Han Chinese show little eagerness to embrace the Koran
'Allahu akbar' (God is great) resonates several times from the archaic speaker system. Speaking in Arabic, the imam then proceeds to recite from the Koran, punctuating his sonorous speech with occasional lapses into Putonghua to explain to his congregation the importance of observing Ramadan.
Spilling out into the courtyard of Beijing's Niujie Mosque, the audience of more than 400 Chinese Muslims sits in silence, listening to the imam instruct them in how best to observe the Islamic holy month of daylight fasting and prayer.
Then, at a sign from the imam, they stand up inside the now-cramped courtyard to perform the traditional salutation of sallat tehyah lil massjad (bowing twice in respect of the mosque) before dispersing to chat with friends and exchange greetings.
Government records show there are about 21 million Muslims on the mainland, though this figure only counts the 10 ethnic minority groups that practise Islam. Mostly located in the western regions of Xinjiang and Gansu , there are no public figures on how many converts there are among other ethnic groups, including the Han majority who account for 96 per cent of the population.
Laying down his rush mat at the back of the mosque, 23-year-old Yu Dejun is one of the uncounted. Unlike most of the congregation, whose facial features betray them as being from western China, Mr Yu is clearly Han Chinese. A recent convert, this is his third Ramadan.