📜 About & history
Houjie Mosque, historically called the West Gate Mosque because it sat at the northeast corner of Qinzhou's western suburb, was founded in 1343 during the Yuan dynasty and is one of the oldest Islamic buildings in northwest China. Its main prayer hall dates to 1374 (early Ming) and was enlarged in 1468; the hall's rare use of only two great pillars preserves a Yuan-era 「reduced-column」 timber-frame style. The mosque holds the 「Qinzhou Rebuilt Mosque Tower Stele」 carved in 1543, the earliest Arabic-inscribed stele in Gansu. It was listed as a National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit in 2006.
🕌 Prayer & visiting
Five daily prayers are held; the Friday congregational (Jumuah) prayer around midday draws the largest attendance.
📍 Address
🇨🇳 Inside China use Baidu or Amap; Google Maps needs a VPN.
🚇 How to reach the mosque
The mosque is in the old West Gate quarter of Qinzhou District; several central city buses stop nearby and a taxi/DiDi from Tianshui centre takes only a few minutes.
A working neighbourhood mosque in a Hui quarter with halal (清真) restaurants nearby; modest dress required and visitors should respect prayer times.
From central Qinzhou District (around Damen / Renmin Road) head into the old West Gate lanes off Renmin West Road; it is a short walk or a few-minutes taxi ride.
One of China's earliest mosques bearing the name 「清真寺」 and a national-level heritage site; enter quietly and photograph respectfully. 请带我去后街清真寺