Nanjing Mosques, Nanjing Masjid, Mosques in Nanjing, Masjid in Nanjing, Nanjing Mosque Guide
There is no historical record on when Islam was introduced to Nanjing. However, there were Muslims living in the nearby cities of Yangzhou and Zhenjiang in the Tang and Song Dynasties. In 1290, there were 149 families of Semu People (2919) living in Nanjing and most of Semu People were Muslims from Middle East who followed the Mongolian army back and settled in China. Due to its strategic location of being the meeting point of traditional Silk Road and Marine Silk Road, Nanjing became the center of Islam in East China since the Yuan Dynasty. Islam in Nanjiing reached its highlight in the Ming Dynasty when Muslim generals helped Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Ming Emperor to establish the Ming Dynasty. After Nanjing became the capital of Ming Dynasty, many Muslim generals and soldiers lived in Nanjing and Muslim population once reached 100,000 in Nanjing. Islam suffered a lot during the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom period (1851-1864) when Nanjing became the capital since Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was set up. Most Muslims migrated to Northwest and other parts of China after Nanjing was seized by Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. According to historical record, the earliest mosque in Nanjing was built in the Song Dynasty. There were 11 mosques built in Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty; 24 mosques built in the Qing Dynasty; 13 mosques built in the Republic of China period from 1911 to 1949. By 1949 there were 32 mosques in Nanjing’s city proper area and 21 mosques in its suburban counties. Currently there are 12 mosques in Nanjing. Four mosques are located in the city proper area: Jingjue Mosque which was built in the Ming Dynasty; Caoqiao Mosque; Jizhaoying Mosque and Hanximen Mosque. The rest are located in the suburban areas of Nanjing.