The Huxi Mosque is one of the famous
mosques in Shanghai City. It was originally called Yaoshuinong Mosque and
located at Xikang Road, and moved to Changde Road in April 1992. In 1914, Moslem
paupers from Hubei, Shandong, Henan, and Anhui provinces lived together in the
area near Xikang Road. For their religious needs, they rented a small room as
the temporary worship place. In 1921, with the efforts of some religious people,
they raised money and began the construction of the mosque. The construction was
completed in 1922. There were three worship halls, three wing halls and one wing
room. After the repair in 1935, the worship halls could accommodate 200 people.
The mosque resumed religious activities in 1979.
In 1990, the construction on a new mosque at
Changde Road started, and was completed in April 1992. The main body of the new
mosque is a two-storeyed worship hall with double-heart-shaped arches and
fan-shaped vaults. The minaret is over 25 meters high. The main worship hall has
two floors, including men's and women's bathrooms, pulpits, the imam's room, and
reception rooms, etc. There are colorful fountains both in the front courtyard
and the back courtyard. The courtyards are covered by six domes, three of which
are decorated with a crescent sign each.
The Huxi Mosque is the first mosque that is
rebuilt in Shanghai City after the founding of the People's Republic of
China.