Kaiyuan Old City Mosque

Kaiyuan Old City Mosque

The Kaiyuan Old City Mosque is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning Province.

The Kaiyuan Old City Mosque is located in Kaiyuan City, an ancient town in the northern part of Liaoning Province. It falls under the jurisdiction of Tieling City, situated in the northeast of Tieling and on the eastern side of the middle reaches of the Liao River. Its exact location is on the north side of East Avenue in the old town area of Kaiyuan City, Liaoning Province.

The Kaiyuan Old City Mosque was first built in the fourth year of the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty (1406 AD) and has a history of 600 years. The entire mosque complex faces south and is a large traditional quadrangle compound made of blue bricks and tiles, covering a total area of 3,383 square meters with a building area of 800 square meters. It includes five rooms at the front gate, with the central one being the gate tower, the two eastern rooms serving as a funeral chamber, and the two western rooms functioning as a storage room and bathing facilities, including separate areas for male and female ritual purification. The five main rooms serve as the lecture hall, where imams teach, recite scriptures, receive guests, handle administrative work, and also reside. The three eastern wing rooms serve as an antechamber, while the western wing houses the main prayer hall and the moon-sighting tower. The main prayer hall is designed in the style of an ancient palace, constructed by skilled artisans. The halls and towers are exquisitely carved, with the moon-sighting tower and the eaves of the front porch adorned with carvings of flowers, plants, trees, and various birds. The colors are subtle, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere. The moon-sighting tower is a two-story hexagonal pavilion-style structure, topped with a silver moon embracing a star. It is the tallest building in the mosque, standing majestically towards the sky, often frequented by pigeons that either soar above or rest on the rooftop, presenting a spectacular and peaceful scene. The mosque houses many plaques, such as “God is One” and “Ancient Mosque of Islam,” most of which were created in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Unfortunately, many were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. Only the “God is One” plaque survived and is still hanging above the main entrance of the prayer hall.

The Old City Mosque is grand in scale and elegant in architecture, and is one of the well-known mosques in Liaoning Province. According to local elders, during the tumultuous years of the Liberation War in 1947, a high-ranking official from the Communist Party stayed in the mosque for several days. In 1952, the central government sent a goodwill delegation led by Peng Zemin and Sa Kongleio, with Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, and Zhu De’s inscriptions presented to the mosque. A banner was also gifted, personally inscribed by Mao Zedong with the words: “Let all ethnic groups in the People’s Republic of China unite!”

Currently, the Old City Mosque has been listed as one of the key tourist attractions in Kaiyuan City, playing an increasingly significant role in the burgeoning tourism industry of northern Liaoning.

Protected Area: Within the temple walls and extending 60 meters outward on the east and north sides, 40 meters on the south, and 50 meters on the west beyond the outer wall base.

Construction Control Zone: Beyond the protected area, zones within 50 meters on the east, west, and north, and 30 meters on the south are classified as Class III construction control zones. A further 20-meter zone outside the Class III control zone is designated as a Class IV construction control zone.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Cultural Relic Protection Units of Liaoning Province