Author Description

Although the Islamic buildings in China have their origins in the Arabic world, they have taken on an architectural form incorporating also Chinese features. Islam was first introduced to China by land in the western territories and to the coastal cities by sea during the Tang dynasty. Mosques were subsequently built throughout China. Along the coast these magnificent buildings were constructed in traditional Arabic style, of brick and stone with flat roofs, while further inland elaborate timber constructions arose. The sheer quantity and variety of mosques and Islamic tombs illustrated provides a considerable insight into this very Chinese architectural form.