Shanghai Xiaotaoyuan Mosque

As the largest mosque in Shanghai, Shanghai Xiaotaoyuan Mosque was first built in 1917 and then rebuilt in 1925. It is the educational and cultural center for Shanghai Muslims. Xiaotaoyuan Mosque was originally named West Mosque in the past. Then, Xioataoyuan Mosque gets its name as the gate of the mosque faces to the Xiaotaoyuan Street.

The architectural style of Xiaotaoyuan Mosque is quite special and unique which has great architectural values. It is a mosque consisted of four Islamic architectures in west Asia style with dome roofs. The gate of the mosque faces to the south direction with three letters of "Qingzhensi"( which means Mosque in Chinese) on its top. After the gate is a spacious courtyard which is rectangle-shaped.

 

In the west of the courtyard lies the prayer hall which covers an area of 500 square meters and could hold a capacity of 500 people to do prayer. The prayer hall is divided into two floors. The second floor built with domed roofs is 5.7 meters high, while the first floor is 4.7 meters high. On the roof of the prayer hall, there is a platform constructed by stones. The four corners of the platform stand four arched roofs. And there is a Wangyue Pavilion built on the central dome roof. Halls in the east side of the courtyard is structured with three floors. The second and third floors os it respectively serve as the library, a reading room and a storage room for the Koran and other Islamic information. 

Xiaotaoyuan Mosqueis has held various kinds of school within the mosque for the development of Islamic and religious education. What should be mentioned is that Xiaotaoyuan Mosque is a place where Shanghai Islam Association seated.