Songjiang Mosque

Songjiang Mosque carries the deepest historical roots among Shanghai’s mosques. First established during the Zhizheng reign of the Yuan dynasty, it was rebuilt in 1391 and expanded during the Ming dynasty before undergoing further renovations in the Qing period. Its older name, Real Religion Mosque, reflects a long local Islamic presence in Songjiang, an area that predates much of modern Shanghai’s urban growth and retains pockets of historical architecture, canals, gardens, and former county-town character.

The mosque is distinctive because it preserves a layered architectural language rather than following a single style. Arabic columns, domed elements, calligraphy, Chinese courtyard planning, corridors, sermon halls, and a prayer niche sit together within a traditional compound. Four stone steles from different dynasties remain in the courtyard, adding to its historical value. Listed as a protected cultural relic in 1908 and later recognised at national level, Songjiang Mosque functions as both a place of worship and a heritage site. Its significance lies in age, continuity, and the way it shows how Islamic practice adapted to Chinese architectural forms over several centuries.