Niujie Mosque, also called the Oxen Street House of Worship or the Oxen Street Mosque, is the oldest mosque in Beijing, China. It was built in 996 CE during the Liao dynasty. Over time, it was destroyed, rebuilt, and made bigger, especially in the 17th century under the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty.

Located in the Niujie area of Beijing’s Xicheng District, the mosque is a special place for nearly 10,000 Muslims nearby. It covers about 10,000 square metres and mixes Islamic and Han Chinese styles. The main prayer hall can hold over 1,000 people. The mosque also has important cultural tablets, like one from 1694.

History

The Niujie Mosque is the largest mosque in Beijing. It was first built in 996. The local Muslim community used traditional Chinese styles but added Arabic writing inside.

The mosque was destroyed in 1215, but it was rebuilt in 1443. Muslim helpers fixed it up in 1496.

The mosque grew bigger in 1696. Nearby markets sold special meat, and today there are still many Muslim shops with Arabic signs. The mosque’s official name is Lǐbàisì, given in 1474, but it is called Niujie because it is on Oxen Street. It is one of the main mosques in north China.

Since 1949, the mosque has been fixed up three times. Plans were to keep the mosque where it is and add a grassy area and large square around it.

Architecture

The Niujie Mosque has many buildings that look like old Chinese style. It has two courtyards arranged in a special way. You can find places for worship, a building called the Wangyue Building, areas for learning, a lecture hall, a Tablet Pavilion, Twin Pavilions, and bathrooms. Inside, there is a very old copy of the Quran that is more than 300 years old, tombs of wise people from Arabia, and an incense burner from the Ming dynasty. The mosque also has a library with ancient books. The main prayer hall has a special shape known as a cruciform plan.

Tourism and official visits

The Government of the People's Republic of China often brings groups from Islamic countries to visit the Niujie Mosque. Both Han Chinese and Hui people, as well as Muslims from other countries, visit the Niujie Mosque for tours and to learn more about it.

Non-Muslims cannot enter the prayer hall, but the people who work at the mosque are friendly to everyone. They like to talk about their beliefs with visitors who speak Chinese. Near the mosque is the China Islamic Institute, located southeast at the corner of Nanheng W. Road and Jiaozi Hutong.

Transportation

The Niujie Mosque is easy to reach on foot. It is southwest of Caishikou Station on the Beijing Subway.