Tianjin Jinjiayao Mosque

　　Jinjiayao Mosque is one of the ancient mosques in the Jinjiayao area of Hebei District, Tianjin, China. It was first built in the second year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1574), making it one of the oldest mosques in Tianjin. Currently, the mosque has three imams, seven board members, over 70 Arabic-script religious texts, more than 20 Persian-script scriptures, as well as the "Tianjin Jinjiayao Mosque Stele Inscription" written by Dai Degui in 1927.

　　The Jinjiayao Mosque is located at No. 19, Haichao Temple Hutong, Jinjiayao Street, Hebei District, Tianjin, China. It is a key protected historical building.

　　Initial Construction

　　The Jinjiayao Mosque was built in the second year of the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty (1574). In the early Ming Dynasty, some members of the Anqing group from grain transport fleets would set up temporary straw sheds for prayers in the Jinjiayao area every winter. Later, more Hui people settled here and built the mosque. Initially, the Jinjiayao Mosque was only a makeshift prayer room.

　　Renovation and Reconstruction

　　Later, with funding from Wang Yuzhou, Zuo Guanting, and Mu Yushan, the main prayer hall, north and south lecture rooms, and ablution facilities were constructed. During the Guangxu period, Imam Feng raised funds to renovate the mosque. In 1917, 1984, 1988, and 1990, the main prayer hall, north and south lecture rooms, and the gate tower were successively renovated.

　　The total construction area of the Jinjiayao Mosque is 2,000 square meters, with the main prayer hall covering 200 square meters. The architectural style of the prayer hall follows classical Chinese temple design.

　　The Chinese plaques in the mosque bear inscriptions such as “清真无二” (Unique True Faith) and “造化无极” (Boundless Creation); the Arabic plaques include “上有太思迷叶-”. Additionally, the Jinjiayao Mosque serves over 600 Hui Muslim families and adheres to the Qadim doctrine.

　　The renowned Islamic scholar Wang Jingzhai once wrote in his book: “In the early Ming Dynasty, there were no Muslims in Tianjin. However, among the grain transport fleets were people from the Anqing group, who would set up temporary straw sheds for prayers every winter. Since then, more Hui people gradually settled here. Later, they pooled money to buy this land and built a mosque. Initially, it was just a few makeshift rooms used by Hui people for prayers. Later, persuaded by a man named Wang Yuzhou, Zuo Guanting and Mu Yushan donated some houses to build the main prayer hall, north and south lecture rooms, and ablution facilities. During the Guangxu period, another renovation was funded under the persuasion of an Imam surnamed Feng. In 1917, 1984, 1988, and 1990, the main prayer hall, north and south lecture rooms, and the gate tower were renovated respectively. The 'Tianjin Jinjiayao Mosque Stele Inscription' currently housed in the mosque, written by Dai Degui in 1927, also details that this is the oldest mosque in Tianjin.”

　　This mosque, along with the Tianmu Mosque and the Northwest Corner Xiaohuo Alley Mosque, are ranked as the three most famous mosques in Tianjin. It is also the earliest built within the urban area of Tianjin, indicating that after Tianjin was established as a military port, the Sancha River area had already become very prosperous, with many Hui residents living there. The current mosque on Yuchang Street in Hebei District is said to have been built during the Ming Dynasty. The Chenjiagou and Xiao Wangzhuang mosques were built in the 1930s and are also centers of Hui communities. In recent years, all four mosques in Hebei District have been fully restored.

Tianjin Jinjiayao Mosque is aAA-level attraction