📜 About & history
Nanguan is the oldest mosque in Linxia, traditionally dated to 1273 during the Yuan dynasty, when the first mosque was raised on old pine-tree stumps in the Bafang quarter (giving it the old name 'Lian'gen Zhu Gu Si', the Joined-Root Pillar Ancient Mosque). It was burned down in 1928 during the fighting that devastated the Bafang Muslim district, and was rebuilt around 1933 in Chinese palace-hall style with backing from Ma Bufang. Closed in 1958 and demolished during the Cultural Revolution in 1967, it was rebuilt between 1979 and 1983. The steel-and-timber palace-style prayer hall fronts three green Arab-style domed towers, the central one rising about 32 metres.
🕌 Prayer & visiting
Five daily prayers (Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha) plus the Friday Jumu'ah congregation, which is the busiest.
📍 Address
🇨🇳 Inside China use Baidu or Amap; Google Maps needs a VPN.
🚇 How to reach the mosque
At the southern edge of the Bafang Muslim quarter; a few minutes' walk from the Bafang Shisan Xiang lanes.
In the city centre beside Nanmen (South Gate) Square on Jiefang Road, a short walk from Hongyuan Square. About a 5-minute taxi ride from the main bus station.
The landmark mosque of Linxia's 'Bafang' quarter and the spiritual heart of China's 'Little Mecca'; three green minaret-domes are its signature. Ask a driver: 请带我去南关清真大寺