The Xiguan Mosque (西关清真大寺), in the western part of central Lanzhou, is one of the largest and most active mosques in Gansu Province. It is an important center for Lanzhou's Hui Muslim community — one of the largest in any Chinese city — and the surrounding Xiguan neighborhood retains a distinctly different atmosphere from the rest of the city, with halal restaurants, spice vendors, and Arabic script on the shopfronts.
Visitors are generally welcome outside prayer times; dress modestly and ask before entering the prayer hall. The mosque's interior is ornate by Chinese mosque standards, with carved woodwork and tilework combining Chinese and Islamic motifs. The best time to visit is Friday around midday prayer, when the mosque is most active — the courtyard fills with worshippers and the surrounding streets are busy with food vendors. Xiguan Lu and the surrounding streets are worth exploring on foot even if you skip the mosque interior.