TripTracker.net - China Trip, Moslem Street & The Great Mosque

Leave Melbourne Arrive Singapore/Changi International Airport Depart Singapore/Changi International Airport Arrive Beijing, China Arrive Hotel Off to Great Wall and Ming Tombs Badaling Great Wall, China Ming Tombs, China Kung Fu Show & Opera Visit Tiananmen Square 77th District Shopping Mall, China Visit to the Forbidden Palace Depart Beijing Extra Night in Beijing Arrive Xi'an Xianyang Airport Arrive Hotel Visit Banpo Village Museum Terracotta Warriors Moslem Street & The Great Mosque Bell & Drum Towers Big Wild Goose Pagoda, China Depart Xi'an Arrive Shanghai Arrive Hotel Went shopping in Shanghai More Shopping Depart Shanghai Arrive Hong Kong SAR Arrive Hotel Shopping in Hong Kong Hong Kong Dinsneyland Tour of Hong Kong Island Depart Hong Kong Arrive Singapore Arrive Hotel Breakfast at the Zoo Night Tour Sentosa, Singapore Depart Singapore Arrive Melbourne Arrive Home

jamessimon

China Trip

Moslem Street & The Great Mosque

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Nov 16 2007, 09:00 AM

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jamessimon
Melbourne, Australia

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Location

The Great Mosque, China

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Moslem Street has a long history. It is said that in olden days, foreign diplomatic envoys and merchants lived here then they married and had children, so gradually the population increased. Today, most of the inhabitants of Moslem Street are the descendants of those immigrants. All the Moslems here are the pious and devout followers of Islam so they form a tight knit community, which maintains its own culture and traditions to this day even in such a modern society.People here are very familiar with each other because they were companions when they were children and then they grew to adults together and still then one after another they got married and had their own children. As time goes on, definitely they will become older and older or even pass by together.

Walking along this twisted, narrow street which is aligned with stores on both sides, you can see that Moslem men with white hats sit inside the stores and talk leisurely with each other. In front of the doors of some stores, old men with white beards sit on the cane chairs enjoying the tender touch of the sun and having fun with the little children running along the street. The main goods of these stores are authentic hand-making Moslem food which tastes very good. While still there are small stores selling the special local products of Shaanxi Province and yet others provide you with exquisite souvenirs.

The Great Mosque in Xian is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China and its location is northwest of the Drum Tower (Gu Lou) on Huajue Lane.

According to historical records engraved on a stone tablet inside, this mosque was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty (618-907). This was a result of Islam being introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan during the mid-7th century when some of them settled down in China and married women of Han Nationality. Their descendants became Muslim of today. The Muslim played an important role in the unifications of China during the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. Hence, other mosques were also built to honor them.

In Xian, it is really well worth a trip to see the Great Mosque, not only for its centuries-old history but also for its particular design of mixed architecture - traditional Muslim and Chinese styles.

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	41. Arrive Home Nov 28 2007, 07:15 AMHome, Australia3 photos Well we are home now and started unpacking. We managed to bring back almost 100kg in luggage and about 60kg was souvenirs good thing they don’t check how heavy your hand luggage is. Anyway have to say that was a trip of a lifetime and can’t wait for my next adventure overseas something a bit...

	40. Arrive Melbourne Nov 28 2007, 04:10 AMHome, Australia1 photo Finally we have made it back to home soil, what a trip!

	39. Depart Singapore Nov 27 2007, 04:12 PMSingapore Changi Airport, Singapore3 photos Well were back at Changi Airport waiting for our flight home, i can tell you i'm not looking forward to the 7 hour flight but wil be good to get home.

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