Dongguan Grand Mosque

Chinese name: 东关清真大寺（Dong Guan Qing Zhen Si）
Location: Dongguan Street, Xining, Qinghai Province.
Ticket: Free
Estimated tour time:1 hour
Recommended time to visit: All year round.
Nearby attractions: Qinghai Lake, Ta’er Monastery,  Sun and Moon Mountain, etc.

Built in 1380, the Xining Dongguan Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in Qinghai Province. It is also one of the four great mosques of northwest China together with the Xi’an Huajue Mosque of Shaanxi province, Lanzhou Qiaomen Mosque of Gansu province, and Kashi Aitikar Mosque of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

First built in 1379 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Dongguan Grand Mosque enjoys a long history of more than 600 years and still remains a very well preserved ancient building. The design of the mosque combines traditional Chinese style with distinctly middle eastern features and patterns.  Though predominately Islamic in style, there are a few interesting elements that whisper of the regions history of Buddhist thought.

With its name “Xining Dongguan Grand Mosque” shining at the top of a western-style entrance, maintains a regal appearance with an imposing large face and characteristic green domes.  The great mosque features a magnificent islamic architecture that combines together towers, walls and a temple-like main service hall. Yet this beautiful sanctuary is set right in one of Xining’s busiest streets in the downtown area of Xining.

The 1,100-square-meter great hall in the middle is the largest part of the mosque. The architecture looks majestic. Muslims from around the region and even the country gather regularly at the mosque for religious services and grand islamic festivals. During Ramadan this Mosque is home to the 3rd largest gathering of Muslims in the world, only surpassed by Mecca and Medina with larger numbers of devout Islamic followers.