Many Gulf travelers are surprised to learn that Beijing has a rich Islamic heritage spanning over a thousand years, carried by the city's Hui community — ethnic Chinese Muslims. The heart of this heritage is Niujie ("Ox Street") in the city's southwest, home to roughly 10,000 Hui residents and more than 20 other ethnic groups for over 600 years. Anchoring the neighborhood is Niujie Mosque, Beijing's oldest and largest, built in 996 CE during the Liao Dynasty. It's a unique architectural blend — traditional Chinese design outside, with curved roofs and red-and-green coloring, and Islamic calligraphy and ornamentation inside. The main prayer hall covers 600 square meters and holds over 1,000 worshippers. The mosque welcomes non-Muslim visitors at designated times outside of prayer, with modest dress expected.
Dozens of halal restaurants and food stalls line both sides of Niujie. Across China, halal establishments are marked by the red or green "清真" (qīngzhēn) sign, often alongside Arabic script or a crescent-and-star symbol. The neighborhood's most famous spot is Donglaishun (东来顺), founded in 1903 — Beijing's most celebrated halal hotpot restaurant, serving paper-thin sliced mutton dipped in boiling broth and sesame sauce, an experience worth planning a meal around. For something more refined, try Hongbinlou (鸿宾楼), known for upscale Hui banquet dishes, or Juyuanlou (聚源楼), operating since 1947 and famous for traditional Beijing halal fare like stuffed pastries and grilled beef.
Beyond Niujie, halal-certified restaurants can be found across most of Beijing's tourist districts, especially near other mosques and historically Hui neighborhoods. Apps like Dianping (China's Yelp equivalent) let you filter results by "清真," and the global site Zabihah keeps an updated list of Beijing's halal restaurants. If the exact slaughter method matters to you, ask directly — the "清真" label in China reflects the traditional Hui Islamic culinary tradition rather than a modern formal halal certificate. For snacks and sweets, the sesame-nut pastries sold from Niujie's street stalls are a safe, delicious halal option any time of day.