The intrinsic human impulse to explore what lies beyond our immediate senses has long driven the development and perpetuation of mystical and esoteric practices across various cultures. While mysticism and esotericism each inhabit distinct domains, they also intersect in ways that remain incompletely understood. To explore the entanglement of mysticism and esotericism, the proposed research embarks on a project investigating Sufism in China. This case study presents an opportunity to unravel the dynamics between mystical consciousness/experiences and esoteric practices. By examining the confluence of mystical practices with established religious frameworks, the research seeks to investigate the interplay between esoteric practices and alternative rationalities within the context of Islamic mysticism in modern and contemporary China.