• A Hui Muslim man performs ablution before entering the Nanguan Mosque in Yinchuan, China. Sarah Dea / The National
    A Hui Muslim man performs ablution before entering the Nanguan Mosque in Yinchuan, China. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A Chinese Muslim reads a prayer book in the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
    A Chinese Muslim reads a prayer book in the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A Hui Muslim man basks in a ray of sunlight. Sarah Dea / The National
    A Hui Muslim man basks in a ray of sunlight. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A Hui Muslim man performs ablution before entering the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
    A Hui Muslim man performs ablution before entering the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Two Hui Muslim men read calligraphy books outside the Nanguan Mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
    Two Hui Muslim men read calligraphy books outside the Nanguan Mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A group of Hui Muslim men perform ablution. Sarah Dea / The National
    A group of Hui Muslim men perform ablution. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Two Chinese Muslims hang their wet towels after performing ablution. Sarah Dea / The National
    Two Chinese Muslims hang their wet towels after performing ablution. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Three Chinese Muslim men await evening prayer. Sarah Dea / The National
    Three Chinese Muslim men await evening prayer. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A Hui Muslim man parks his bicycle and grabs a towel on his way to prayer. Sarah Dea / The National
    A Hui Muslim man parks his bicycle and grabs a towel on his way to prayer. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A Chinese Muslim man ascends the staircase to the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
    A Chinese Muslim man ascends the staircase to the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Two Hui Muslim men ascend the staircase towards the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
    Two Hui Muslim men ascend the staircase towards the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A signboard full of clocks show the daily prayer times. Sarah Dea / The National
    A signboard full of clocks show the daily prayer times. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A group of Chinese Muslim men socialise while they wait for the call to prayer. Sarah Dea / The National
    A group of Chinese Muslim men socialise while they wait for the call to prayer. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A Chinese Muslim sings the call to evening prayer as other men file into the Nanguan Mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
    A Chinese Muslim sings the call to evening prayer as other men file into the Nanguan Mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
  • A group of men pray together inside the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
    A group of men pray together inside the mosque. Sarah Dea / The National
  • Worshippers leave the mosque after prayers. Sarah Dea / The National
    Worshippers leave the mosque after prayers. Sarah Dea / The National

The men of Nanguan Mosque, a religious centre for the Hui people of northern China


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  • Arabic

A group of green domes rise amid hotels and retail buildings in southeast Yinchuan. These distinct Islamic architectural structures belong to Nanguan Mosque, one of the largest mosques in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in northern China.

The complex is a religious centre for Hui people in the area, an ethnic group officially recognised by the People's Republic of China. From the performing of ablution to the ascension of the steps outside the prayer hall, these Chinese Muslim men seem to share a unique brotherhood in their ritual.