The Ancient Record of the Tang Dynasty describes a landmark visit to China by
Saad ibn Abi Waqqas (ra), one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (s) in
650 C.E. This event is considered to be the birth of Islam in China. The Chinese
emperor Yung-Wei respected the teachings of Islam and considered it to be
compatible with the teachings of Confucius.
To show his admiration for Islam, the emperor approved the establishment of
China's first mosque at Ch'ang-an. That mosque still stands today after fourteen
centuries.