Niujie Mosque

Niujie Mosque, located in Niujie Street, Xuanwu District, is the largest and oldest mosque in Beijing. It is a national cultural heritage under special protection.

Niujie Mosque was built in the 14th year under the reign of Tong He of the Liao Dynasty (996), and rebuilt respectively in the 7th year under the reign of Zheng Tong of the Ming Dynasty (1442) and in the 35th year under the reign of Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty (1696). Mosque buildings are grouped together in axisymmetrical pattern, including Worship Hall, Bank Tower, Moon Watching Tower, and Stele Pavilion. The Worship Hall, facing the east, consists of three lap-jointed roofs and a hexagonal pyramidal roof. The Bank Tower has a multi-eaved i gable and hip roof. The Moon Watching Tower, of hexagonal type, is the special building of Islamic mosques, which contains a number of significant cultural relics and steles, of which, two gravestones engraved with both Chinese and Arabic inscriptions (respectively in 1928 and 1946) are most significant physical material for studying Islamic history.