By an amazing stroke of luck, the impressive Great Mosque came through the Chinese Cultural Revolution virtually unscathed, and today one of the country's biggest and most stunning holy places welcomes visitors into its impressive courtyard. The

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By an amazing stroke of luck, the impressive Great Mosque came through the Chinese Cultural Revolution virtually unscathed, and today one of the country's biggest and most stunning holy places welcomes visitors into its impressive courtyard. The original structure dates from AD 742, but the building that stands today is largely an 18th-century reconstruction. An ever-present reminder of Xi'an's important role as a hub of trade with Persia and Arabia is the city's sizeable Muslim community. After visiting the mosque, an amble though the tight warren of streets within the thriving Muslim quarter—where the exquisite smells of traditional cooking bombard your senses—is well worthwhile.

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