The Great Mosque of Xi'an is one of the oldest, largest, and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China. Founded in 742 AD during the Tang Dynasty and heavily expanded during the Ming Dynasty, it serves as a spectacular monument to the historical synthesis of Islamic faith and traditional Chinese culture. Unlike most mosques around the world, the Great Mosque is built in the style of a traditional Chinese temple, with elegant courtyards, pavilions, gardens, and ornate wooden halls instead of domes and towering minarets.