Qingjing Mosque was constructed in 1009, the Arab style mosque is the oldest of its kind in China. Its area is 2,500 square metres (27,000 sq ft). Many Song dynasty mosques were built in this Arabian style in coastal cities, due to communities of Arab merchants living in them. The entrance of Quanzhou Qingjing Mosque is the only example of stone entrances in mainland China. The inscriptions of the Quanzhou Qingjing mosque was dominated by the Arabic language.