Quanzhou Qingjing Mosque | The Oldest Mosque in China
Song and Yuan China, Maritime Silk Road Quanzhou
Fujian Quanzhou is known as the "World Museum of Religions," as many religions, including Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, Manichaeism (Mingjiao), Hinduism, Zoroastrianism (Zoroastrianism), Judaism, and Nestorianism (Nestorian Christianity), have gathered here and left behind many precious religious sites and relics. It still has a considerable number of Buddhist, Taoist, Islamic, and Catholic churches and temples, as well as rare historical relics of many foreign religions, such as Manichaeism (Mingjiao), Hinduism, and Nestorianism (Nestorian Christianity), all of which can be found in Quanzhou.
Qingjing Mosque, originally named Shengyou Temple, also known as Aisuhab Mosque, is located on Tumen Street in Quanzhou City. It is the oldest existing Islamic temple built by Arab Muslims in China. It was built in the second year of the Northern Song Dynasty (1009 AD, 400 AH). In the third year of the Yuan Dynasty (1310 AD, 710 AH), the Persian (now Iranian) Muslim Ahmad bin Hadsi, who lived in Quanzhou, funded the reconstruction of the mosque and "built a high dome" for it. In 2008, the Sultan of Oman donated funds to build a new prayer hall on the east side of the mosque. It is one of the first national key cultural relics protection units and is known as one of the four ancient mosques in China, along with Yangzhou Xianhe Temple, Guangzhou Huaisheng Temple, and Hangzhou Phoenix Temple. Its historical significance is self-evident.
Qingjing Mosque covers an area of 2,184 square meters and is built entirely of stone, modeled after the Islamic prayer hall in Damascus, Syria. The architectural layout of Qingjing Mosque reflects the characteristics of Islamic mosques in terms of functional space, with large dispersion and small concentration. The existing parts include the gate tower, prayer hall, and Mingshan Hall, each exuding a strong historical atmosphere. Qingjing Mosque is not only an important historical witness of Quanzhou's overseas exchanges but also a vivid example of the integration of diverse cultures in China.
📍Detailed address:
No. 108-110, Tumen Street, Licheng District, Quanzhou City, Fujian Province
🚉Transportation guide:
1️⃣ [Fuzhou-Xiamen Railway Quanzhou Station] Take bus No. 33 to Guandi Temple Station, and walk 158 meters to reach.
2️⃣ [Fuzhou-Xiamen High-speed Railway Quanzhou South Station] Take bus No. K603 to Guandi Temple Station, and walk 172 meters to reach.
3️⃣ [Quanzhou Jinjiang International Airport Station] Take bus No. K603 to Guandi Temple Station, and walk 172 meters to reach.
4️⃣ Take the Quanzhou Ancient City Sightseeing Bus (Little White Bus), which stops on demand, and you can visit various attractions in the ancient city for 2 yuan per person.
🕙Business hours:
🔺May 1 to October 31, 09:00 to 17:45
🔺November 1 to April 30, 09:00 to 17:15
⏳Tour time:
1 to 2 hours
🎫Ticket: 3 yuan (no online ticket purchase required)