More than 1,000 years old, Beijing's oldest and largest mosque sits at the center of the Muslim quarter and mimics a Chinese temple from the outside, with its hexagonal wooden structure. Inside, arches and posts are inscribed with Koranic verse, and a special moon tower helps with determining the lunar calendar. At the rear of the complex is a minaret from which a muezzin calls the faithful to prayer. Because Muslims must pray in the direction of Mecca, which, in Beijing, is toward the west, the main prayer hall opens onto the east. There are also several religious halls, classrooms, and a bathhouse. The mosque has been refurbished in a bid to re-create how it looked back in 1696. The main prayer hall is open only to Muslims and can fit up to 1,000 worshippers.
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