Shunhe East Grand Mosque

　　The East Grand Mosque is situated in the Hui ethnic enclave of Nanguan, central Jining District, and functions as the Islamic center for southwestern Shandong. It was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit by the provincial government in 1992. Historical records indicate that the mosque was first built during the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1426–1435). Many ancient architecture experts have noted the extraordinary grandeur and magnificence of the mosque’s construction, which was unprecedented at the time and is considered the finest among all mosque architectures in China. Since the Ming Dynasty, the East Grand Mosque has undergone renovations in successive dynasties, reaching its final form during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty under imperial decree. Since 1980, with funding from the government and donations from the public, comprehensive restoration has been carried out, giving the ancient mosque a completely renewed appearance.

　　The entire mosque complex is grand and majestic in scale, with ingenious design that uniquely blends the emphasis on symmetry and monumentality found in traditional Chinese architecture with Arabic styles, harmonizing beautifully with its surroundings. The architectural ensemble faces east and is primarily built with brick and wood, along with some brick-stone, wood-stone, and brick-wood-stone structures. The main buildings are arranged along an east-west axis and consist of three major sections: the forecourt, the main prayer hall, and the moon-viewing tower. These include a stone memorial archway, the main gate, the minaret, the prayer hall, the moon-viewing tower, and the rear memorial archway, flanked by lecture halls to the north and south, as well as ablution facilities for wudu and ghusl. The layout is compact, solemn, and meticulously planned, with a dense yet rational structure, making it one of the representative works of Islamic architecture in China. The main prayer hall covers a floor area of 1,057 square meters, with a maximum width of 27.5 meters and a depth of 41.5 meters. The base of the hall is 1.3 meters high and is supported by 40 bright red wooden pillars extending to the ceiling and 12 stone pillars. The hall consists of three parts: the portico, the front prayer hall, and the rear mihrab chamber, all interconnected. The rear mihrab chamber is a three-story pavilion topped with a hexagonal umbrella-like roof rising 30 meters high, adorned with a bronze-gilded finial. Among the many mosques in Shandong Province, this finial is uniquely distinctive and has a long history—when blown by strong winds, it gleams even brighter. The main gate, minaret, prayer hall, moon-viewing tower, and rear memorial archway are all crowned with yellow and green glazed tiles, while the ridges and gable walls are decorated with dragon-shaped ornaments, fish-tail designs, and geometric-patterned glazed tiles. The stone memorial archways, carved dragon and phoenix pillars, and decorative drum stones in the mosque compound represent some of the finest stone craftsmanship in Islamic architectural ornamentation in China.

　　Since its restoration, the East Grand Mosque has hosted numerous distinguished domestic and international guests, including recitation delegations from Iran, international friends from Lebanon, Iraq, Pakistan, compatriots from Hong Kong and Macau, as well as leaders from central government and sister provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions who have visited the mosque for tours and exchanges.

　　Customer Service Phone: 0537-2266315

　　Address: No. 4, Xiaozhashang West Street, Jining City

　　Source: Shandong Provincial Tourism Development Commission