The founding of the mosque is disputed. Old Chinese Muslim manuscripts credit Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas with building it in 627. Modern scholars find no evidence that he visited China, and they place its foundation in the Tang or Song dynasty. The article names no client or architect.
The mosque was rebuilt in 1350 and again in 1695, after a fire destroyed it. The minaret is older than both rebuilds. It is a plain two-story pointed tower, 118 feet (36 m) tall, known as the Guangta, or Plain Pagoda, for its unadorned surface. It was the tallest building in the city until the early 20th century.
In the Middle Ages the tower served as a lighthouse, wind vane and control tower, which gave the mosque its alternate name. The mosque is active, and it is a short walk southeast of Ximenkou Station. The article gives no materials or visiting hours.
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