Main Hall of Shaanxi Grand Mosque in Urumqi

Main Hall of Shaanxi Grand Mosque in Urumqi

The Main Hall of Shaanxi Grand Mosque in Urumqi is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Main Hall of Shaanxi Grand Mosque in Urumqi

The mosque covers an area of 5,186 square meters and features a courtyard-style layout. The grand hall on the west side is the main structure of the temple. With a construction area of 500 square meters, it faces east and sits to the west. The facade spans five bays and consists of three parts: the front hall, the central pavilion, and the terrace. The floor plan is convex-shaped. The front hall is a single-eave hip-and-gable roof building, adorned with flying eaves and ridge ornaments, carved beams, and painted rafters. The roof is covered with green glazed tiles. At the rear of the main hall extends an octagonal pavilion with double eaves—eight on top and four at the bottom—which connects to the front hall and is commonly referred to as the “central pavilion.” The exact date of the hall’s initial construction is unknown, but architectural experts have determined, based on surviving decorative elements, that it was built during the Qianlong–Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty.

Unlike other mosques in the urban area, the main hall of Shaanxi Grand Mosque features the ancient traditional brick-and-wood structural style and glazed-tile roofing typical of central China. It faces east and sits to the west, standing over ten meters tall. The front section is a single-eave hip-and-gable roof supported by 40 bright red pillars bearing the beam framework—striking and majestic in appearance. The archways are engraved with verses from the Quran, remarkable for the exquisite craftsmanship of the carvings. The rear section is the moon-viewing tower, where the imam ascends to observe the moon and announce the beginning and end of Ramadan fasting periods. This is an octagonal pavilion with double eaves—eight on top and four at the bottom. This type of architectural form is very rare in Xinjiang.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units