Finding halal meals in international nations is without doubt one of the challenges Muslim travellers normally face.
However in China, it’s not so tough to search out a Muslim restaurant in main vacationer cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chengdu, Guilin and Guangzhou.
Halal meals was considered one of my principal issues after I first got here to Beijing for the China Asia Pacific Press Centre 2022 programme, on the invitation of the China Public Diplomacy Association. I had doubts over the accessibility of Muslim eating places in the town particularly when Muslims solely comprise as much as 2% of China’s inhabitants of 1.4 billion.
(Organised by the China International Press Communication Centre, the programme noticed the participation of over 70 worldwide media practitioners from numerous nations.)
Many questions had been enjoying on my thoughts after I first arrived in China in mid-July: Where do they get their halal meals provide? How do they carry out their spiritual obligations?
All these questions had been answered after I visited the Niujie Mosque, the oldest and largest mosque in Beijing, and one of many world’s most well-known mosques, positioned in the sub-district of Guang’anmen in Xicheng.
Niujie is in the town’s largest Muslim district, residence to greater than 300,000 Muslims of the Hui ethnic group.
Using a map app to information me, I picked up the braveness to journey alone to Niujie from the place I stay in Jianguomen (positioned in the guts of Beijing metropolis), utilizing the subway for the primary time.
After a 40-minute journey, I arrived at Nujie. However, I had a impolite shock after I bought to the mosque as all of the doorways had been closed, with a signboard notifying guests that it was underneath development.
Instead of going again to the town centre, I stayed on, ready for a “door of opportunity” to enter the mosque and carry out the Zohor prayer.
I patiently waited … and fortuitously, a man in a white kopiah (cap) quickly emerged from the mosque.
The mosque has Arabic and Chinese influences in its design and structure.
“Malaysia,” I mentioned as I launched myself to the person in his 70s. His identify was Wang and fortunately, he allowed me to enter the mosque.
There was a sense of calm after I stepped into the premises of Niujie Mosque. Several males, largely senior residents both carrying a kopiah or white gown (jubah), had been having a chat whereas ready for prayer time – a sight that’s no totally different than in mosques again residence.
“Assalamualaikum,” mentioned the imam.
The greeting was certainly heart-warming because it displays Muslim solidarity that transcends racial boundaries.
But resulting from language barrier, I might solely return the imam’s greeting with a smile.
Tourist attraction
The Niujie Mosque, the most important of all of the mosques in Beijing, was first constructed in 1996. It is a functioning mosque, in addition to a main vacationer attraction now, however it has not been absolutely opened to the general public for the reason that begin of the pandemic.
From the surface, its structure reveals conventional Chinese influences, whereas the within has a mix of Islamic calligraphy and Chinese designs.
The principal prayer corridor is 600sq m, and may maintain greater than 1,000 worshippers. The clean white tiles and fixtures look “Muslim”, however the richly-coloured Chinese roofs and designs give it a extra Oriental really feel.
Many fences, partitions and doorways are additionally painted in shiny pink.
Outside the mosque is a minaret, a lecture room for spiritual courses and a two-storey tower construction that is named the “tower for watching the moon”. It seems to be like a two-storey pagoda.
There can also be a memento store, in addition to an workplace for the imam throughout the premises.
According to historical past, the mosque was first constructed throughout the Liao Dynasty (916-1125) and made out of timber. It was named “Liasi” by the emperor in 1474. It covers an space of 10,000sq m, mixing each basic Arabic mosque with Chinese royal palace designs.
The mosque has transcended six eras ranging from Liao Dynasty, Song Dynasty, Yuan Dynasty, Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, earlier than getting into modern-day China.
Within the interval, it has gone by means of a number of renovations similar to in 1955 and 1979, in addition to a main reconstruction in 1996. This was achieved in conjunction with its 1,000th anniversary.
Based on data displayed on the mosque, the Niujie Mosque is reserved as a “Key Point of Cultural Heritage & Relic” and has been underneath state-level safety by the State Council since Jan 13, 1988.
“This is my first visit to Niujie Mosque and it is indeed magnificent, with its original nuances, especially from the architectural and design aspects, which reflect Islamic influence in China,” mentioned Marshalina Gitafadilla Munir, a journalist from Indonesia.
As I used to be taking footage of the place, a lady in her 60s greeted me. Without a phrase, she used hand gestures and physique language as a technique of communication.
It was clear that she needed to know the place the ladies’s part for prayers and for “wuduk” (a room designated for ritual washing earlier than day by day prayer) was.
An estimated 25 million Muslims stay in China, with the Hui and Uyghur ethnic teams forming 90% of the Muslim inhabitants.
Halal meals heaven
After prayers, I managed to meet up with Wang. Using a translation app, I expressed my heartfelt gratitude for the chance to hope on the mosque and hoped to return with some mates.
Wang solely nodded, smiled and gave me a thumbs-up.
Needless to say, journey is incomplete with out exploring the neighbourhood and in this case, the streets of Niujie near the mosque and its halal meals.
So, with out losing time, I made a decision to hunt for a place to eat after prayers. Based on some invaluable suggestions shared by native residents, if a constructing and premise is inexperienced in color, it reveals that it’s serving halal meals. I used to be glad that the buildings in Niujie had been largely painted inexperienced in addition to signboards displaying the phrase “halal” in Chinese.
Nearly all outlets and stalls had been promoting halal snacks, similar to lamb and beef bao, bean soup, Baiji rice cake and numerous forms of bread with halal meat fillings.
A takeaway meals outlet was drawing prospects who had been making a beeline for its well-liked lamb and beef bao, scorching from the oven. I made a decision to hitch the road.
Thanks to its environment friendly employees and the cashless system in place, I didn’t have to attend lengthy.
“Niujie” actually interprets to “ox street” in Mandarin. This space is definitely a key marketplace for halal beef and lamb, the place the animals are slaughtered in accordance with Islamic legal guidelines. In truth meat that’s bought in Niujie is alleged to be among the many finest in Beijing.
Several eating places managed by the ethnic Uyghur group from Xinjiang right here serve numerous forms of their conventional meals, for instance the favored lamb kebap.
“During Ramadan, the Niujie area would be packed with Muslims buying halal meat and breaking their fast at Niujie Mosque,” mentioned a native resident.
I couldn’t assist however strive the lamb kebap. The meat was marinated properly and the entire thing was very tasty. Its beautiful style was just like those bought in Xinjiang, one of the crucial well-liked cuisines in the area.
Muslim neighborhood in China
The Hui ethnic group is the most important group of Muslims in China, adopted by the Uyghur. Both ethnic teams type about 90% of the Muslim inhabitants in the nation.
The Muslim neighborhood there additionally includes Kazak, Kirgiz, Uzbek, Tatar, Tajik, Dongxiang, Salad and Bao’an ethnic teams.
An estimated 25 million Muslims are discovered throughout nation, with Islam being broadly unfold and targeted on small teams. Islam is without doubt one of the 4 principal religions formally recognised in China, with Muslims largely discovered in Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan.
The Xinjiang area has the most important Muslim inhabitants (over 50%).
According to Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution, residents of the People’s Republic of China shall get pleasure from freedom of spiritual perception, together with Islam. – Hasnah Jusid/Bernama
