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Adventures of a Global Wanderer
The main reason I was interested in visiting Guangzhou was for its Islamic Heritage. China is not known as a source of Islam but it has a rich heritage with about 30 million Muslims.
The predominant Muslim area in the northwest is Xinjiang (East Turkestan) home to the Central Asian Uyghar people whom I visited in 2011 (see blog: Xinjiang - Silk Road Muslim China http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/lo ndone7/16/tpod.html). There are also the Hui ethnic Chinese Muslims in Xian and Inner Mongolia (see entry : Hohhot Muslim Quarter http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/17/1320396988/tpod.html)
Guangzhou's connection dates even further back to the 7th Century when Arab traders first brought Islam to China. I was trying to find the Huaisheng Mosque which wasnt easy with the maze of streets not shown on my map. I had to ask a person with a Muslim cap working in a store.
Eventually I found it but it was too dark to take pics of the outdoors.
It was nice to see it lit up but I'd have to return in the day to take proper pics.
Outside the Mosque was a Uyghar Halal restaurant. I took the opportunity to have some Uyghar food which is similar to Uzbek. I used to have Uzbek food quite often in Korea so ordered some lagman (lamb noodles) with tea and naan for 27Y ($5.20).
Now I knew where the Mosque was I took the metro back in the morning. The correct directions are
- goto Ximenkou Metro Exit B
- walk past the statue pointing to the right
- turn right onto Haizou Zhonglu and walk south
- turn left onto Guangta Lu
- eventually you will see Arabic influence and the Mosque minaret
In the day I could see more of the neighbourhood outside the Mosque. There were Muslim stores and Arabic style architecture.
Now I could see the courtyard during the day. There were historic photos of the Mosque.
Next I was going to the Islamic cemetery just north of the town centre. You have to goto Yuexiu Gongyuan Metro and take exit B2.
Orchard Gardens is right there for 8Y admission though they were only charging 6Y ($1.20) today. This was a tropical botanical garden.
I couldnt find the Islamic cemetery and they told me I had to go out and next door.
This had the same tropical gardens but without the tourists. It led to the prayer hall built in Chinese style.
I walked further into the gardens to find the cemetery. There were several headstones and a Chinese style arch.
Even further into the grounds is the Tomb of Abu Waqas. This is the Uncle of the Prophet Mohammad and brought Islam to China in the 7th century. Its surprising that his tomb is here and not in the Middle East.
There were also more graves here draped in coloured fabric as well as a spring for sacred water.
At the end of the day I went back to the Uyghar restaurant for dinner. This time I had pilow (carrot rice) with mandu (mutton dumplings) and samsa (mutton pastry).
CCTV was also running a segment on the Muslim Uyghars of Xinjiang. There is also Arabic script on Chinese banknotes in the language used by the Uyghars.
China is not normally considered a source of Islamic heritage but it does have a rich tapestry of cultures and religions woven into its cultural fabric.
The predominant Muslim area in the northwest is Xinjiang (East Turkestan) home to the Central Asian Uyghar people whom I visited in 2011 (see blog: Xinjiang - Silk Road Muslim China http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/lo ndone7/16/tpod.html). There are also the Hui ethnic Chinese Muslims in Xian and Inner Mongolia (see entry : Hohhot Muslim Quarter http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-en tries/londone7/17/1320396988/tpod.html)
Guangzhou's connection dates even further back to the 7th Century when Arab traders first brought Islam to China. I was trying to find the Huaisheng Mosque which wasnt easy with the maze of streets not shown on my map. I had to ask a person with a Muslim cap working in a store.
Eventually I found it but it was too dark to take pics of the outdoors.
It was nice to see it lit up but I'd have to return in the day to take proper pics.
Outside the Mosque was a Uyghar Halal restaurant. I took the opportunity to have some Uyghar food which is similar to Uzbek. I used to have Uzbek food quite often in Korea so ordered some lagman (lamb noodles) with tea and naan for 27Y ($5.20).
Now I knew where the Mosque was I took the metro back in the morning. The correct directions are
- goto Ximenkou Metro Exit B
- walk past the statue pointing to the right
- turn right onto Haizou Zhonglu and walk south
- turn left onto Guangta Lu
- eventually you will see Arabic influence and the Mosque minaret
In the day I could see more of the neighbourhood outside the Mosque. There were Muslim stores and Arabic style architecture.
Now I could see the courtyard during the day. There were historic photos of the Mosque.
Next I was going to the Islamic cemetery just north of the town centre. You have to goto Yuexiu Gongyuan Metro and take exit B2.
Orchard Gardens is right there for 8Y admission though they were only charging 6Y ($1.20) today. This was a tropical botanical garden.
I couldnt find the Islamic cemetery and they told me I had to go out and next door.
This had the same tropical gardens but without the tourists. It led to the prayer hall built in Chinese style.
I walked further into the gardens to find the cemetery. There were several headstones and a Chinese style arch.
Even further into the grounds is the Tomb of Abu Waqas. This is the Uncle of the Prophet Mohammad and brought Islam to China in the 7th century. Its surprising that his tomb is here and not in the Middle East.
There were also more graves here draped in coloured fabric as well as a spring for sacred water.
At the end of the day I went back to the Uyghar restaurant for dinner. This time I had pilow (carrot rice) with mandu (mutton dumplings) and samsa (mutton pastry).
CCTV was also running a segment on the Muslim Uyghars of Xinjiang. There is also Arabic script on Chinese banknotes in the language used by the Uyghars.
China is not normally considered a source of Islamic heritage but it does have a rich tapestry of cultures and religions woven into its cultural fabric.
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