[2025 Xining Attraction] Travel Guide for Nanguan Mosque (Updated Jun)

#cityplaybook Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, is a vibrant city with a rich Islamic heritage, home to a large Hui and Salar Muslim population. The city boasts several beautiful mosques that serve as both religious and cultural landmarks. Whether you're a traveler interested in Islamic architecture or a Muslim visitor looking for a place to pray, here’s a guide to the best mosques in Xining. 1. Dongguan Mosque (东关清真大寺) Location: Dongguan Street, Chengdong District Dongguan Mosque is the largest and most famous mosque in Xining, with a history dating back over 600 years. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it blends traditional Chinese and Islamic architectural styles. The mosque features a grand prayer hall, towering minarets, and intricate Arabic calligraphy. As the religious center for Xining’s Muslim community, Dongguan Mosque hosts thousands of worshippers during Friday prayers and Islamic festivals like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome to explore the courtyard and admire the architecture, though entry to the prayer hall may be restricted during prayer times. 2. Nanguan Mosque (南关清真寺) Location: Nanguan Street, Chengzhong District Nanguan Mosque is another significant mosque in Xining, known for its striking white domes and green-tiled roofs. Originally built in the 1930s, it was reconstructed in recent years with a more modern design while retaining traditional Islamic elements. The mosque is particularly lively during Ramadan, when the surrounding streets fill with food stalls serving local Muslim delicacies like lamb skewers and niangpi (cold noodles). Visitors can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and observe daily prayers. 3. Xining City Mosque (西宁清真寺) Location: Near the Xining Railway Station This mosque is smaller but conveniently located near the city center and transportation hubs, making it a popular stop for Muslim travelers. The architecture is simple yet elegant, with a green dome and Arabic inscriptions. Xining City Mosque is a great place for travelers to perform prayers while exploring the city. The surrounding area also has halal restaurants and shops selling Islamic books and souvenirs. 4. Beiguan Mosque (北关清真寺) Location: Beiguan Street, Chengbei District Beiguan Mosque is one of the oldest mosques in Xining, with a history spanning several centuries. It has a more traditional Chinese-style design, with curved roofs and wooden carvings, reflecting the cultural fusion of Islam in China. The mosque is an important community center, offering religious education and charity services. Visitors can appreciate its serene courtyard and observe local Muslim life. 5. Muslim Quarter & Small Mosques Xining’s Muslim Quarter, centered around Dongguan and Nanguan, is home to several smaller mosques and prayer halls. These include Shuishang Mosque (水城门清真寺) and Xiaoxiguan Mosque (小西关清真寺), which cater to neighborhood worshippers. The Muslim Quarter is also a great place to experience halal cuisine, with restaurants serving hand-pulled noodles, yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread), and sweet sanzi (fried dough twists). Xining’s mosques offer a fascinating glimpse into the city’s Islamic culture and history. Whether you're admiring Dongguan Mosque’s grandeur or exploring the bustling Muslim Quarter, these sacred sites provide a meaningful travel experience.

#AprilGoodDestinations2025 Nanguan Mosque is the core of faith for Muslims in Xining and a silent guardian of the city’s culture. It is located in the bustling city, but it is a quiet place of its own. The arches, spires and green domes, a fusion of Islamic and Central Plains architectural styles, made me respect them at first sight. Whenever the worship time approaches, believers come in one after another with pious expressions, which is very moving. I followed the crowd into the mosque courtyard and listened to the sound of chanting slowly rising in the distance. It was a language that penetrated the soul. The hall is solemn and dignified, without too much decoration, but it makes people calm down naturally. This temple is not only a place of faith, but also a part of the soul of the city. In this impetuous era, Nanguan Mosque reminds people what tranquility is and what guidance is in their hearts.

Depart from Guangzhou and start a wonderful trip on the weekend! Go to Xining with your bestie, here is a practical guide for you~ **ITALY PATH PLANNING** 🌟 **Friday evening**: Arrived in Xining from Guangzhou and went straight to Ma Xiangqing’s special barbecue restaurant to taste the food. 🌟 **Saturday DAY1**: Xining - Sun Moon Mountain - Black Horse Lake - Chaka Salt Lake, return in the evening to visit Daxin Street Night Market. The whole round trip is about 600-700KM, which is a fulfilling trip. If you are worried about being tired, you can adjust flexibly; if you love exploring, the scenery along the way is worth the trouble. 🚗 After arriving at Xining Airport, you can choose to drive yourself, or sign up for a one-day tour that only includes the transportation fee, which is worry-free and comfortable. 🌟 **Sunday DAY2**: After waking up naturally, visit the Tibetan Culture Museum, visit the Nanguan Mosque, visit the Nanguan Market, and finally return to Guangzhou ✈. In the afternoon, we went to the mosque to take photos, and in the evening we went to the market to enjoy delicious food. The timing was just right. 🧳 **Luggage Storage**: There are luggage storage points at the Tibetan Culture Museum and Xia Nanguan Market, making it convenient for traveling light. 📸 **Photography Guide for Chaka Salt Lake** The photo quality of the salt lake is closely related to the weather! ✅ **Outfit suggestions**: ▫ A white long skirt with an ethnic-style shawl, showing agility ▫ Klein blue or avocado green dress, easy to take contrasting photos ▫ Red clothes are classic, but it’s easy to have the same style as others ✅ **Best time to shoot**: ⏰ 9:00 - 11:00, fewer tourists, the lake is like a mirror ⏰ 17:00 - 19:00, experience the romantic sunset over the salt lake 💡 **Must-have items**: ▫ No need to bring your own shoe covers, they are available for rent in the scenic area ▫ Sunglasses to avoid the embarrassment of closing your eyes under strong light and improve the quality of photos ▫ The hat is windproof and can be used as a photo prop. The little train is worth experiencing! You can sit on the bus and enjoy the scenery leisurely. You can get off at your favorite stop at any time and enjoy a relaxing journey. 🍜 **Food Recommendation** Xining has rich and diverse food! The mutton hotpot we tasted on the first day was very filling and could keep us full for the whole day. 🔸 **Ma Xiangqing Specialty Barbecue Restaurant**: Hot Pot Lamb and Yogurt are must-orders 🔸 **Daxin Street Night Market**: Spicy hotpot, milk and egg fermented glutinous rice and other snacks are worth a try 🔸 **Xiananguan Market**: A food paradise full of local specialties, with many novel snacks that are dazzling, remember to reserve a good appetite~ 【Traffic Tips】 🚗 From Xining to Chaka Salt Lake, choose 9 one-day tour groups, no hidden costs, good experience. 🚗 For travel within the city, taking a taxi is convenient and efficient. Hurry up and make an appointment with your friends to go on a spontaneous weekend trip! The pictures and texts are from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete them.

💝 Visit four temples in Xining in one day: Jinta Temple, Hongjue Temple, Dafosi Temple, and Nanguan Mosque. Here's a complete guide! 1. Jinta Temple 🎉 Basic information: Possibly a branch temple of Ta'er Monastery, built in the Ming or Qing dynasty. 🚗 Transportation: Drive to Jinta Road to find a parking space or take a taxi. 👀 Visit: The temple has Tibetan Buddhist architecture and many small halls. Respect religious customs, as photography is generally not allowed inside the halls. 2. Hongjue Temple 🎉 Basic information: Located in the city center, next to street shops, with an inconspicuous entrance. Founded in the 10th century by Lachen Gongba Rause on the site of Princess Wencheng's altar, it is the residence and teaching site of successive Panchen Lamas in Qinghai. 🚗 Transportation: Located in the city center, accessible by bus, taxi, or driving. Pay attention to parking conditions if driving. 👀 Visit: Focus on the Mahavira Hall, admire the ancient architecture with flying eaves and interlocking brackets. Visit in the morning to hear birdsong and monks chanting. 3. Dafosi Temple 🎉 Basic information: Located in the center of Xining, founded in 990 by three famous Tibetan scholars, Ma Shakyamuni, Zang Rause, and Yue Gejiong, inheriting the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. 🚗 Transportation: Located in the city center, easily accessible by bus, taxi, or driving. 👀 Visit: The left wall at the entrance has a temple construction introduction. The left side is the main hall, housing the stupas of the three scholars, and the right side is the monks' living area. 4. Nanguan Mosque 🎉 Basic information: Located at 23 Zhongnanguan, Chengdong District, Xining, Qinghai Province, built in 1934, open for free. 🚗 Transportation: Take a city bus to Nanxiaojie Station, walk about 10 minutes; drive and park in nearby public parking spaces. 👀 Visit: The architecture combines traditional Islamic and modern elements. Visit the prayer hall, awakening tower, east and north rooms. For photos, choose the main hall entrance, white building, or awakening tower. Dress modestly, avoid short skirts and shorts, and no photography in the main hall.

There are mosques in the southeast, northwest and northeast of Xining. But the Nanguan Mosque is the most photogenic. It has two Arabic-style buildings, one gold and one white. It is known as the domestic version of "Little Istanbul". It was my first time to go to a cloudy day, I was not willing to accept it. On the return trip along the Qinghai-Gansu loop line, I went there again while the sun was still shining. It shows that I like it. Ticket price: Free admission Opening hours: 16:00-23:00 ⚠️Non-believers are not allowed to enter the temple; no revealing clothing, such as short skirts, shorts, etc. Share your punch card tips: 1. Use a wide angle to capture the majestic exterior of the mosque. 2. Use correction to adjust the perspective relationship to make the building appear horizontal and vertical. 3. It is recommended to go on a sunny day, when the characters are at the boundary between light and dark, creating a more atmospheric atmosphere (the light is bright in the morning, and the golden building is dark in the afternoon) 4. Try using trees as foreground, railings, and porches as frames

Summer capital on the plateau📍Xining should never be just a fleeting glance as a transit or starting station of the big loop. It's beautiful and delicious, and deserves a couple of days for you to savor carefully. Arriving at noon, the City Tour itinerary is set up as follows: 📍Tibetan Culture Museum ⬇️ 📍Nanguan Mosque ⬇️ 📍Dongguan Grand Mosque ⬇️ 📍Xiaonanguan Market A last-minute reservation failed to secure a visit to the Qinghai Museum (make sure to book in advance! Book in advance! Book in advance! Important things must be said three times ) Heading for the Guinness World Record Thangka, we moved on to📍Tibetan Culture Museum. The adult ticket is 60, and the child ticket is half price. You can see several other Tibetan culture-related exhibitions besides the Thangka, and the cost-performance ratio is quite OK. It's recommended to start from the fourth floor with the Guinness Record Thangka. The Thangka, created by 400 painters over more than four years, comprehensively displays the development of the Tibetan nation from perspectives of mythology, history, politics, religion, etc. As the hundreds of meters long scroll unfolds, the exquisite craftsmanship fully reveals the history of the Tibetan nation's development, which is breathtaking! After the Thangka, you can go down the spiral staircase to see permanent galleries themed around 'The Silk Road' and 'Tibetan Plateau Civilization', including Tibetan architecture, calligraphy, costumes, and carpet craftsmanship. Plus, the North Hall Tibetan Medicine Museum is free to visit, and it also takes a good half day to see everything in detail. We were keen on visiting the two mosques, so we had to leave in a hurry in the evening. 🕌Nanguan Mosque is located at No. 23 South Xiao Street in the Chengdong District, within walking distance from our hotel. It can be said that the mosque🕌 is deeply integrated into the marrow of this city: the believers' daily prayers are solemn and serious, yet the square outside the prayer hall is a place where citizens pass the time and children play freely. 🕌Dongguan Grand Mosque is located at No. 34 Dongguan Street in the Chengdong District. From Nanguan Mosque, you can walk🚶to Xiaonanguan Market, the entrance is right on the main street of the market. With over 600 years of history, it is the largest and oldest mosque in Qinghai, and one of the four great mosques in the northwest. It is a sacred Islamic site for holding holy ceremonies and studying sacred Islamic scriptures. Besides its religious status, the mosque itself is a magnificent architectural complex that blends traditional Chinese style with Islamic classic features. The architecture is beautiful, and the order inside is well-organized. When visiting and taking photos, be careful not to disturb the believers in prayer and study, and do not wear shorts🩳, skirts👗, or revealing clothes. After visiting Dongguan Grand Mosque, it's recommended to stroll around📍Xiaonanguan Market. This is also a century-old street. The hundred-meter-long street gathers Hui Muslim flavor food and ingredients, from Qinghai specialty snacks like niangpi, handmade yogurt, and lamb raft, to zongzi, sweet fermented rice, colorful seasonal fruits, and seasoning powders, as if you've entered a sea of colors. In the twilight's glow, a layer of faint gold dust is plated on the dazzling array of colors. Yak old yogurt is sold from five yuan at the storefront to three yuan at the street stalls. For two yuan in the tea shops, you can get a big bowl of sweet fermented rice, which is also a rewarding way to eat when sprinkled on yogurt. The street is crowded with local customers coming and going, but the vendors are not aggressively hawking their wares, and the alleys of the market are not vulgar. Wandering among them, one feels relaxed and happy. Staying in the old city area, these attractions are all within walking distance. 🍴Food recommendations: 1️⃣Qingzhen·Dexiao Kao Meat Shop: Their lamb stew pot is really unique! The crispy and tender lamb paired with crispy and soft potato🥔 chunks and sticky sweet potato noodles, you'll be reluctant to put down your chopsticks🥢 even after leaning against the wall. 2️⃣Huaxin Firecracker Barbecue Noodle Restaurant: A restaurant recommended by locals, the firecracker noodles are super flavorful, and the barbecue is also very fragrant. Located at the intersection of Xiadu Street and Gonghe Road, it's very comfortable to sit outside for dinner, and the cost-performance ratio is extremely high! 3️⃣Qingzhen Cunshou Beef Offal Shop📍No. 11 Huayuan South Street Next to the hotel, we stumbled upon the non-material cultural heritage🥢Qingzhen Cunshou Beef Offal Shop. This neighborhood shop, which has been open for over thirty years, has a strong sense of affection among the diners. Seeing that we were tourists, they enthusiastically introduced us to how to order and how to eat. On a cold morning, soaking naan bread in hot soup, a big bowl of it warms both the stomach and the heart. 🏠Accommodation: It's recommended to stay in the old city area, close to the city attractions and convenient for walking. The cost-performance ratio of accommodation in Xining is very good, chain hotels provide nice services, and usually, you get old yogurt for free when you check in. I'm Ashley, who loves traveling✈️ and photography📷. In the next article, I'll share the second stop on the loop after departing from Xining: the secret realm of Qilian⛰️.

‼️‼️ If you're transiting through Xining on your way to Tibet, don't just sit around, go out and have some fun - ✅ Xining, as a major national transit hub, is a must-pass for travelers heading to Tibet, Xinjiang, or even on their return journey. However, many tourists just rush through~ - ✅ But as the capital of Qinghai Province, a gathering place for ethnic minorities, it naturally has more delicious food, exotic architecture, and even unique ethnic cultural characteristics. - 🌿 Below, we recommend a great place for taking photos—Nanguan Mosque🕌, known as the domestic version of 'Little Istanbul'. 🎈 Although the site is not large, it features distinctive gold and white architecture, and you can take amazing photos with just a snap📸 🕰 Visiting hours: 16:00-23:00 💰 Admission: Free 📍 Address: 31-73 Nanxiao Street, Chengdong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province - 👏 Less than 800 meters from Xining Dongguan Mosque, worth visiting as well - ‼️‼️ Visiting Notes 1⃣ Non-believers are not allowed inside the hall 2⃣ Female visitors should avoid revealing clothing, such as short skirts or shorts 3⃣ Respect ethnic beliefs 4⃣ In religious places, do not speak loudly

A must-visit spot for a half-day tour in Xining. Xining is an underrated tourist city. If you only have half a day in Xining due to a transfer to Tibet or other reasons, I highly recommend visiting Ta'er Monastery! 📚Ta'er Monastery Trivia: In Tibetan, Ta'er Monastery is called 'Gomang Dratsang', which means 'Maitreya Temple with a hundred thousand lions roaring'. The stupa was built before the monastery, hence the name Ta'er Monastery. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism, and has also been shortlisted for the 'Magical Northwest Top 100 Scenic Spots'. The monastery currently has over 9,300 rooms, covering an area of more than 600 acres, with 25 halls. 🎫Ticket Price: 70 RMB 🕙Opening Hours: Summer 7:30-18:30; Winter 8:00-16:30 📍Navigation: Huangzhong County Tibetan Hospital (The ticket office is next to the hospital) 🚌Transportation: It takes two hours by bus No. 909 from Xining Station, with a fare of 4 RMB; a taxi from the city center costs about 60 RMB. It's cheaper to share a ride if you are traveling alone. ⌚Recommended Visiting Time: At least 2 hours 👏Highly Recommended: If possible, hire a guide (I listened in on a guide 😜). Ta'er Monastery is well worth understanding for its butter sculptures, murals, and embroidery, which are known as the 'Three Wonders of Ta'er Monastery Art'. In addition, the monastery also treasures many Buddhist scriptures and academic works. ❗❗Important Notes: 1. The altitude of Xining is over 2,000 meters, which is not high; walking slowly and breathing slightly heavily is normal. 2. Dress appropriately, which is applicable when visiting temples and Taoist temples. 3. There are colorful braids for sale at the entrance, usually three for 10 RMB. 4. It's not easy to get a taxi back to the city center after the visit; you can negotiate with the driver, and a fare not exceeding 80 RMB is reasonable, with 70 RMB being the best. You can also look for someone to share a ride back. 5. Maintain reverence! Photography is prohibited inside the monastery, including Buddha statues and murals. 🤗Impression: If you only have half a day in Xining, I really recommend coming here. The monastery has numerous buildings with unique styles. Anyway, of all the monasteries I saw on my way to Tibet, Ta'er Monastery left the deepest impression on me. There are many more Tibet travel tips on my homepage, wishing everyone a pleasant journey~

Nanguan Mosque: Nanguan Mosque is located in the old city of Yinchuan. It has a history of hundreds of years. It has a high status in the minds of the Hui people in Ningxia. Because of its proximity, it decided to visit other attractions first. At six o'clock, when I was carrying the drone on the high-heeled shoes, I was completely unable to walk. I struggled for a long time in these few steps, and finally decided to go and see because it was close to the opening (opening time 8