It was in Xian where the Chinese Emperor Gao Zong agreed the official practice of Islam in China in 651. Since then a large Muslim community has been formed in Xian. Currently, the Muslim community is located behind the Drum with a Muslim population of over 60,000. There are about seven ancient Chinese style mosques located in Xian’s Muslim community. IslamiChina has summarized the following Xian Muslim travel tips to our Muslim brothers and sisters to travel Xian during a short period of time.
Tour Itinerary Planning
For Muslim Business Travelers
If you are a Muslim and you are on business here in Xian and you have one day off to tour around Xian, we suggest to arrange a visit to the Terra Cotta Warriors of Emperor Qin, back to the city in the afternoon you may join the local Muslims at Xian Great Mosque for Salat prayer.
For Muslim leisure travelers
3 Days and 2 Nights Xian Muslim Tour is the best choice for Muslim leisure travelers because this tour itinerary allows you to have enough time to know both Xian’s culture heritages as well as Muslim heritages. You are not in a hurry to get around Xian from one place to another. Please check IslamiChina’s Xian Muslim Tour 3 Days for details.
Accommodations
Currently there is no Muslim hotels in Xian. However, there are quite a few hotels located very close to the Muslim community where you can easily find Halal restaurants.
4-star Xian Grand New World Hotel
Xian Grand New World Hotel is located in the Muslim community of Xian. Walking out of the hotel to the right, you will find a small lane with all sorts of shops and Halal restaurants. The ancient mosque is about 10 minutes walk to the south.
4-star Xian Bell Tower Hotel
Xian Bell Tower Hotel is located right in the city center and facing the Ming Dynasty built Bell Tower. Walking towards the Drum Tower you will find the Muslim community behind the Drum Tower, souvenir shops and Halal restaurants are almost everywhere in this area. The Great Mosque is located in this area.
Halal Restaurants
As a matter of facts, Xian local snacks are Xian local Halal snacks because most Muslims in the old days are in the food business. The most famous local Halal food is Yangrou Paomo (Mutton soup with baked bread pieces). Many restaurants in Xi'an serve Yangrou Paomo but among the best known is the Lao Sun Jia, established in 1898 and the Tong Sheng Xiang where they have been serving excellent food for almost a century.
Mosques
Xian is the place where you can find one of the oldest mosques in China. Historical records showed that Xian Great Mosque was built in 742 during the Tang Dynasty, while the Daxuexixiang Mosque was built in the Ming Dynasty 600 years ago. All seven mosques in Xian’s Muslim community were built in the traditional Chinese architecture. You won’t find any Arabic style domes or minarets in Xian’s mosques.
Money Exchange
You can exchange traveler's checks or cash at most banks, and most 5-star and 4-star hotels always have a money exchange counter. You can also get a cash advance on your credit card on ATM machine. The exchange rate all over China are the same fixed by Bank of China. To change money, you have to have your passport at hand. If you want to change money in a hotel, you usually have to be a guest there. Sometimes if you are not a guest in a hotel but need to change money there, you can just say a random room number, but this doesn't always work. Remember to keep the exchange slip well because you need this slip to change the Chinese Yuan back to your currency if you do have this need at the end of the tour. At present, the RMB is not exchangeable on the International market, so it is only usable within the country. So when you are changing money, don't change too much, because it is difficult to change back into other currencies. To change RMB back into your home currency, you must retain the exchange slips that are given to you at the bank or money exchange counter.