Beijing - Niujie Qingzhen Si Mosque

The Niujie Qingzhen Si Mosque, (Beijing's oldest and largest), lies in an Islamic quarter in the southwest of the city, about 2km/1mi to the west of the Temple of Heaven. It was built by two Arabs in 995. Throughout the three periods Yuan, Ming and Qing (13th-19th C), it underwent several alterations. Since 1949 it has been repeatedly restored. On this site of at least 6000 sq.m/7176 sq.yd there are several buildings: the prayer hall, the Bangge Lou (minaret), a six-cornered moon observatory tower the Wangyue Lou, and two pavilions with numerous steles, where Chinese and Arabic inscriptions are engraved. The buildings of tiles and wood correspond externally to the classic Chinese style, whereas their interiors are Arab.