Quanzhou, a famous historical & cultural city, archaically called Zaytun, situated on
the southeast coast of Fujian Province, was reputed as the Greatest Port in the Eastern World and Starting Point of Marine Silk Route, boasting a developed overseas communication and a prosperous foreign trade in the Middle Ages. It is one of the earliest regions in China which Islam was brought to via sea route. As far back as Wu-de reign (618 A.D.-626 A.D.)  during the early Tang Dynasty, two disciples of Mohammed, Sa-ke-zu, the Third Saint, and Wu-ko-su, the Fourth Saint, came to Quanzhou by merchant ship to preach Islam, who were buried at Lingshan Hill after death.

Qingjing Mosque, also named Kylin (Chinese unicorn) Mosque, Shenyou Mosque or Ashab MoSque in Arabic, was built by Arabian Muslims in the year 400 according to the Islamic calendar, or in 1009, during the Northern Song Dynasty, and was renovated in 1310, during the Yuan Dynasty, or in the year 700 according to the Islamic calendar, by Ihamed B.  Muhammad Gudeish, an alien from Persia (Iran). It is gracefully shaped, uniquely structured and spectacularly magnificent and is the oldest among extant Mosques in China, boasting the unique style of typical Arabic-Islamic architecture and possessing a stonework structure seldom seen in China. It has been ranked among the first batch of key national cultural relics in safe-keeping and among the ten most famous temples in China.

The portal of Qingjing Mosque is formed by four big pointed arches and separated by three compartments. The second compartment is made up of ninety-nine small pointed arches, which symbolize ninety-nine appellations of excellence of Allah. Atop the portal is a battlements-shaped New Moon Minar, whose four corners once stood four Arab pinnacles. In the back of the minar there used to be a dome-shaped pavilion with Islamic characteristics.  Pass through the portal, then turn west, you’ll come to Worship Hall, once covered by a magnificent huge dome. Between the portal and Worship Hall there used to be a towering minaret. At the northwest corner of the Mosque there are Ming-Shan Hall, Ablution Pavilion and Sermon Hall. In the east of the Mosque stand erect two steles, each of which records a renovation, one in the Yuan Dynasty, the other in the Ming Dynasty. In the north wall an imperial edict of protecting Islam, decreed in 1407, the 5th year of Yong-le reign during the Ming Dynasty, is embedded.

Qingjing Mosque, this millenarian Mosque, is a historical witness to the friendly and cultural interflow between the Chinese and the Arabian peoples. Now it takes on a new look due to several reparations since the founding of PRC, inviting a good many visitors from home and abroad. It has become a bridge to link sino- foreign friendship since the initiation of reform and opening to the outside world