The Ancient Mosque Complex of the Salar Ethnic Group

The Ancient Mosque Complex of the Salar Ethnic Group

The Ancient Mosque Complex of the Salar Ethnic Group is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Ancient Mosque Complex of the Salar Ethnic Group

These ancient mosques of the Salar people were built or rebuilt during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Constructed with a mixed use of wood, brick, and blue tiles, their architectural styles are largely similar yet each has its own distinctive features. All are composed of traditional Chinese architectural elements such as worship halls in the style of ceremonial halls, memorial archway-style gates, hexagonal pavilion-style minarets, and single-slope wing rooms on the north and south. Having endured centuries of historical changes, they still retain their original architectural forms to this day, showcasing the ancient architectural styles of the Ming and Qing periods.

These ancient mosque complexes of the Salar ethnic group are grand in scale, massive in engineering, majestic and spectacular in presence, and unique in style. The environmental layout of each complex, as well as the decorative proportions and colors of the architectural structures, all incorporate Islamic cultural elements, giving them distinct ethnic architectural characteristics. These complexes record the splendid history of ethnic culture and stand as testimonies to the unified cultural development of China’s western frontier during the Ming and Qing dynasties.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units