The Great Mosque (Qingzhen dasi) in the Muslim quarter, located in the older southwestern part of Hohhot, was built during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD). The mosque occupies a rectangle 250 meters by 47 meters (820 feet by 155 feet), divided into four courtyards.

First built during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) for Muslims merchants arriving in Xian along the Silk Road, the mosque is the cultural and religious center of the citys sizeable Muslim Hui minority population. Constructed in the style of traditional Chinese architecture (much of the mosque was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty [1616-1911]), the mosque features some of the most breathtaking upswept rooftops youll find in China. Due to the architecture and the Sinicization of Islamic symbols, its easy to forget you are even in a mosque (until you notice the Arabic inscriptions). The Great Mosque wears her age better than many historical sites in China; it imbues the visitor with a deep sense of peace and spirituality, be you Islamic or not, which is a rare find in the urban environment. The narrow alleyways leading to the mosques entrance are lined with stalls and antique shops, which offer the usual souvenir fare in an environment pleasantly reminiscent of a Middle Eastern.

Muslim Quarter is a lovely area to wander and observe. The felling here is almost of a "city within a city" and the streets around this district heading up to the Mosque are like a small village crammed with people selling all kinds of weird and wonderful things.