The Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre is the largest and most important of Hong Kong's four Islamic houses of worship. Hong Kong has a significant Muslim population, in part as a legacy of the British rule that brought Islamic traders to the city from India, Pakistan and elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Today, Chinese Muslims (known as Hui if they are not Uighur, Kazakh, or another ethnic minority) are slowly adding to the SAR's cultural and religious mix. The mosque's size and white marble facade are impressive, though its sheer mass detracts from the notes of grace managed by its corner minarets. The fact that it is a working mosque precludes most visitors from doing more than admiring the building from the street. Muslim women, not allowed inside when the men worship, often make for a colorful scene just outside the building, clad in a dazzling array of robes and headscarves that contrast wonderfully with the expanse of white marble. For those not interested in pursuing a tour of the mosque's interior, the sight of the structure, along with Kowloon Park extending to the west behind it, makes for a pleasant break from the relentless commercial buzz of Nathan Road. To gain a deeper sense of the city's historic Islamic roots, pay a visit to the hilltop Muslim Cemetery overlooking Happy Valley Racetrack on Hong Kong Island.