Baiyu Alley Mosque in Xining
Baiyu Alley Mosque (西宁市白玉巷清真寺) is located at No. 3 Baiyu Alley, Chengdong District, Xining. The mosque covers an area of 380 square meters, with a building area of 300 square meters. The main structures of the mosque include a three-room prayer hall made of brick and wood, designed in a traditional single-eave, double-row tile-roof style, with decorative brick walls and screens featuring floral patterns.
Historical Development
- 1939: Local Muslims, organized by Ma Chengji, Ye Shengxiang, Wang Decheng, Ma Deliang, Ma Yuanlu, Zhou Jinshan, and others, began constructing a mosque in the southern section of the garden. The original building was a five-room timber structure for prayer, with seven additional timber rooms to the north.
- 1942: The original timber structure was demolished, and a new three-room brick and wood prayer hall was constructed, along with five brick and wood eastern rooms and a brick-concrete minaret.
- 1958: During the religious reform, the mosque was occupied by the Chengdong District Hardware Processing Factory. In 1961, it was repurposed as the Chengdong District Wood Handle Factory, and later as the Chengdong District Hydropower Team.
- 1980: With the implementation of the party’s ethnic and religious policies, the mosque’s premises were returned, but the buildings had suffered severe damage due to neglect. On October 8 of the same year, the mosque was officially reopened with approval from the Chengdong District United Front Work Department.
- 1982: A fundraising team led by Ma Liangyu, Ma Junhao, Ma Yuennan, Ma Chengren, and Ye Shengbao constructed a two-story brick-concrete building in the northern section of the mosque, with fourteen rooms in total.
- 1984: Another two-story brick-concrete building was erected in the western section with four rooms, and four timber rooms were added in the eastern section.
- 1988: Two timber rooms were built in the southwest corner of the courtyard. In 1991, a six-room, two-story brick-concrete building was constructed in the southern part of the courtyard.
Current Structure
- Main Prayer Hall: Consists of three brick-and-wood rooms with a single-eave, double-row tile-roof style. Decorative brick walls and screens with floral carvings adorn the façade.
- Northern Building: A two-story brick-concrete structure with fourteen rooms, serving as the residence for imams, classrooms, and storage.
- Southern Building: A two-story brick-concrete structure with six rooms, used for the residence of Ma La (prayer leaders) and guest reception.
- Eastern Building: Contains four timber rooms for male and female ablution.
- Western Building: A two-story brick-concrete structure with four rooms, used for various purposes.
- Additional Structures: Includes a three-room timber kitchen and a three-story, fifteen-meter-tall brick-concrete minaret with a large door facing north.
Notable Imams
Past imams of Baiyu Alley Mosque include Ma Yuzhen, Chen Kegong, Wang Dezheng, Ma Jianye, Ma Shouqing, and Ma Bingqing.
How to Get to Baiyu Alley Mosque in Xining
Location: No. 3 Baiyu Alley, Chengdong District, Xining, Qinghai Province
Public Transportation:
- Bus Routes:
- Take Bus 1, Bus 3, Bus 6, or Bus 9 to the “Baiyu Alley” bus stop.
- Alternatively, you can take Bus 17 or Bus 30 and get off at “Chengdong District Bus Station” and then walk to Baiyu Alley.
- Subway:
- Xining currently does not have a subway system. However, if a subway system is developed in the future, you may need to check for the closest station and connect with a bus or taxi to reach Baiyu Alley.
By Taxi:
- You can hail a taxi and provide the address: No. 3 Baiyu Alley, Chengdong District, Xining. Taxi drivers in Xining are usually familiar with major landmarks, so they should be able to take you directly to the mosque.
Walking:
- If you are staying nearby, you can use a map or a GPS-enabled app to walk to Baiyu Alley. The mosque is situated in the Chengdong District, so if you are in the vicinity, it should be relatively easy to find with the help of local signs and directions.
Travel Tip:
- It’s always a good idea to confirm your route with local residents or your accommodation’s front desk to ensure you have the most current and accurate information.
