Huashi Mosque

Huashi Mosque

Huashi Mosque is a cultural tourism attraction.

Destination Introduction

Huashi Mosque is located in the northern part of Chongwen District, at No. 30 Xihuashi Street, covering a total area of 1,797 square meters, with the main prayer hall spanning 1,098 square meters. In January 1984, it was designated as a district-level cultural heritage site and now serves as the office of the Chongwen District Islamic Association.

The mosque was founded in the 13th year of the Ming Yongle era (1415), and has a history of over 500 years. It is said to have originally been the residence of Chang Yuchun (a Hui Muslim), one of the founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty, before being converted into a mosque. Initially, the mosque complex was very large, extending from Nanyangshi Kou in the east to Yuchi Hutong in the west, bordered by Xihuashi in the north and Handkerchief Hutong in the south. The existing structures include the main prayer hall, which faces east and is situated to the west, featuring a four-bay front porch. The fourth bay includes a small skywell to allow sunlight in. Legend has it that the wooden beams in the main hall were designed to keep birds away, hence nicknamed “peacock wood.” Due to its value, several fake iron hoops were fitted onto the beams during the mosque’s construction to prevent them from being requisitioned by the royal family—these iron hoops are still in place today, and no birds roost there. Opposite the main hall stands a stele pavilion that once housed an imperial edict stele; the stele has since been moved and the pavilion is now used for receiving guests.

Location: Northern part of Chongwen District, No. 30 Xihuashi Street

Area: 1,797 square meters

The existing structures of the mosque include the main prayer hall, which faces east and is situated to the west, featuring a four-bay front porch and four layers in depth. The fourth bay includes a small skywell in the wall to allow sunlight in. The walls once featured verses from the Quran. Opposite the main hall, there used to be a square stele pavilion that originally held a stele bestowed by Emperor Yongzheng. The stele has now been relocated and placed against the wall, and the pavilion is now used for receiving guests.

Cultural relics preserved in the mosque include a wooden plaque inscribed with the character “Qingzhen” (Muslim/ mosque) written by Prince Yu in 1663 (the 2nd year of the Kangxi reign) and a plaque inscribed with “Zhen Yi Wu Er” (True and Unique) from 1787 (the 52nd year of the Qianlong reign), both hanging under the corridor of the main hall. There is also an imperial stele bestowed by Emperor Yongzheng and a stone inscription from 1770 (the 35th year of the Qianlong reign) titled “Record of the Reconstruction of the Prayer Hall.”

Accessible by bus route 3.

Chongwen District, Beijing