Huaisheng Mosque stands in the Yuexiu district in the heart of old Guangzhou, a reminder that the city has had a Muslim community for nearly fourteen centuries. Arab and Persian merchants trading along the maritime Silk Road settled here, and the mosque they built — rebuilt repeatedly but on the same site — is still in daily use.
The distinctive feature is the Guangta ("Light Tower"), a smooth cylindrical minaret that rises above the surrounding buildings. Dating to the Tang dynasty in its original form, it is one of the oldest standing structures in Guangzhou. The mosque complex covers a substantial area and includes several prayer halls, gardens, and the shrine of the mosque's legendary founder. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome outside of prayer times; dress conservatively and remove shoes before entering any buildings.