The area known as The Muslim Quarter is one of the oldest parts of the city of Xian and is home to Xian Great Mosque. Visitors to this part of Xian will find that most of the people here have been born, lived and will die here without ever having stepped foot into any other part of the city!
The Muslim Quarter has a very important and colorful history. It is estimated that Muslims started settling in this area around 732 A. D, which was when the Xian Great Mosque was being built. Imperial Records confirm the existence of this distinct area from this time in the city’s history. The quarter began to grow in population after Xian established trade links with other Central Asian tribes, which allowed travelers and traders to visit the city, including the Muslim quarter, by traveling down what is known as the Silk Road.
As time passed, The Xian Great Mosque became more established with more and more people opting to remain in this part of the city. Many foreigners who held the same beliefs and traditions as the Muslims who already occupied the quarter felt that they had something in common and remained in the quarter. Indeed, it is assumed that many of the people who live in this part of Xian today are descended from peoples who have Middle Eastern origins, most likely traders who traveled down from the Silk Road.
If you wish to visit The Xian Great Mosque then it can be found in the middle of the city, with the easiest accessible route leading you out from behind the Drum Tower. You will know when you have reached this unique part of Xian when you hear a different language, smell a different aroma and see people wearing completely different attire from that of the rest of the city. Visitors to this quarter can expect to find a variety of shops, stalls, restaurants and markets, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in Xian.
When on a trip to the quarter it is most likely that you will want to see one of the grandest and oldest Muslim buildings to be found in China, The Xian Great Mosque. Originally started in around 732 A. D. Most of the buildings that can be seen nowadays were constructed during the 13th century. This mosque is unlike any other due to the fact that its architecture is mainly of a Chinese style.
There is an amount of Arabic and Islamic decoration to be found on the mosque which helps to identify it as a Muslim building. As well as the main mosque there are a number of other smaller buildings and numerous courtyards. Some of the areas of the mosque are not accessible by the public as they are still used by Muslims to this day.
This area surrounding the Xian Great Mosque looks, sounds and feels much as it did over 1,200 years ago when it was first settled by Chinese Muslims (known locally as Hui). Everyone in the community is very close and residents are generally weary of strangers, choosing to employ and live life to the full with those from within their own community. Indeed, it is not uncommon for several generations of the same family (whose ancestors also resided in the quarter) to still remain there, carrying on the family traditions and practices.
In fact, the everyday life of the residents of the quarter is almost identical to that of their ancestors all those years ago. Markets will be swept and cleaned, food will be prepared for the most part of the day and the older generations will relax with a pot of tea and their friends to chatter. This scene is very unique and is exactly as visitors would have found it had they visited the 40 generations previous to today’s one.
The Muslim Quarter is a favorite area of many visitors whilst on a trip to the city of Xian. Most people venture into the quarter to taste the delicious food, marvel at The Xian Great Mosque and haggle with the stall holders to get a bargain. The shopping, food and faces of the quarter is one of the most special experiences you will have in your life.
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