Niangao South Street Mosque

Niangao South Street Mosque

The Niangao South Street Mosque is a cultural relic protection unit of Sichuan Province.

The Niangao Mosque is one of Chengdu’s historic mosques, located at No. 115 Niangao South Street in Chengdu. It was first built in the eighth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1375), destroyed in the late Ming period, and restored during the Kangxi and Yongzheng reigns of the Qing Dynasty. It underwent two reconstructions—once in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign (1742) and again in October of the fifty-ninth year (1794). The prayer hall is the only ancient building that has survived from the mosque and is also a masterpiece of the entire complex. It is also the most complete and exquisitely constructed prayer hall among the more than ten existing mosques in the Chengdu area. In April 1981, the prayer hall of the Niangao South Street Mosque was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the Chengdu Municipal People's Government. In March 1991, it was announced as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Sichuan Province.

Original Construction

It was first built in the eighth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1375) and destroyed in the late Ming period.

Restoration and Reconstruction

It was restored during the Kangxi and Yongzheng reigns of the Qing Dynasty and later reconstructed in the seventh year of the Qianlong reign (1742) and October of the fifty-ninth year (1794). The original mosque was quite large, consisting of a main gate, memorial archway, minaret (call to prayer tower), prayer hall, washing room, bathroom, and imam’s office. In 1941, it was bombed by Japanese aircraft, resulting in the destruction of the minaret and wooden archway. Today, only the prayer hall remains, relatively well-preserved. The ridge beam of the hall bears an inscription dating back to the “seventh year of Qianlong.”

Current Status

After 1966, dozens of Han Chinese families moved into the mosque complex. The prayer hall was once used as an office and warehouse for a certain organization, while the corridor was converted into residential housing and a workshop for a small factory. With the exception of the prayer hall, all other structures of the mosque were completely altered and turned into residences, and a new residential building was additionally constructed within the courtyard. In April 1981, the prayer hall of the Niangao South Street Mosque was designated as a municipal-level cultural relic protection unit by the Chengdu Municipal People's Government. In March 1991, it was announced as a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit by the People's Government of Sichuan Province.

However, a demolition in the early 1990s almost led to its total loss. Thanks to public outcry and advocacy at the time, the prayer hall was relocated 200 meters away and preserved, while all other parts were demolished. A comprehensive renovation was carried out in 2000, and the main gate was rebuilt. It now serves as an important site for Islamic activities.

In 2012, the main gate of the Niangao South Street Mosque was severely infested with termites, with three load-bearing pillars, the threshold, and the hanging eaves all hollowed out by the pests, posing significant safety risks and requiring urgent repairs. In 2013, the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau organized relevant experts to go to Qingyang District, Chengdu City, to carry out the final acceptance inspection of the repair project for the mountain gate (main entrance) of the Niangao South Street Mosque, a provincial-level cultural relic protection unit.

Protected Area: Bounded by the current perimeter wall.

Construction Control Zone: An area extending 10 meters beyond the protected zone.