Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the place of Islam and Muslim communities in the country has been somewhat complicated, influenced by oscillations between favourable government policies and waves of repression. In this context, certain Muslim sites have been destroyed while others have been promoted as ‘National Cultural Heritage’ in recent years. This revaluation of heritage is linked to the establishment of the ‘New Silk Road’, where famous Islamic sites are conceived as ‘cultural’ showcases that offer a positive view of Islam in China and contribute to exchanges between local governments and Muslim countries. Based on two ethnographic case studies from southern China (Guangzhou and Quanzhou), this chapter explores how multi-layered heritage processes emerge as an important component of the intra-regional economic and political ties that are binding states and populations, especially through the concept of ‘heritage diplomacy’.