A beamless 15 m dome and two 20 m minarets in Da'an District, built in 1960 for visiting heads of state — plus the ten other mosques that trace a century of migration from Yunnan to Indonesia, and how to visit them respectfully.
Key Points at a Glance
Mosques in Taiwan
Frequently Asked Questions
Mosques in Taiwan
Mosques in Taiwan at a glance
Taiwan has around a dozen mosques, and the most important is the Taipei Grand Mosque in Da'an District, the island's largest and oldest. Seven long-established mosques anchor the community in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, while newer ones in Taoyuan, Yilan, Pingtung and Hualien serve a growing population of Southeast Asian workers and students.
Islam is a small faith in Taiwan, but its story is a vivid slice of 20th-century history. Most of the older mosques were founded by Chinese Muslims who crossed the strait after 1949, and some by soldiers evacuated from the Yunnan–Myanmar border in the 1950s. Today the same buildings welcome worshippers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Middle East and beyond, as well as curious travelers of every faith.
Taipei Grand Mosque: from a Japanese house to a city landmark
The Taipei Grand Mosque (台北清真寺) opened on 13 April 1960 and is now a designated historic site of Taipei City. Its roots go back to the late 1940s, when Chinese Muslims arriving in Taipei had nowhere to pray.
The first mosque on Lishui Street. Community elders Chang Zichun and Zheng Houren donated a Japanese-style house at No. 2, Lane 17, Lishui Street, and it became Taipei's first mosque. As more Muslims arrived with the Nationalist government, the small house quickly became too crowded.
A mosque built for diplomacy. General Bai Chongxi, head of the Chinese Muslim Association, and Foreign Minister George Yeh argued that Taiwan needed a mosque of international standard for visiting Muslim heads of state. A construction committee was set up on 12 December 1949, and funds came from a Bank of Taiwan loan and from donors including the Shah of Iran and the King of Jordan.
Inauguration and royal visitors. Vice President Chen Cheng led the opening ceremony in 1960. Over the following decades the mosque hosted King Faisal of Saudi Arabia (1971), King Hussein of Jordan and Malaysian Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, among others.
Saved as a heritage site. In 1999 a land dispute threatened the building with demolition. The Taipei City Government responded by designating it a historic site on 29 June 1999. A major restoration, part-funded by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs, followed from 2018.
Architecture: an Islamic landmark by Taiwan's most famous architect
The mosque was designed by Yang Cho-cheng, the architect behind Taipei's Grand Hotel, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall and the National Theater and Concert Hall. He drew on Ottoman and Persian mosque traditions and blended them with local materials.
The dome: 15 m high and 15 m across, spanning the prayer hall with no supporting beams. Its copper covering has weathered from bright brass to green patina.
Twin minarets: two grey towers about 20 m tall, each with a red neck and an onion-shaped tip, framing the facade.
Arcaded wings: colonnades of round-arched corridors run along both sides of the main hall, faced in cut stone and trimmed with mosaic bands of geometric and script patterns.
The prayer hall: holds about 1,000 worshippers. In keeping with Islamic tradition it has no images, only geometric stained-glass windows, Persian rugs and chandeliers gifted by friendly Muslim rulers, and gold "Allah" calligraphy on green above the prayer niche.
The courtyard: two Arabian date palms stand in the front garden, a small reminder of the mosque's links to the Middle East.
The foyer was later divided into two levels so that the upper floor could serve as a prayer hall for women.
Visiting the Taipei Grand Mosque
The mosque welcomes visitors of all faiths and is open to the public and school groups. Non-Muslims can see the courtyard, facade, arcades and foyer, but only Muslims may enter the main prayer hall and the women's prayer hall upstairs.
| Address | No. 62, Sec. 2, Xinsheng S. Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei City |
| Opening hours | 09:00–17:00 daily (according to the official Taipei Travel website); hours vary between sources, so call ahead |
| Phone | +886-2-2321-9445 |
| Nearest MRT | Daan Park Station (Tamsui–Xinyi Line), about a 10-minute walk; Dongmen and Technology Building stations are also nearby |
| Guided tours | Groups can book a tour through the mosque office by phone |
| Accessibility | Wheelchair access, accessible toilets and accessible parking |
Best time to go: a weekday morning is quietest. Avoid Friday around midday, when the congregational prayer (Jumu'ah) fills the building. During Ramadan local and foreign Muslims break their fast together at the mosque, and the atmosphere after sunset is warm and lively.
Make a half-day of it: Daan Forest Park is a short walk north, and Taipei Travel's own one-day route links the mosque with Treasure Hill, the Xinyi Assembly Hall and Taipei 101.
Other mosques across Taiwan, north to south
Beyond Taipei, each major city has its own mosque, and several reflect a distinct chapter of migration history.
| Mosque | Location | Founded / current building | What makes it special |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taipei Cultural Mosque (台北文化清真寺) | Zhongzheng, Taipei | 1950 / 1982 | Founded by Imam Xiao Yongtai in his own Japanese-style house; now a five-storey building about a minute from MRT Taipower Building Exit 1 |
| Longgang Mosque (龍岡清真寺) | Zhongli, Taoyuan | 1967 / 1989 | Built by Muslim soldiers and families evacuated from the Yunnan–Myanmar border in the 1950s; surrounded by Muslim-run halal eateries; new extension opened 2021 |
| At-Taqwa Mosque (大園清真寺) | Dayuan, Taoyuan | 2013 | One of the newer mosques serving Taoyuan's growing Muslim community |
| Baitul Muslimin Mosque | Su'ao, Yilan | 2014 / 2019 | Built by Indonesian fishermen working out of Nanfang'ao harbor |
| Taichung Mosque (台中清真寺) | Nantun, Taichung | 1951 / 1990 | The only mosque in central Taiwan; open 08:30–20:00, free admission, visitors welcome on weekdays |
| Tainan Mosque (台南清真寺) | East District, Tainan | 1996 | Built on donated land; runs as a branch of Kaohsiung Mosque |
| Kaohsiung Mosque (高雄清真寺) | Lingya, Kaohsiung | 1949 / 1992 | Southern Taiwan's main mosque, a three-storey building with a green dome near MRT Weiwuying Station |
| An-Nur Tongkang Mosque (東港清真寺) | Donggang, Pingtung | 2018 | Built with a shelter for Indonesian migrant workers in this fishing town |
| Hualien Al-Falah Mosque (花蓮清真寺) | Hualien City | 2018 | The mosque serving Taiwan's east coast |
Don't miss Longgang
The Zhongli neighborhood around Longgang Mosque is home to descendants of Yunnanese and Burmese Chinese families, and its food reflects that mix. The annual Longgang Rice Noodle Festival includes a Muslim food court serving halal dishes.
Muslim-friendly Taiwan: halal food and prayer spaces
Taiwan has worked hard to welcome Muslim travelers, and Taipei leads the way. The city was named Most Promising Muslim-friendly City Destination of the Year (non-OIC) in June 2023 and Muslim Women-friendly City Destination of the Year at the 2025 Halal in Travel Awards.
Halal certification
In Taipei, separate halal certifications are issued to Muslim-owned and non-Muslim-owned restaurants and hotels, so travelers can see exactly what they are getting. Taipei Grand Mosque itself certifies halal businesses and publishes its certified list on its website, and the official Taipei Travel website keeps a list of certified restaurants and accommodations.
Eating near the mosques
Some mosques have halal food right on their doorstep. Longgang in Zhongli has a whole neighborhood of Muslim-run eateries, and in Kaohsiung a halal beef restaurant sits right next door to the mosque on Jianjun Road.
Prayer rooms on the go
You don't need to be near a mosque to pray. In Taipei, prayer rooms with washing facilities are available at:
Taipei Main Station (B1)
National Palace Museum
Taipei International Convention Center
Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1
Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1
Mosque etiquette for first-time visitors
A little preparation makes any mosque visit smooth and respectful. These are the standard courtesies observed at mosques worldwide.
Dress modestly. Cover shoulders, arms and legs; women may want to bring a light scarf for their hair.
Remove your shoes before stepping onto prayer carpets.
Respect restricted areas. At the Taipei Grand Mosque, the main prayer hall and the women's hall are for Muslims only.
Time your visit around prayers. Avoid the five daily prayer times, especially Friday midday; the Taipei Grand Mosque posts its prayer timetable on its website.
Ask before photographing people, and keep your voice low inside.
Groups should book ahead by calling the mosque office.
Sources
Taipei Grand Mosque – official guide
Taipei Travel – Taipei Grand Mosque
Taipei Travel – Muslim in Taipei
Taichung Travel – Muslim-Friendly Trip
Wikipedia – Taipei Grand Mosque
Wikipedia – List of mosques in Taiwan
Taoyuan – Longgang Rice Noodle Festival
