Beijing's Niujie Mosque is a central religious and social gathering place for Beijing's 250,000 Muslims. Muslim people gather in prayer to celebrate Eid-al-Fitr on August 31 at Niujie Mosque in Xicheng District, Beijing. During Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, Muslims fast during daylight hours. They eat breakfast before sunrise and then take no food or water until sunset. Eid-al-Fitr falls on the first day of the tenth month in the Islamic calendar, and follows a month of fasting. On this day, Muslims take an early-morning bath, and then go to the mosque to pray. Beijing's Niujie Street is a famous Muslim area where most of the residents are Hui people.  [Photo by Lin Liyao/China.org.cn]