Mosque revives memories of bygone era

The arrival of Muslims in Guangzhou is causing a revival of Islam in a city with a long link to the religion.

Built more than 1,000 years ago, the ancient minaret of the Huaisheng Mosque is an Islamic symbol in Guangzhou. The Abi Waggas Graveyard, near Yuexiu Park, is said to hold the tomb of Saad bin Abi Waggas, Muhammad's maternal uncle and the first Islamic preacher in China. The other two mosques in Guangzhou, the Haopan Mosque and Xiaodongying Mosque, were built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

However, Islam declined in Guangzhou over the 20th century and the fifth national census in 2000 showed just 9,838 Muslims lived in the city, including many who no longer practiced the faith.