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About Qingjing Mosque
Its sequence of vaulted arches leads towards the remains of the original prayer hall, where walls, niches and inscriptions give a sense of the lost roofed space. Diabase and pale granite make the gateway visually different from the tiled temple roofs nearby. Read the building as evidence of the Muslim communities connected with the medieval port, while respecting the worship areas still in use.
The mosque was built in 1009 (the second year of the Northern Song Dazhong Xiangfu era, or year 400 of the Islamic calendar) and was renovated in 1310 by the merchant Ahmed bin Muhammad al-Qudsi, also known as Rukn Haji al-Shirazi, according to its founding inscription. In 1761 the roof of Fengtian Hall was destroyed in a typhoon and the main prayer hall moved to Mingshan Hall. The mosque and nearby tombs were seriously damaged during the Cultural Revolution and repaired afterward.
The gate tower faces south, stands 20 metres high and 6.6 metres wide, and is built of diabase and white granite; its roof forms a muezzin's platform, popularly called the moon-viewing platform, used for lunar observation to mark the start of Ramadan. The passageway consists of three interconnected vaults and arches, each less than five metres across. Only the stone walls and pillars of Fengtian Hall now remain, while Mingshan Hall, rebuilt in the Qing dynasty, blends Chinese and foreign prayer-hall styles.
Considered the oldest existing mosque of Arab architectural style in China, it was listed in 1961 among the first group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位). In 2021 it was inscribed on the World Heritage List as part of 'Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China.'
What to look for
- The stone gateway’s interconnected vaults and arches.
- The original prayer-hall remains, niches and Arabic inscriptions.
Background & history
The Qingjing Mosque (Chinese: 清净寺; Arabic: مسجد الأصحاب, romanized: Masjid al-Aṣḥāb), also known as the Ashab Mosque or Shengyousi Mosque, is a mosque located on Tumen Street, in the city of Quanzhou, Fujian, China. Qingjing Mosque is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The mosque's Arabic name, Masjid al-Aṣḥāb (“Mosque of the Companions”), and its Chinese name, Shengyousi, are dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad's companions, which in Chinese Muslim Tradition, traveled to Quanzhou and were buried in the nearby city of Qingyuan. The Mosque of the Ashan has been known by several names throughout its history. The original and historically authentic name of the mosque is the Mosque of the Alashab, as explicitly attested by its Arabic foundation inscription, which remains preserved at the site. Through a critical examination of the historical and epigraphic evidence, Hamada Hagras demonstrated that the designation Qingjing should not be regarded as the mosque’s original name. Rather, Qingjing referred to a different mosque that was once located near the southern gate of the city.
Excerpt from Wikipedia: Qingjing Mosque · Wikipedia contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected introductory sentences; formatting simplified. Background information, not current visitor-service advice.
The surrounding area
A city base for maritime heritage, religious buildings, old lanes and a possible performance.
Location & getting there
Getting to Qingjing Mosque
Use the mosque’s entrance on Tumen Street in the old city. Guan-Yue Temple stands on the same street and can form a separate nearby stop; observe the mosque’s visitor boundaries and dress guidance.
Combine your visit
A suggested sequence linking the specific features of this visit.
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Stone entrance passage
Examine the arches, materials and carved detail.
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Original prayer-hall remains
Read the surviving walls and niches as the outline of the former hall.
This order is editorial. Confirm access and any transfers between stops; it does not establish a walking route, same-day connection or common admission ticket.
Find Qingjing Mosque
清净寺 · 泉州市
The pin marks the area, not the entrance.
More places nearby
Approximate straight-line distances between map pins, not travel distances.
Guan-Yue Temple 通淮关岳庙
Less than 1 km awayTonghuai Guan-Yue Temple places three connected halls side by side on busy Tumen Street. Wucheng Hall, Chongxian Hall and Sanyi Temple form a dense timber-built complex dedicated to martial and ancestral traditions, with Guan Yu…
View guide →Quanzhou Tianhou Temple 泉州天后宫
Less than 1 km awayQuanzhou’s Tianhou Temple honours Mazu, whose protection was sought by sailors and trading communities. The main hall’s richly decorated double-eaved roof contrasts with the broader, simpler sleeping hall behind it. Courtyards…
View guide →Kaiyuan Temple (Quanzhou) 泉州开元寺
2 km awayKaiyuan Temple’s two stone pagodas rise above a broad Buddhist precinct on Quanzhou’s West Street. Zhenguo and Renshou pagodas give the complex its unmistakable outline, while the main hall contains details that reward a slower…
View guide →Sources & visit information
The linked encyclopedia sources support background and place descriptions. Current opening hours, ticket prices, booking rules and transport schedules have not been independently verified for this guide. Confirm them with the venue or operator before travelling.
- Qingjing Mosque ↗
- Chinese Wikipedia: 清净寺 (revision 94249170, 2026-09-08) ↗
- English Wikipedia: Qingjing Mosque (revision 1368646787, 2026-08-10) ↗
Visitor information adapted and edited from Wikipedia contributors, “Qingjing Mosque” · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 1368646787.
Background paragraphs translated and condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "清净寺", Chinese Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 94249170.
Background paragraphs condensed from Wikipedia contributors, "Qingjing Mosque", English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision 1368646787.