A Stroll in Lanzhou | The Rare Nanguan Mosque in the Great Northwest

The Nanguan Mosque in Lanzhou has a long history and features a unique architectural style that is rare in the northwest region. The mosque is located on the ethnic flavor street of Lanzhou's Nanguan, and was originally built during the Ming dynasty. The original site was outside the southern gate, but during the Qing dynasty's Qianlong era, the Nanguan Mosque was relocated and rebuilt at its current location. The prayer hall of the Nanguan Mosque follows the architectural style of Arab mosques, modeled after the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and is divided into four levels. The main hall is supported by a framework consisting of 12 reinforced concrete columns and 24 crossbeams. The mosque faces west and opens to the east, with the Nanguan night market right at its entrance. Stepping into the mosque, the majestic green dome of the main hall immediately catches the eye, with the building's layers clearly defined and a refreshing color scheme of green and white. The mosque has front and back courtyards, adopting a traditional palace-style wooden architectural design. The Nanguan Mosque in Lanzhou is sequentially equipped with a screen wall, a wake-up tower, a prayer hall, a pond, and other structures, arranged in a compact and harmonious layout, with a grand and solemn atmosphere. The screen wall stands tall on the main street. In the center, there are three layers of green tiles and red columns reaching to the sky, with classical Chinese couplets and plaques in both Chinese and Arabic script adorning it, exuding an ancient and elegant charm. The mosque's main gate is of traditional wooden structure, flanked by carved flowers and bricks. On both sides of the gate are two four-level wooden wake-up towers, each 29 meters high, featuring hexagonal eaves and covered with green glazed tiles. The entire building is majestic and elegant in color, towering and spectacular, fully displaying the beauty of traditional Chinese architecture.