Saturday 1 March 2014

Guangzhou - Huisheng Mosque


A visit to one of the important Islamic landmark in Guangzhou early in the morning before the shopping spree continue. Cant recall the details, so i just extract it from Wikipedia.

Extracted from Wikipedia
The Huaisheng Mosque, also known as the Lighthouse Mosque, is the main mosque of Guangzhou. Rebuilt many times over its history, it is traditionally thought to have been originally built over 1,300 years ago,[1] which would make it one of the oldest mosques in the world. It was named in memory of the Prophet Muhammad.
The most unusual (in the Chinese context) feature of the mosque is its "calling tower" (minaret). The round tower is 36 meters tall with a pointed tip.[2] The minaret may have served as a beacon for boats, which may explain its name (Guangta, i.e. literally "Tower of Light"). Guangta may also be translated as "Smooth Tower", referring to the unadorned surface of the minaret. From the tower, the mosque itself got its alternative name (Guangta Si, i.e. literally either "Smooth Tower Mosque" or "Lighthouse Mosque").[2] Somewhat similar "minimalist" minarets can be seen outside of China, e.g. at the Khan's Mosque in Kasimov, Russia.
The other name, Huaisheng Mosque (Huaisheng Si), means "Cherishing the Sacred" or "Cherishing the Sage", presumably referring toMuhammad.[2] This name has been Romanized in various ways, such as Hwai Sun Su Mosque, Huai-Sheng Mosque, Huai-Shang Mosque, and Huai-Shang Si Mosque. The mosque is also referred to as the Great Mosque of Canton, and as Ying Tong Mosque.















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