About this place

A walk through the courtyards of the Great Mosque of Xi’an should give visitors a strong sense of the historic Muslim influence in Xi’an. The mosque is still active today so the prayer hall is not open to visitors. The mosque is said to have been opened in the 8th century during the Tang Dynasty but most of the current buildings were built or rebuilt in the 18th century. 
 
The area surrounding The Great Mosque is a draw on it’s own.  The small pedestrian streets nearby are lined with vendors selling Xi’an tourist souvenirs, t-shirts, etc.  Just to the east of the mosque is Beiyuanmen (北院门).  Lining the edges of this long pedestrian street are small art shops and restaurants that serve Roujiamou, Yangrou Paomou and other snacks.  The southern entrance of Beiyuanmen leads to the Drum Tower.
 

From the Drum Tower, walk north-west. When you reach a small alley packed with vendors, you will know you are heading in the right direction.