Erlong Mosque 🕌

"Ancient temple hidden behind bustling streets, green bricks and arched shadows reveal deep devotion"
—— A rare northern relic preserving over 600 years of Islamic cultural heritage

📍 Basic Information

• Official Name: Erlong Mosque
• Location: Erlong Village, Liuerbao Town, LiaoZhong District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, 100 meters north of the intersection between Lanyu Street and County Road 046
• Geographic Coordinates: Approximately 41.58°N, 122.53°E
• Protection Status: Provincial Cultural Heritage Site of Liaoning Province (designated in 2014)
• Access Status: Active religious site; also open for cultural and historical visits (visitors must respect religious etiquette; non-Muslim guests are requested to visit during designated hours and observe respectful conduct)

⏳ Historical Evolution: Founded in the Early Ming Dynasty, Enduring Through Centuries

Erlong Mosque was originally constructed in the 23rd year of the Hongwu era (AD 1390), making it over 634 years old. It stands as one of the few surviving mosques in Northeast China with a clear inscription date and continuous use spanning centuries.

• ✅ Ming Dynasty Foundation: Built by descendants of Hui Muslim military settlers, this site is a remnant of the Ming dynasty’s garrison system in Liaodong. Originally named “Erlonggang Prayer Hall,” it derived its name from its location at the southern foothills of the Erlong Mountain range.
• ✅ Qing Dynasty Restoration: Underwent major renovations in the 42nd year of Qianlong (1777) and the 19th year of Guangxu (1893). The current architectural layout took shape during the Guangxu restoration period.
• ✅ Modern Preservation: In the 1930s, it housed the “Erlong Hui Elementary School,” serving as a vital center for early Hui education in LiaoZhong. Designated a key cultural heritage site of LiaoZhong County in 1985, it was elevated to provincial status in 2014.
• ✅ Contemporary Continuity: Still serves as the central venue for daily prayers, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha celebrations for local Hui communities. The position of imam has been passed down through seven generations.

🔍 Historical Evidence: The existing Record of the Restoration of Erlong Mosque (inscribed in the 19th year of Guangxu) and the 1390 AD brick inscription embedded in the western wall foundation of the main hall have been verified on-site by the Liaoning Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, confirming their authenticity.

🏯 Architectural Layout: A Harmonious Fusion of Han and Islamic Traditions

The mosque covers approximately 1,800 square meters, arranged in a traditional Chinese siheyuan courtyard layout, blending Islamic functional needs with northern vernacular architectural techniques. This reflects the unique model of “expressing Islamic spirit through Han-style forms.”

• Main Gate: Gabled roof with gray tiles, featuring a carved stone lintel inscribed with the words “Ancient Mosque” in seal script (original from the Guangxu era). The couplets on either side read: “Acknowledge One God Alone, Worship Him Without Equals”—a classic expression of Islamic theology.
• Prayer Hall (core structure):
  • Five bays wide, three bays deep, with a dougong timber frame and exposed ceiling rafters;
  • Rare “Gouliandia” structural design: The front awning with a hip-roof style (a distinctive welcoming space in mosques) seamlessly connects to the rear gabled main hall, demonstrating unity between function and ritual.
  • Interior free of idols or figurative decoration; only the mihrab (prayer niche) facing Mecca is marked with geometric patterns outlined in ink—simple and solemn.
• Moon-Sighting Tower: A two-story brick-and-wood structure; the ground floor serves as a call-to-prayer passage, while the upper level features arched windows. One of the few surviving examples of Ming-era moon-sighting towers in Northeast China.
• Northern and Southern Lecture Halls and Water Rooms: Expanded during the Qing dynasty, built with glazed bricks and gray tiles. Fragments of painted scrollwork with lotus vines remain beneath the eaves, reflecting the process of Islamic art adapting to local traditions.

📐 Architectural Significance: Listed in Research on Chinese Mosque Architecture (China Architecture & Building Press, 2020) as a living specimen of Ming-era military garrison mosques, its mortise-and-tenon joinery and brick carving techniques exemplify typical craftsmanship of the Liao-Shen region.

📜 Cultural Relics: Treasures Within Small Spaces, Testaments to Faith Across Time

The temple houses multiple precious historical artifacts, each holding both immovable and movable heritage status:

• 🪨 1390 AD Brick Inscription (Ming Dynasty): Embedded in the base of the west wall of the main hall, inscribed in regular script: “In the early autumn of the 23rd year of Hongwu, all members of the community contributed funds to build the mosque.” The characters remain clear and legible—this is the earliest known dated physical evidence of a mosque in Northeast China.
• 📜 Two Qing Dynasty Stele Records (1777 and 1893): Detail donor lists, renovation regulations, and the organizational structure of the Hui community at the time—primary sources for studying ethnic relations in Ming and Qing Liaodong.
• 📖 Fragmentary Manuscript of the Quran (mid-Qing Dynasty): Written in Persian script, on indigo paper with red ink annotations. Currently housed at the Shenyang Islamic Association and periodically returned for exhibition.
• 🪵 14th-Century Elm Wood Minbar (Pulpit): 1.8 meters tall, with seven steps, plain surface without carving, assembled solely through mortise-and-tenon joints—reflecting early Muslims’ practical wisdom in favoring simplicity and humility.

🌟 Cultural Significance: A Microcosm of Civilizational Diversity

Beyond its role as a religious site, Erlong Mosque embodies the broader vision of Chinese civilization: diverse yet unified, harmonious yet distinct.

• ✨ Witness to Ethnic Integration: In the early Ming period, Hui Muslim settlers lived alongside local Han and Manchu communities, sharing wells, roads, and communal projects. Inscriptions within the temple repeatedly mention “cooperation between Han and Hui in bridge and road construction,” testifying to a long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence in LiaoZhong.
• ✨ Node of Silk Road Cultural Expansion: Architectural elements reveal a fusion of Central Asian geometric motifs and traditional Chinese cloud-head patterns, illustrating how land-based Silk Road culture spread from the capital region through Liaodong into Northeast Asia.
• ✨ Intangible Heritage Hub: The temple preserves the “LiaoZhong Hui Recitation Melody,” a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. Its musical style incorporates regional folk song inflections, forming a unique form of religious chant.

🧭 Visitor Guide: Guidelines for Respectful Visits

| Item | Details | |------|--------| | Best Visit Time | 🌞 Spring and Autumn (April–May, September–October); avoid Friday afternoons (Jumu’ah prayer) and peak festival periods (advance booking required) | | Opening Hours | Weekdays: 9:00–11:30, 13:30–16:00 (no entry during prayer times)<br>Holidays: Limited access; ID registration required | | Dress Code | 👗 Remove shoes before entering the prayer hall; women are advised to wear headscarves (free disposable ones provided); avoid revealing, transparent, or patterned clothing | | Guided Tours | Free guided tours available (conducted by mosque committee imams or cultural heritage officers); must be booked one day in advance via phone (024-8786XXXX) | | Transportation Options | 🚌 From Shenyang Station, take the LiaoZhong express bus to “Liuerbao Town,” transfer to local village buses to “Erlong Village Stop,” walk 150 meters<br>🚗 Self-driving: Navigate to “Erlong Mosque”; a small eco-friendly parking lot is available in front (free of charge) | | Nearby Attractions | 🌾 Recommended itinerary extensions:<br>• LiaoZhong District Museum (features a Ming-dynasty ceramic incense burner unearthed from Erlong Mosque)<br>• Erlong Village Hui Ethnic Folk Museum (exhibits traditional wedding customs and culinary utensils)<br>• Puhe Wetland Park (12 km away; offers dual experience of ecological and cultural exploration) |

📣 Visitor Reminder:

• Flash photography, loud talking, and touching relics are prohibited inside the temple;
• Respect religious customs—do not enter the minbar or imam’s private areas without permission;
• All visitors should follow the principles of “quiet observation, careful movement, and reverent heart,” upholding the code of civilized tourism.

Sources: List of Immovable Cultural Relics in Liaoning Province (Shenyang Volume), LiaoZhong County Gazetteer – Religious Section, Illustrated Dictionary of Chinese Mosques, and 2023 field survey report by LiaoZhong District Culture and Tourism Bureau
Last Updated: June 2024