Great Mosque at Xian

The eastern terminus of the "Silk Road" is in Xian and, as a result, there is a sizable Muslim population in Xian. Many the Muslims are descendants of those who traveled the ancient road from the west. Our hotel bordered the Muslim neighborhood and we were wakened every morning around 5:30 by the call to prayer from the Great Mosque. The Mosque, built around 742 AD, is quite magnificent with its gardens, temples and pavilions aligned in a symmetrical pattern. The Prayer Hall can hold up to 1,000 individuals. Muslims represent the largest minority in China and their influence on the culture of Xian is quite evident. It would be interesting to research the history of the Silk Road on the development of culture between the west and the east. Another interesting comparison would be to think about how the Internet Superhighway is rapidly changing our culture.