A Chinese-style mosque
Upswept roofs and a colourful gateway.
Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Marufish from Alor Setar, Malaysia — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Kerina yin at ms.wikipedia — Public domain
A remarkable mosque built in Chinese style, with upswept roofs and a colourful gateway in the manner of a Chinese temple, so that from a distance visitors take it for a temple until they spot the minaret. It was modelled on the ancient Niujie Mosque in Beijing, more than a thousand years old, which is why people call it the Beijing Mosque. Building began in 2005 and it opened in 2009, on grounds of about three and a half acres, with room for a thousand worshippers. Its design recalls the long history of Islam in China and the old ties between the Muslim world and China. The mosque is open for prayer and welcomes visitors outside prayer times in modest dress, and entry is free. Women have a prayer gallery on an upper floor overlooking the prayer hall. It lies about two kilometres from the border town of Rantau Panjang, known for its popular market, and about forty kilometres from Kota Bharu, so combine the two in half a day.
Upswept roofs and a colourful gateway.
Echoing the ancient Niujie Mosque.
A border town with a bustling market.
On the Pasir Mas–Rantau Panjang road, about 2 km from Rantau Panjang and 40 km south-west of Kota Bharu
Its design reflects the long history of Islam in China: it is modelled on Beijing's Niujie Mosque, one of the oldest in the country, and stands as a striking sign of the ties between the Muslim world and China.