[2025 Xi'an Attraction] Travel Guide for Xi'an Daxuexi Alley Mosque (Updated May)

We joined a food tour with Lost plate at our most recent trip to Xian. We went to 4 restaurants in one evening and ended up at a brew pub by the wall. The food was amazing from beginning to end.. our guide Noble took us around on the company’s Tuk Tuk around the back alleys of Xians Muslim quarter. First stop was the famous Biang Biang noodles, secondly we had some BBQ skewers, thirdly we had dumplings and then we had Hulu chicken. All dishes was fantastic, but I think the chicken surprised me the most, this Shaanxi specialty is first boiled then steamed and lastly fired, it was super good. We ended the night at a brew pub by the south entrance of the city wall. #café#historicculture#culturalattractions

There are many mosques in Xi'an Muslim Street, but the one with the longest history is the mosque in Daxuexi Lane. It was built in the Tang Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,300 years. The most exaggerated thing is that when Zheng He sailed to the West, the abbot of the temple also served as an accompanying consultant and translator. This is really too low-key. Although most of the buildings in the temple were built after the Ming Dynasty, it does not affect its beauty at all. The green glazed tiles in the main hall are very bright, the Shengxin Pavilion has a unique temperament, and the entire temple is very simple and grand, with a sense of solemnity everywhere. Because this temple is still in use, it cannot be considered a tourist attraction in the strict sense. If you come here to visit, you must respect your beliefs.

|A breath of fresh air in the bustling city. Daxuexi Lane Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Xi'an. It covers an area of 9.1 mu, with a total construction area of 2,700 square meters. It consists of a screen wall, a stone archway (with the words "Zheng Jian Lu Ci" on it), a gate, three courtyards, a meditation pavilion, south and north halls, a stele pavilion, an imam's room, a bathroom, a prayer hall, and other buildings, with extremely high artistic value. 🎫Ticket information: Free admission, no reservation required ✨Tips: Dress appropriately, do not make loud noises, and do not eat in the mosque 🚗Address and transportation: Guangji Street Station, Metro Line 6

Visit the Daxuexiang Mosque in Xi'an 1. Address of the temple The mosque is located on the north side of Daxuexi Lane, Xida Street, Xi'an, facing the Huajue Lane Mosque from east to west. 2. Characteristics of the temple 1. A mosque is a religious place for Muslims to gather and worship. This mosque in Xi'an is a famous mosque in China. It is second only to the Huajue Lane Mosque on the east, so it is also called the West Mosque. 2. This mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Xi'an. According to the existing stone tablets in the mosque, the mosque was founded in 705 AD (the Yisi year of Emperor Zhongzong of Tang Dynasty), making it a relatively early large mosque. 3. The temple was renamed many times. It was first named Qingjiao Temple, then Tangming Temple in Xuanzong's reign, Huihui Wanshan Temple in Yuan Zhongtong's reign, and finally Mosque in Ming Hongwu's reign. 3. Visiting process 1. To visit this temple, we first arrived at the Sajin Bridge, and then navigated to the temple. We had to take a detour to the gate to enter, and no tickets were required. 2. The temple covers an area of ​​9.1 acres and has a total construction area of ​​2,700 square meters. The main buildings include: screen wall, stone archway, gate, three courtyards, Xingxin Pavilion, north and south halls, stele pavilion, as well as imam's room, bathing room, main prayer hall and other buildings. 2.1 Xingxin Pavilion: It is a three-story, three-tiered pavilion from the Song Dynasty with a solemn and elegant layout. It is the most beautiful building in the temple. 2.2 Zheng He Stele: It is a rare sight. It records the deeds of Ha San, the head of Xida Temple, who followed Zheng He on his voyage to the West in the 12th year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty. It is a precious historical witness of Zheng He's voyage to the West. 2.3 Main worship hall: The main hall covers an area of ​​more than 500 square meters and can accommodate 500 people for worship at the same time. It is quite large. 2.4 Large Screen Wall: Opposite the temple gate is a large screen wall decorated with brick carvings. 2.5 Bunker Building: This is the landmark building of Xida Temple, specially built under the supervision of Zheng He. 3. Now the layout of the temple's towers, terraces, pavilions and halls is solemn and dignified. The appearance looks ancient and bright. The steles, carvings and paintings are relatively rare. 4. The temple has undergone many renovations to reach its current size and architecture. In particular, the Xingxin Pavilion was built in the Song Dynasty and was renovated when Zheng He rebuilt the mosque after his voyage to the West in the Ming Dynasty. After many repairs, it still maintains its original appearance to this day and has extremely high artistic value. 5.The temple is now a key cultural relic protection site at the national level. If you have the chance to come to Xi'an, it is well worth a look. It is a rare monument that records Zheng He's voyages to the West.

In the Muslim Quarter, you can satisfy your taste buds and enrich your spiritual world. When you turn into Daxuexi Lane from the bustling Muslim Quarter, it feels like you have entered a quiet world from the noisy world. The architectural style of the entire mosque combines traditional Chinese and Islamic cultural elements, adopting the traditional Chinese courtyard style, mainly wooden structures, showing a distinct Chinese style. The "Zheng He Stele" under the stele pavilion on the south side of the central courtyard is particularly eye-catching. The inscription details Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas. It is the only and most complete inscription in China that records Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas, with extremely precious historical value. Looking at the words on the stele, it seems that you can see the heroic deeds of Zheng He leading the fleet to ride the wind and waves and cross the ocean, and you can also feel the important role played by the Great Mosque of Xi'an in Daxuexi Lane in the long river of history. The mosque has strict religious rules. People wearing short skirts and shorts are not allowed to enter, and people eating food are not allowed to enter. Please respect the religious customs of others! In this ancient city of Xi'an, there are many places and things waiting for you and me to discover!

Citywalk, a new way of traveling A beloved secret ancient temple is hidden in Xi'an's busiest Muslim Quarter Known by few The area here is not large Yet it holds a national treasure level stele This place was originally a mosque🕌 But it possesses the beauty of ancient Chinese classical architecture 🕹️The Great Learning Alley Mosque: Also known as the 'West Great Mosque'. This is the oldest mosque in Xi'an, founded during the Tang Dynasty (705), and has been around for more than 1300 years. The West Great Mosque is not large in size, but its interior is lush with vegetation and has an ancient charm, with inscriptions on steles scattered throughout, offering a unique cultural beauty. Especially, the architectural style here is quite special, different from many people's impression of a mosque, but rather full of the beauty of ancient Chinese classical architecture, with carved beams and painted rafters, and upturned eaves, all exuding an ancient charm. ✴️Highlights: Zheng He Stele: Inside the West Great Mosque, there is a 'Zheng He Stele' 'Reconstruction of the Qingjing Mosque Stele', standing in the south side stele pavilion. This stele records the events of the fourth voyage to the Western Seas by Ha San, the head of the West Great Mosque, during the twelfth year of the Yongle era (1413) of the Ming Dynasty. The front of the stele is inscribed in regular script Chinese characters, and the back is in Persian cursive script. It is the only remaining and most complete stele in China that records Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas, and is very precious. 🔅Shengxin Pavilion: This three-story, triple-eaved pavilion was built during the Song Dynasty and is the most beautiful building in the temple, also very photogenic. 📌Location: Middle section of the West Great Learning Alley, Xi'an 🎫Ticket: Free 🚗Transportation: Get off at the 'Guangji Street' station of Metro Line 6, exit from A1, and walk there. ⚠️Note: Since it is a mosque, ladies need to dress appropriately, not wearing short skirts or short sleeves inside, and please do not eat inside the temple. 🔖Surroundings: Very close to the Bell and Drum Towers, Muslim Street Beiyuanmen, Xi'an City God Temple, and other places.

🕌 The Great Mosque of Daxuexi Lane in Xi'an is one of the two major mosques among the 'Seven Mosques and Thirteen Districts' in the Muslim Quarter, also known as the West Great Mosque. It is an ancient building with many years of history and is a national key cultural relic. It was established in the year 705 during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty. It is one of the oldest mosques in Xi'an and has been expanded six times by imperial order! The Xinxin Pavilion in the mosque is said to have been renovated by Zheng He after his voyages to the Western Seas during the Ming Dynasty. The Great Mosque of Daxuexi Lane is not large and can be visited in half an hour. The mosque is a courtyard-style building. Despite 600 years, its halls, pavilions, towers, and terraces remain magnificent. In the square mosque, there is a large screen wall at the front and four courtyards inside. After passing through a three-room hall, the first courtyard is the Xinxin Pavilion, and the second courtyard has south and north wing rooms. The south wing room is where the imam lives, and the north wing room is the scripture hall. The 'Zheng He Stele' under the stele pavilion in the south of the central courtyard of the Xinxin Pavilion records the origin of the mosque. The inscription is the only and most complete record of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Seas in China and is an extremely precious historical relic. The innermost part is the main prayer hall, with three plaques above it. The two on the sides, 'Tao Crown Ancient and Modern' and 'Promote Religion and Build the Nation', were inscribed by Zhang Yunshan, the military governor of the Shaanxi Restoration Army, and Bai Chongxi, a warlord of the Kuomintang Gui clique, respectively. Admission fee: Free Location: No. 94, Daxuexi Lane Mosque, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province

The Great Learning Alley Mosque, located on the north side of the Great Learning Alley in West Avenue, Xi'an, is a mosque hidden in the alleys of the Muslim Quarter, also known as the West Great Mosque, and is one of the oldest mosques in Xi'an. According to the existing stone inscriptions in the mosque, it was originally built in the year of Yisi during the reign of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty (705 AD), and was named Qingjiao Temple. It was renamed Tangming Temple during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, and was given the name Huihui Wanshan Temple during the Zhongtong period of the Yuan Dynasty, and was named Qingzhen Mosque during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty. The mosque has undergone several renovations and expansions, including contributions from the Yuan Dynasty's Sayyid Ajall (a Semu person, a famous Hui politician of the Yuan Dynasty), the Ming Dynasty's Minister of War Tie Xuan (Hui), and the renowned navigator Zheng He (Hui). In 1413, when Zheng He was preparing for his fourth voyage to the Western Seas, everything was ready except for a translator proficient in Arabic and Sinhala. After a national audition, Zheng He finally invited Hasan, the head of the Great Learning Alley Mosque in Xi'an, to take on this important task. Hasan did not disappoint and completed the mission perfectly. After returning to the country, Zheng He and Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty renovated the mosque, and thus Zheng He presided over this major renovation. The mosque still preserves the 'Zheng He Stele' that records this history, which is also a national treasure-level cultural relic well-preserved in the mosque. The architectural style of the Great Learning Alley Mosque blends Chinese tradition with Islamic cultural elements. Most of the existing buildings in the mosque were rebuilt under the supervision of Zheng He. The architecture adopts the traditional Chinese courtyard style, mainly with wooden structures, displaying a distinct Chinese style. The mosque consists of buildings such as the screen wall, stone arch, main gate, three courtyards, Xinxin Pavilion, north and south halls, stele pavilion, Imam's room, bathing room, and the main prayer hall. The Xinxin Pavilion was built during the Song Dynasty, a four-cornered tower-style building with three layers and three eaves, with a solemn and elegant layout, now painted in colors, reflecting the green and flying cinnabar, exquisite and dazzling, still maintaining its original appearance to this day. The main hall's entrance hangs a plaque handwritten by Empress Dowager Cixi with the words 'Paiyan Tianfang', and the front center of the hall has a niche with the original text of the Quran written above, harmonious in color, and especially serene. The entire mosque is solemn and majestic, compact and spectacular, with an exterior that is simple and elegant, and an interior that is symmetrical and harmonious, possessing extremely high artistic value, and is now a key national cultural relics protection unit. 📍Detailed address: No. 94, Great Learning Alley, Lianhu District, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province 🚉Transportation strategy: {Board at Xi'an North Railway Station}, take the Metro Line 2 to Bell Tower Station, and walk for 30 minutes to reach. {Board at Xi'an Railway Station}, take bus 611 to Qiaozikou Station, and walk for 5 minutes to reach. 🕙Business hours: 08:00-19:00 🎫Ticket: Free admission

Every Xi'an resident has a Hui Min Street in their heart. In addition to a variety of delicious foods, there are also many attractions to visit. citywalk route: 📢Xi Wu Tai Yun Ju Temple——Xi Cang Flower and Bird Market——Site of Xi'an Bombing by Japanese Planes——Yan Gengyao's Former Residence Site——Da Xue Xi Alley Mosque——Du Chenghuang Temple——Yi Men ▪️Xi Wu Tai Yun Ju Temple A temple hidden in the bustling city, built by Emperor Li Shimin in imitation of the Southern Five Terraces for his mother to worship. The temple was constructed using the remains of the Sui Daxing City and the southern wall of the Tang Chang'an City palace, forming a long strip without side halls. Opening hours: 🔳The front courtyard is open every day from 8:00 to 17:00 for visitors. 🔳The newly repaired back courtyard is open on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month! It is the residence of monks and hosts meditation events. Site of Xi'an Bombing by Japanese Planes 📍No. 23 Guangming Alley In 1938, more than 20 Japanese planes bombed the center of Xi'an and the Da Xiao Pi Courtyard, dropping over 80 bombs and causing over 160 casualties. More than 160 houses and 4 mosques were destroyed. Today, the site is on the side of the street, with moss and grass growing on the roofs of the houses behind it. Yan Gengyao's Former Residence Site 📍No. 93 Da Xue Xi Alley, next to Xi'an Baozi The residence built over 300 years ago when Yan Gengyao was the governor of Sichuan and Shaanxi. The original three-entry courtyard is gone, leaving only a private residence that is not open to the public. Da Xue Xi Alley Mosque Open randomly, walked by at 18:20 and the door was open. With a history of over 1300 years, the mosque has been preserved since its renovation during Zheng He's fourth voyage. The 'Zheng He Stele' is kept inside the mosque, and shorts and short skirts are prohibited. Du Chenghuang Temple One of the three major City God Temples in China, and the foremost in the northwest. Passing through Fu Street, you can see the God of Wealth Hall. In front of Yi Men, there are the Wen Chang and God of Wealth Halls, and next to the gate is the Tai Sui Hall. Behind Yi Men is a large stage, with the main hall in the center dedicated to the City God, and the Holy Mother Hall and Fire God Hall on the east and west sides. The Tai Sui guardian deity is also here.

#timetotravel Dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), Xi'an Mosque is not only an architectural marvel but also holds immense historical importance. It stands as one of the oldest and most iconic mosques in China, symbolizing the long-standing presence of Islam within the country. Upon entering the mosque, visitors are greeted by a tranquil atmosphere that invites contemplation and reflection. Exploring the beautifully designed prayer halls, serene courtyards, and the peaceful gardens provides a sense of serenity and a deeper understanding of Islamic culture. The mosque also houses a small museum showcasing invaluable artifacts, calligraphy, and historical manuscripts, further enriching the visitor's experience. Entrance Fee: 30 RMB but this might be changed already. Nearest Subway Stop: the Huajue Lane Station, which is on Line 2 of the Xi'an Metro. #mytripvlog #tripblazers #chinatravel #mosque