📜 About & history
Niujie Mosque is the oldest and largest mosque in Beijing, first built in 996 AD during the Liao dynasty. Destroyed during the Mongol conquest, it was rebuilt in the Ming dynasty (1443) and greatly expanded under the Qing (1696). Its architecture uniquely fuses traditional Chinese palace-style timber halls and courtyards with Islamic decoration and Arabic calligraphy. Covering about 6,000 square meters, it is the spiritual heart of the roughly 10,000 Hui Muslims of the historic Niujie ('Ox Street') quarter and a nationally protected cultural relic.
🕌 Prayer & visiting
Open for the five daily prayers, with the main Friday Jumu'ah gathering around midday; ablution (wudu) facilities are on site. Non-Muslim tourists are welcome to visit the courtyards outside prayer times; modest dress is required and the main prayer hall is reserved for worshippers.
📍 Address
🇨🇳 Inside China use Baidu or Amap; Google Maps needs a VPN.
🚇 How to reach the mosque
- Line 19 Niujie （牛街）
- Line 7 Guang'anmennei （广安门内）
Multiple city buses stop at the 'Niujie' / 'Niujie Libaisi' stop, a short walk from the mosque.
The Niujie quarter is itself Beijing's main Muslim area, lined with halal restaurants and shops. From the Sanlitun / CBD embassy district it is roughly 30-40 minutes by taxi.
About 15-20 minutes by taxi from Tiananmen Square, heading southwest; or take Metro Line 19 directly to Niujie Station.
The surrounding Niujie street has excellent halal food (beef, lamb, Hui snacks). Dress modestly. Taxi phrase: 请带我去牛街礼拜寺