Tongxin mosque & Xumishan grottoes

cctv.com 11-11-2003 16:22

Tongxin mosque

Driving further down south from Zhongwei, you will pass the most well-known mosque in Ningxia, The grand Tongxin mosque. It was first built in Ming Dynasty about five hundred years ago and refurbished many times over the years.

The Chinese style compound was believed to be a Buddhist temple in the beginning and was later converted to a mosque.

On the two sidewalls of the entrance hallway to the worship chamber, you can find quite a few elaborate brick carvings.

Most of the carvings were of the traditional decorative patterns popular at the time, but taking a closer look, you'll find details reflecting local culture, such as this tea set for Eight-treasure tea, a favorite of Ningxia Hui people.

Most of the people in Tongxin are of Hui ethnic group. This unique Chinese Muslim tribe was gradually formed in Ningxia area starting from the 7th century, when some Persians and other Islamic believers came to the area along the north silk road.

The weather in Ningxia is conducive to the growth of all kinds of melons. Therefore, Summer is a sweet season in Ningxia. The south of Ningxia is mainly inhabited by Hui minority group, and is one of the main agricultural bases in the region. The pastoral landscape in the south is incredibly beautiful.

Xumishan grottoes

The grottoes are located 55 kilometers northwest to the Guyuan county town. Although little known to the outside world, Xumishan grottoes are actually on the par with many famous grottoes in China in terms of its cultural and artistic values.

The largest Buddha in Xumishan grottoes stands at over 20 meter tall at Cave number 5. It's also one of the largest Buddha sculptures left from Tang dynasty in China.

The construction of the grottoes started from 1,500 years ago when Buddhism was getting popular in China. Most of the grottoes are from the Northern dynasties, Sui and Tang Dynasties.

Cave number 51 from Northern Zhou period is the largest cave of central pillar style in the grottoes. The color paintings on the Buddha is rare among the Buddha sculptures from the same period grottoes. The three-seated Buddha statues on the altar at the back are as tall as six meters, rarely seen among the northern Zhou works. The color painting on their chins, is it beard or clouds? Even the tour guides cannot give me a definite answer.

Most out of the 150 caves are from Sui and Tang dynasties. Cave No. 105, also known as Taohuadong, is representative of Tang grottoes.

Although a relatively unknown small city, Guyuan has a museum that rivals those big-name museums in China, as it used to be a point where the ancient Chinese civilization meets the western civilization.

The museum houses a wealth of cultural relics unearthed around Guyuan area of distinct and exotic styles. For example, unique ornaments and articles of northern nomadic tribes in the Spring and Autumn Period over 2,000 years ago. Some cultural relics are even one of a kind in the world.

Editor:Han  Source:CCTV.com