Traditional features: The mosque’s distinctive Chinese architectural elements, from its gracefully curved roofs to a three-storey pagoda tower inspired by the Great Mosque of Xi’an, has become a key draw for visitors. — Bernama
Visitors drawn to Chinese-style mosque’s architecture and heritage
KLANG: Despite being situated in an area where Muslims make up just 15% of the population, Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang in Taman Desawan Dua is emerging as a catalyst for Islamic tourism in Selangor.
Built on a 1.2ha plot, the mosque serves local worshippers while also attracting domestic and international visitors keen to explore Islam through its architecture, rich heritage and welcoming community.
The Imam of Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang, Adlu Kan Yong Sheng, said the mosque’s distinctive Chinese architectural elements, from its gracefully curved roofs to a three-storey pagoda tower inspired by the Great Mosque of Xi’an, had become a key draw for visitors.
He added that the mosque’s unique Chinese-inspired design, enhanced by a serene garden and koi pond, makes it the first of its kind in Selangor, captivating tourists from diverse backgrounds.
“The initiative to build the mosque was proposed by Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association president Datuk Prof Dr Taufiq Yap Yun Hin and received the consent of the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who paid special attention to the mosque’s concept and design as a symbol of cultural harmony.
“To ensure the mosque’s architectural authenticity, Sultan Sharafuddin decreed that a study visit to China be carried out to examine several historic mosques before giving his consent for the final design,” he told Bernama.
Adlu said the mosque’s construction, which began at the end of 2019, was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic, causing delays and logistical constraints, but the project was eventually completed and the mosque opened in August 2024.
According to him, since commencing operations, the mosque had welcomed more than 55,000 local and international visitors as of December last year, including institutional visits from Australia, France, Germany and Japan.
Adlu said the mosque’s main prayer hall could accommodate around 350 worshippers at a time, with the capacity expandable to 1,000, allowing it to host large-scale programmes, including those promoting Islamic tourism.
He said that while most of the building materials were obtained locally, essential components like the roof and granite stones were brought in from China to preserve the mosque’s traditional architectural features, thus increasing its heritage value and tourism appeal.
“Young visitors and photography enthusiasts are drawn to the mosque’s architecture. They often say it reminds them of ancient tales or kung fu films, which is why many come to take pictures, make videos, or have wedding and graduation photoshoots.
“In fact, some visitors even come dressed in traditional Chinese Muslim attire just to take pictures in the mosque garden,” he said.
Another attraction is the Islamic art gallery, which houses valuable collections from China, including 30 hand-carved gourds, each containing a juzuk (section) of the Quran, as well as manuscripts and Quran translations in Mandarin, serving as a medium for education and dakwah (religious propagation).
Adlu said that the mosque’s cafeteria, serving traditional Chinese dishes such as hand-pulled noodles, dim sum and pau, adds a unique flavour to the visitor experience, while a cooking programme is being planned to teach the community how to prepare halal Chinese cuisine.
On Dec 5, 2024, Sultan Sharafuddin launched the opening of Masjid Jamek Cina Muslim Klang, expressing hope that the mosque, along with other houses of worship in the area, would serve not only as a symbol of unity but also as a landmark and major tourist attraction in Selangor.
