The Great Mosque in Xi'an is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved Islamic mosques in China.

According to historical records engraved on a stone tablet inside, the Great Mosque was built in 742 during theTang Dynasty(618-907). This was a result of Islam being introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers from Persia and Afghanistan during the mid-7th century when some of them settled down in China and married women of Han Nationality.

Their descendants became Muslims today. The Muslims played an important role in the unifications of China during the Yuan and Ming.