Xizhou Ancient Mosque

At the northern end of Xizhou Ancient Town, the Xizhou Ancient Mosque stands as a quiet sanctuary. Its history began during the Yuan and Ming dynasties, when the local Hui Muslim community worshipped at two separate sites: the Majia and Zhangjia temples. In the late nineteenth century, the Qing government confiscated both properties following the defeat of Du Wenxiu’s Muslim regime. When local Hui representatives petitioned the town's gentry to return the Zhangjia temple, they found it already transformed into a temple for Caishen, the God of Wealth. The gentry allocated a new plot of land. Through years of community fundraising, the current mosque was completed in 1922.

The architecture reflects this history of negotiation and coexistence. The entrance gate features a Bai-style "Three Drops of Water" structure, defined by multi-tiered flying eaves and upturned corners. Above the gateway hangs a formal plaque bearing the mosque's name, its dark ink gently fading to brown over the decades. Inside, the layout centers on a traditional courtyard leading to the main prayer hall, which was expanded in 2004 and renovated in the early 2020s to include standardized Chinese-style features.

Visitors today experience a living space. Rainwater drips from the green-tiled eaves, tapping against the stone steps. The soft sound of wind chimes mixes with the low murmur of daily prayers drifting from the hall. Shadows of old trees flicker across the courtyard walls where elders sit and converse. This active house of worship remains a stop on local walking tours, showing how different cultures carved out a shared space in Dali.