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Nanguan Mosque in Xining City is located on Nanxiao Street in Chengdong District. The mosque has five brick-concrete prayer halls with an area of 108 square meters, eight two-story brick-concrete east rooms, fourteen two-story north rooms, twelve two-story west rooms, seven ponds, and a wake-up building about fifteen meters high.
The mosque was built in 1934, with Ma Bufang personally approving construction. At the time, the mosque covered an area of 800 square meters. Legend has it that in 1934, the Nanguan area was sparsely populated, with approximately 80% of the land occupied by vegetable fields. There were 18 Hui families living nearby, and the elderly had to travel to the Dongguan Grand Mosque for daily prayers, which was difficult and inconvenient. Therefore, local Hui people pooled their funds to purchase a plot of land, constructing a three-room, earth-and-wood structure in the west as a main prayer hall and three rooms in the north for student housing. Imam Mai Chengzhang was hired to teach there.
Later, the number of people living here increased year by year, and the number of worshippers increased accordingly. The original main hall and school could not accommodate them. Su Qilu, Ma Fucheng, Ba Jia Aye, and Yang Shengchun jointly proposed and wrote to Ma Bufang, requesting to build a mosque in the Nanguan area. Due to the urgent demands of religious believers, Ma Bufang agreed to build a temple here.
The plateau has a continental climate with abundant sunshine, long cold winters and cool summers. Summer is the best time to travel.
Nanguan Mosque has eight two-story brick-concrete east rooms, fourteen two-story north rooms, twelve two-story west rooms, seven ponds, and a wake-up building about fifteen meters high.
It is recommended to play for about 1 hour.
free
16:00-23:00
Nanguan Mosque is one of the oldest and most significant mosques in Xining, Qinghai. It serves as a central place of worship for the Hui Muslim community and showcases traditional Chinese-Islamic architecture.
The mosque is located in central Xining. Visitors can reach it by local buses, taxi, or walking from nearby central locations.
The mosque is generally open during the day for visitors, outside of prayer times. Morning or late afternoon visits are ideal for photography and avoiding crowds.
Entrance is usually free for visitors. Donations are welcomed but not mandatory.
No prior booking is required for general visits.
Approximately 1–2 hours are sufficient to explore the mosque, its courtyard, and surrounding areas.
Guided tours are occasionally available in Chinese. Audio guides are generally not provided.
Enter through the main gate, explore the courtyard, visit the prayer hall, then walk around the exterior and gardens for photography.
The mosque is not generally open for night visits or light shows. Special tours are only arranged during religious festivals.
The mosque can be crowded during Friday prayers and religious festivals. Weekdays outside prayer times are the least crowded.
Basic facilities include restrooms and small areas to sit. Nearby streets have halal eateries, but there are no major food or shopping facilities inside.
Most areas are accessible for elderly and children, but limited wheelchair access may exist in older sections of the mosque.
Cash is sufficient for donations or nearby purchases. Mobile payments may be accepted at local food stalls.
Nearby streets feature halal restaurants offering local Hui cuisine, snacks, and tea houses.
Halal food is widely available nearby; vegetarian and vegan options are also present in local eateries.
Several hotels and guesthouses are located within walking distance or a short taxi ride from the mosque.
Small souvenir shops nearby sell Islamic calligraphy, prayer beads, and local handicrafts.
Taxis, ride-hailing apps, and local buses are convenient for continuing to nearby attractions or returning to the city center.
