Xiguan Mosque
| Xiguan Mosque | |
|---|---|
西关清真寺 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sunni Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Mosque |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 1 Cuiyingmen, Chengguan, Lanzhou City, Gansu |
| Country | China |
Location of the mosque in Gansu | |
Interactive map of Xiguan Mosque | |
| Coordinates | 36°03′36″N 103°48′34″E / 36.05997°N 103.80937°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Mosque |
| Style | Arabic Minimalism |
| Completed |
|
| Demolished | 1966–1967 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | c. 3,000 worshipers |
| Interior area | 141 m2 (1,520 sq ft) |
| Dome | 1 (added in 1990) |
| Dome height (outer) | 37 m (121 ft) |
| Minaret | 4 (removed in 2023) |
| Site area | 467 m2 (5,030 sq ft) |
The Xiguan Mosque (simplified Chinese: 西关清真寺; traditional Chinese: 西關清真寺; pinyin: Xīguān Qīngzhēnsì), also known as the West Cross Mosque Lanzhou, is a mosque in the Chengguan District of Lanzhou City, in the province of Gansu, China.[1]
History
The mosque was built during the Wanli Emperor of the Ming dynasty. During the Qing dynasty, the mosque underwent two major reconstructions. The mosque was rebuilt in 1990 when a dome was added with four pagoda-topped minarets. In 2023, the Lanzhou government transformed the Xiguan Mosque to a minimalist style, removing the dome and minarets[2][1][3] as part of a national effort to sinicize Islam in China.[4]
Architecture
The style of the mosque follows the Arabic Islamic and minimalist styles, while the prayer hall combines the Chinese classical and Arabic architectural styles. The mosque covers an area of 467 square metres (5,030 sq ft) with its prayer hall spanning 141 square metres (1,520 sq ft).
The architecture of the mosque was intended to mimic and echo the style of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.[5]
Gallery
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The site of the mosque during the Ming Dynasty
-
Prayers in the hall
-
The mosque in 2010 when the four minarets were extant
See also
References
- ^ a b "Lanzhou Xiguan Mosque, West Cross Mosque Lanzhou". Tour-Beijing.com. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
- ^ "Gansu: Lanzhou – Xiguan Great Mosque". Sincerity Cultural Travel. n.d. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ 柳泉. "中共拆改兰州西关清真寺 穆斯林信仰自由政策落幕". 美国之音 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
- ^ "How China is tearing down Islam". Financial Times. November 27, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
- ^ "Lanzhou Xi Guan - West Gate Mosque". ChinaReport.com. n.d. Retrieved October 20, 2025 – via drben.net.
External links
- Media related to Lanzhou Xiguan Mosque at Wikimedia Commons
- "XIGUAN MOSQUE UPDATE" (photos of the mosque during and after construction of the dome). Redefining Lanzhou. November 3, 2008. Retrieved October 20, 2025.