Taipei Grand Mosque Introduction
Walking along Xinsheng South Road, you will inevitably come across a remarkable building with a 15-meter high dome that catches the eye of every passerby. This is the Taipei Grand Mosque. The mosque serves as a place of worship for Islam. Covering an area of 2,747 square meters, the Taipei Grand Mosque was completed on April 13, 1960, and was funded by a collaboration between Taiwan and Saudi Arabia. The architectural designer is the renowned architect Yang Cho-cheng, who is also the designer of the Grand Hotel Taipei. Its main structural framework is made of reinforced concrete beams and columns, with the exterior walls reinforced with bricks and coated with fine cement, surface treatments, and mosaic patterns. The circular stone columns are processed with cut stones, and the main doors and windows feature large floor-to-ceiling designs. Another prominent feature is the dome inside the main hall, which is 15 meters high, spans 15 meters, and is supported without any columns. The interior is laid with handmade Persian wool carpets gifted by foreign monarchs, and it features palace-style chandeliers. The two minarets on the exterior rise over 20 meters, making the structure grand and magnificent. For over 40 years, kings, presidents, and various leaders from Muslim countries visiting Taiwan have included the mosque in their important itineraries, highlighting its role in international diplomacy and cultural exchange. When visiting the mosque, it is important to observe proper etiquette, as the main prayer hall and the ladies' prayer hall on the second floor are restricted to Muslims only.
