📜 About & history
The Great Mosque is the oldest and largest of Hohhot's historic mosques, first built in 1693 during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor. It was enlarged in 1789 with funds donated by wealthy Hui families and repeatedly restored, with the distinctive brick Moon-Watching Tower (Wangyue Lou) added in 1939. The complex covers about 4,000 square metres, faces east toward Mecca, and blends Chinese palace-style timber architecture with Islamic decorative motifs; it holds a treasured 30-volume Arabic Quran. It was listed as a Major National Historical and Cultural Site under state protection in 2013.
🕌 Prayer & visiting
Five daily congregational prayers are held; Friday Jumu'ah at midday. During Ramadan, Taraweeh is prayed at night. Times follow the mosque's local prayer timetable.
📍 Address
🇨🇳 Inside China use Baidu or Amap; Google Maps needs a VPN.
🚇 How to reach the mosque
- Line 1 / 2 Xinhua Square （新华广场）
- Line 2 Hohhot Railway Station （呼和浩特站）
Located on the Islamic-style Tongdao Street pedestrian corridor in the old town; use a map app for the nearest stop as bus routes change.
The main mosque for Arab and Muslim visitors in Hohhot, standing at the head of the Islamic-themed Tongdao Street with halal restaurants all around; landmark green dome and Moon-Watching Tower are easy to spot.
About 1-2 km northwest of Xinhua Square in the old city (Huimin District); a short taxi or metro ride from the central Zhongshan Road area.
National-level protected heritage site and the spiritual centre of Hohhot's Hui community. Show a driver: 请带我去呼和浩特清真大寺