Gongbei, a sacred place where Muslims venerate the tombs of their ancestors, is also a spiritual sanctuary in their hearts

Gongbei, a sacred place where Muslims venerate the tombs of their ancestors, is also a spiritual sanctuary in their hearts. The Gongbei complex in Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture was first built during the Ming and Qing dynasties and consists mainly of five Gongbeis: Da Gongbei, Guo Gongbei, Da Taiye Gongbei, Taizi Gongbei, and Gujia Gongbei. This Gongbei complex brings together various architectural arts such as flying eaves, carved beams, painted rafters, and Hezhou brick carvings, perfectly blending Central Plains culture with Hui culture to form a unique artistic style. The exquisite architecture and superb craftsmanship are truly breathtaking. In addition to its profound religious and cultural value, which is worth savoring, this place also holds extremely precious cultural heritage—Hezhou brick carvings. Hezhou brick carvings ingeniously combine carving and hollowing techniques, resulting in intricate and highly three-dimensional works. Due to the Muslim doctrine of not worshipping idols, the themes of the brick carvings often feature pine cranes, cypress trees, and other motifs symbolizing good fortune, longevity, and purity. However, it is worth noting that because Gongbei holds an extremely sacred status in the hearts of the locals, it is usually marked as off-limits to tourists. Nevertheless, when enthusiastic Hui people see tourists looking from outside, they often kindly invite them in. Once inside, it is important to remember not to photograph the interior of the halls and to avoid loud noises, maintaining a quiet and low profile to prevent inappropriate disturbances to this holy place. Here, we can not only experience the unique and solemn religious atmosphere of the Gongbei complex but also appreciate the exquisite artistry of Hezhou brick carvings, as if traveling through time into the splendid hall of Hui culture and art, leaving one deeply enchanted and awestruck. It is not only a treasure of the Linxia region but also a vivid testament to the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures within the Chinese nation.