Xiaotaoyuan Mosque in Shanghai
As a center of religion, education and culture of islam in Shanghai, it was first built in 1917, and reconstructed in 1925. It was originally named Hui Mosque of Western Shanghai.
English Name: Xiaotaoyuan Mosque in Shanghai
Chinese Name: 上海小桃园清真寺
Other Name: Islamic Western Mosque or Shanghai Western Mosque
Recommended Visiting Time: 1 0r 3 hours
Location: No.52, Xiaotaoyuan Street, Huangpu District
Opening Hours: 04:00 to 18:00
Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
Xiaotaoyuan Mosque (Chinese: 小桃园清真寺; pinyin: Xiǎotáoyuán Qīngzhēnsì), formerly known as Islamic Western Mosque or Shanghai Western Mosque, is a mosque in Huangpu District, Shanghai, China. It is the largest mosque in Shanghai.
Why is Xiaotaoyuan Mosque So Special
Xiaotaoyuan Mosque is one of the famous Muslims activity centers in Shanghai. First built in 1907 and rebuilt in 1925, it is an Islamic church with traditional western Asian architectural style.
Introduction of Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
History
The Xiaotaoyuan Mosque was originally built in 1917 by Jin Ziyun, the Director of the Shanghai Islamic Board of Directors, who had bought the land. It was then rebuilt in 1925 and completed two years later in the shape it is today. The site of the mosque was the original site for the Shanghai Islamic Normal School which was later moved to Qinglian Street and renamed Pingliang Islamic Normal School. Other schools established by the mosques were the Islam Normal School, Primary School for Muslims, Mingcheng Primary School, Chongben Primary School, Shanghai Islam Orphanage etc.
After the founding of the People’s Republic of China on 1 October 1949, Shanghai Mayor Chen Yi inspected the mosque and approved appropriate funds for its maintenance. On 15 February 1994, the mosque was listed as heritage architecture by the Shanghai Municipal Government.
Architecture
The mosque was built in the traditional West Asian Islamic style combined with Chinese architecture. The exterior is painted green and white. Above its entrance gate contains the word ‘mosque’ in Chinese drawn by calligrapher Luo Junti. The main two-story prayer hall can accommodate up to 500 people with a floor area of 500 m2. It is completed with arched windows. The mosque also has one minaret and four domes at the four corners of the mosque.
The mosque is surrounded by a rectangular courtyard. On the east side of the courtyard is a three-story Chinese style-building which houses lecture room, offices, library, reading room, sermon room and ablution facilities. On the south side of the courtyard is the Imam’s room, reception room and bathroom. Next to the main mosque building is the Xiaotaoyuan Mosque for women located at 24 Xiaotaoyuan Street. The building was built in 1920 and renovated in 1994.
How to get to Xiaotaoyuan Mosque from Shanghai
- Take subway line 8 or line 10 and get off at Laoximen. Leave from exit 7 and walk east along East Fuxing Road till the end of the street.
- Taxi from Shanghai to 52 Xiaotaoyuan Street 4 min
One-Way from: ¥25 – ¥30
Accommodation around Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
- Home Inn Shanghai the Bund Chenghuang Temple
0.2 km from “Xiaotaoyuan Street, Huangpu, Shanghai, China” Metro access. Home Inn Shanghai the Bund Chenghuang Temple is situated in the Huangpu district in Shanghai, only a 5-minute walk from Exit 3 of Xiaonanmen Station (line 9). - Mercure Shanghai Yu Garden
0.2 km from Xiaotaoyuan Street, Huangpu, Shanghai, China. In a prime location in the Huangpu district of Shanghai, Mercure Shanghai Yu Garden is set 1.8 km from Yu Garden, 2.5 km from People’s Square and 2.6 km from Pedestrian Street of East Nanjing Rd.. - JI Hotel Shanghai Yu Garden
0.2 km from “Xiaotaoyuan Street, Huangpu, Shanghai, China” Metro access. Located just 800 metres from Yu Garden, JI Hotel Shanghai Yu Garden offers free WiFi in all areas. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant.
Useful Travel Tips for Visiting Xiaotaoyuan Mosque
- Clothing
Clothing should be modest, covering your arms and legs with no messages or slogans displayed. Shoes, hats and sunglasses should be removed before entering, with some mosques offering disposable covers for your feet. - Timing
Tourists should generally avoid visiting the mosque during prayer time, which happens five times a day according to the position of the sun. Fridays usually have group prayer from morning to late afternoon, so try to plan your visit after sundown. - Entering
Visitors should enter the building with their right foot first and exit with their left. “Assalam Allaikum” is the typical greeting, translating to “peace be upon you.” Visitors can reply with “Wa alaikum-as-salam,” meaning “peace be upon you too.” - Seeing
Photography is allowed but you should refrain from taking pictures of worshippers or during prayer time. Keep the flash off and avoid walking in front of people in prayer. - Holidays
Mosques during Muslim holidays like Ramadan are generally still open to the public, though visitors should pay extra attention to religious etiquette during these holy days.
