VISITING GALERI AURA ISLAM IN ANJUNG MYDIN

24th JANUARY 2026 ~ This was an impromptu decision to get into an exhibition at Anjung Mydin. Thank God, my friend, Mr. Redzuan, agreed to join me once I spotted the mini gallery called "Galeri Aura Islam" [TRANSLATE: Islamic Vibe Gallery].

There were a busload of school students when we arrived. The group was accompanied by a guide in the gallery.

This gallery showcased more than 300 authentic artifacts of Islamic civilization. I had once went to see the same exhibition in 2019 in Persada Johor but that time it was free if I am not mistaken. [READ HERE]

If you are around Iskandar Puteri area, this could be an option for an educational activity especially when there are not many museums you can find in Johor Bahru. The entrance ticket for an adult is RM30.

That was our first educational trip together, other than the regular trips to the malls and eating places. I am glad my friend enjoyed the short visit and I could take him to other museum next time.

BEIJING DAY 5 - NIUJIE MOSQUE

This was the third and last mosque visited in Beijing. Based on my findings from Wikipedia, Niujie Mosque is the oldest and biggest mosque in this city. [One good thing of blogging is I have to do a bit of research on my own when I am not sure of certain things.] It was first built in the year 996, meaning that it is already more than 1000 years old. It is also situated in a place where the largest Muslims population are residing in Beijing.


At first glance, with its traditional Chinese architecture and the choice of colours, one might not recognize this place as mosque. However, once inside, you would be welcomed to the house of the Almighty Allah as if you were at the comfort of your own home.

the elderly basking under the sun

got ourselves photographed with the local Muslims at the mosque

The design of the mosques in Beijing (or in China) is something you will not see anywhere else. However, if you have seen a mosque in Melaka by the name Tengkera Mosque (picture below), you will find that there are similarities with the structure of the mosques in Beijing, especially the pagoda-shaped tower and the roof. So what can you infer from this? Now I have to google for some more information.

[picture taken from Arkib Negara website, I think]

BEIJING DAY 3 - JINSHIFANG STREET MOSQUE

On the third day in Beijing, we were taken to a mosque which was located near the place selling silk materials. I just found out the name of the mosque is Jinshifang Street Mosque. From outside, it looked like a modern building but it was actually a complex that comprised of smaller buildings inside.



To us, a mosque always comes with arches and minarets and with interior decor of the Middle East - and most of the time, the building is painted green. However, once you are here, your perspective would be changed. The Chinese architecture is retained and there is not much difference with other typical traditional buildings and it might look like a temple in a way.





Anyhow, being a foreigner far away from the homeland, this holy place was a sight to behold. I felt I had come to a place I was familiar with and I was safe and secured. The physical structure did not really matter. The mosque had its own soul and I could feel it once inside.










The mosque is indeed an important symbol of Islam in China (other than the halal restaurants that we kept visiting) and I am about to find out more from the internet on how the religion was spread to the main land. Other curiosities that I have are the Chinese writings found around the mosque. I need help from friends or students to translate them for me.

There are actually two more mosques visited in Beijing that I am going to feature in the coming entries.