Scenery inside the Niujie Mosque.[Photo/People's Daily Online]

The Niujie Mosque is the oldest mosque in Beijing. It was first built in 996 during the Liao Dynasty and was reconstructed as well as expanded under the Kangxi Emperor (reigned 1661-1722) of the Qing Dynasty.

Located in Niujie of Xicheng District, the Niujie Mosque is the spiritual center of the ten thousand Muslims living in the area. The mosque reflects a mixture of Islamic and Chinese cultural and architectural influences. It is one of the major mosques in North China.