Xiguan Mosque (Xiguan Qingzhen Dasi)

Xiguan Mosque, or Xiguan Qingzhen Dasi, is one of the largest mosques in Lanzhou and sits at the heart of the city's Hui Muslim quarter at Cuiyingmen, near Xiguan Metro station on Line 1, in Chengguan District, Gansu province, China. The mosque is a working place of worship for the local Hui community, and its architecture blends Chinese courtyard planning with Islamic elements. Visitors see a gate leading into a spacious courtyard, a prayer hall with a tiled roof and carved timber details, minarets and calligraphic inscriptions in Arabic and Chinese. The atmosphere is quiet and respectful, with worshippers arriving for the daily prayers and the surrounding streets lined with halal restaurants, bakeries and shops selling prayer caps, dates and spices. A visit lasts about 30 to 45 minutes, and the mosque is open during daylight hours outside prayer times; it is closed to non-Muslims during prayers. Admission is about ¥10. Appropriate dress is required: shoulders and knees should be covered, and women are often asked to cover their hair. Photography is usually permitted in the courtyard but should not include worshippers without permission, and the prayer hall interior may be restricted. Mid-morning is the best time to visit, after the early prayers and before the midday and Friday congregations, which draw large crowds. The mosque can be reached by Metro Line 1 to Xiguan station and a five-minute walk. The surrounding quarter is a good place to try Lanzhou beef noodles and local halal snacks after the visit.