A Random Walk Down Muslim Street

After the Terracotta warriors, we had a fine lunch at a nearby hotel.  Then, we headed to Muslim Street back in Xi'an.   

Just your typical red piano inside

a huge white structure with water

surrounding.  How does the

piano player get to the piano?

Like a blind deer, we had

no eye deer.

Cool fountain.

The above three photos are of the hotel.

Capitalism has brought a LOT of

prosperity to China.

I've seen it called both Muslim Street and the Muslim Quarter.  Muslim Street doesn't make sense to me, because it is more than just one street, but when in Xi'an, do as the Xi'anians do!

Some in the group were thrown by how busy it was, but not Carol and I.  We love wading through market streets, being somewhat jostled and carried along.  

According to the last demographic stats available, the Muslim population living in the small area is over 32,000 people.  It appears 31,000 of them own shops.  Of course, those stats are from 2003, so the Chinese government needs to get with it!  (Don't hold your breath!).  The Muslim Quarter started after the Silk Road was opened in the Tang dynasty (which spanned the 7th to 10th Century, sorry for the lack of specificity).

The entrance at one end to Muslim Street

Typical stand on the street.

Huge walnuts!

Sons in the family business.

Popular place!

A pretty good crowd for a Sunday.

The Muslim quarter has both

 streets and narrow alleys.

Entrance to the Great Mosque

We stopped into the Great Mosque, which is the largest mosque in China.  It is an oasis of quiet in the crazy busy Muslim Quarter.  The reason there is not more people there is that there is an entrance fee.  There is more than 20 buildings in the mosque, not all of which are open to non-Muslims.  Built during the Ming dynasty, it is a Major Historical and Cultural Site for China.

It is a mosque with a distinctive Chinese feel, a mix of more Asian and some Arab.

Cool shot of multiple building roofs.

The Phoenix Pavilion

Back on the Muslim Street.  Two street

sweeper brooms.  Very cool looking.

Street food.  As avoided by Carol (And I).