Xinjiang is the largest autonomous region in
China, located in the Northwestern zone of the country. It is also where you will find the largest population of
Muslims in China. Although the Hui Muslims make up the majority of Muslims in all of China, it is the Uyghur Muslims are larger in number when it comes to Xinjiang.
The Uyghurs are a Turkic Ethnic Group living in East and Central Asia, specifically the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in China. They are a group of racially diverse people, including a variety of ethnicities ranging from Caucasians to Mongoloids.
As the area with the largest concentration of Muslims in China, there is no need to worry about finding
nearby mosques and prayer places in Xinjiang. If you're trying to locate mosques on your mobile in Xinjiang, download
HalalTrip's mosque guide. Or take a look at the list of mosques in Xinjiang below.
1. Id Kah Mosque
Id Kah Mosque also referred to as Idgar Mosque was built in the 15th century over a Muslim cemetery. It has been through several renovations and expansions to stand as it does today. It is the largest and one of the oldest mosques in China. It is also the cultural and religious center of Kasghar, a city in Xinjiang.
This massive mosque sprawls through a 16,000 square meter area and hosts around 10,000 people for Friday Jummah prayers every week. The building has a gate made of yellow bricks and the two circular towers stand eighteen feet high. The Id Kah mosque is one of the
mosques in China to take on Islamic architecture, instead of the traditional Chinese style. Its magnificence and history have made it one of the most important buildings in Chinese architectural culture.
Address: Ou'er Daxike Rd, Kashi Shi, Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang Weiwuerzizhiqu, China, 844000.
2. Altyn Mosque
Situated in Yarkand in Yarkant County of Xinjiang, it is an ancient mosque that is home to the tomb of Poet Amanissa Khan of the 16th century, the wife of one of the local Khans. The mosque is known for its beautiful design and painted ceilings. The mosque also has a cemetery that houses the tombs of the Khans of Yarkand.
Address: China, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Kashgar region Shache County Garmi Alidhi Road on the 16th.
3. Kuqa Mosque
Kuqa Mosque, originally built in the 16th century and rebuilt in 1932, is the second-largest mosque in Xinjiang. The mosque is made of bricks and is the only
mosque in China to uphold the Shariya court system.
The mosques house a great hall, a religious court, a scripture-learning hall, the tomb of an unknown person, and a Xuanli minaret. It has the capacity to hold 3000 people at any one time. There is also a small museum and a gift shop on the premises, so you can take a piece of this great mosque in Xinjiang back with you.
Address: Paha Tabaza Road, Kuqa County 842000, China.
4. Afaq Khoja Mausoleum
Said to be the holiest Islamic site in China, this mausoleum was built in 1640 and houses the tomb of Apak Hoja and his family. The sprawling 20,000 square meter premises are home to a great mosque, a smaller mosque, the main tomb chamber, a scripture hall, and a gate tower. The walls of the elegant tomb chamber are decorated using green marble bricks with yellow and blue tiles in between.
This magnificent mausoleum is one of the finest pieces of Islamic architecture in Xinjiang and is definitely a place that a
travel guide for Muslim visitors cannot miss. At the center of this mausoleum is a massive 17-meter grand dome that is surrounded by 4 intricately designed minarets.
Address: Aizirete Rd, Kashi Shi, Kashi Diqu, Xinjiang Weiwuerzizhiqu, China.
Phone: +86 998 295 0196
5. Khotan Mosque
Situated in the city of Khotan in Xinjiang, this mosque was built in 1870 by Habibullah Khan, the ruler of the temporary Khotan Khanate. The mosque is a grey brick building with beautiful ornate sky blue and gold accents. It has two minerals and a unique dome pavilion in the middle of it.
Address: Khotan city, Xinjiang.
6. Shaanxi Great Mosque
This is the largest mosque in the city of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. Unlike most traditional mosques, this mosque, built during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qin Dynasty, takes on the style of typical Chinese architecture. The mosque which is made up of the main hall with 40 wooden red pillars, beautiful carvings of Quranic verses on the walls, and a unique archway is able to hold 1000 people at one time.
Address: Baojia Caozi Village, Yongfeng town, Urumqi.
7. Emin Minaret (Su Gong Ta)
The
Emin Minaret is another place that no
travel guide for Muslim visitors to Xinjiang can miss. It is situated on the northeast corner of the Uyghur mosque, which consists of two prayer areas, an interior meant for use in the winter months, and an exterior for the summer.
This iconic piece of architecture might not sound like much in the face of skyscrapers and modern buildings, but it is an important piece of Islamic history in China, and it is no less impressive. This elegant minaret made of wood and brick stands at a mammoth 14 meters tall (66 feet) and was built in 1777. The dome is intricately textured and carved with geometric and floral mosaic patterns. The magnificent minaret also signifies the cooperation between the Han Chinese and the native Uyghur people.
Address: Munage Village, Putao Country, Turpan 838000, China.
Phone: +86 995 868 7555
8. Southern Mosque
Located in downtown Urumqi, the Southern Mosque was built in 1919 and has been renovated several times after. The mosque has a capacity of 1,100 people and is a cultural and historical heritage site in Xinjiang. The unique architecture and design of this mosque is a sight to see, with gorgeous paintings of flowers and blossoms, carvings of flying dragons, and even a sculpture of two dragons upfront.
There is a community of Muslims thriving around this mosque that is worth seeing and being a part of. There is also a big open market and plenty of Halal food shops in the area surrounding this beautiful mosque.
Address: Jiefang South Road, Tianshan District, Urumqi 830002, China.
9. Beytullah Mosque
This is a mosque situated in the heart of Gulja, a historic city in Xinjiang. It was built when the Qianlong emperor gave a Turkic official 10,000 Liang of silver to construct a mosque as a way to accommodate Islamic beliefs after the conquest of Xinjiang, in 1773. Although it was originally built to resemble the Great Mosque of Xi'an and its eight-century style, it has later gone through several renovations and now has more accents of traditional Islamic architecture, like the Id Kah Mosque.
Address: Gulja city, Xinjiang.
10. Tartar Mosque
Built using funding from the local population of Tartar people in 1897, this mosque is the religious center of Muslims in the city of Urumqi in Xinjiang. It is also known as the oldest mosque in Urumqi. This mosque can accommodate more than a thousand people for a single congregation and is decorated with elaborate paintings and a magnificent porch. It is also one of the few mosques in Xinjiang that is open to visitors.
Address: South Jiefang Road, Urumqi.
11. Qinghai Mosque/Xining Dongguan Mosque
Qinghai Mosque, originally known as Xining Mosque, was built in 1867 using donations from the Qinghai Hui people. It was later renovated in 1918 and again in 1947. The building is constructed using brick and wood; it houses an umbrella gatehouse and the main hall with the capacity to accommodate about 500 people. The inside of the building is decorated using hues of light blue, green, and pink which make it look stunning and peaceful.
Address: Dongguan Main Street, Chengdong District, Xining 810000, China.
Phone: +86 971 817 0489
12. Other Mosques
As the region of China with the largest population of Muslims, there are plenty more
mosques in Xinjiang, China. Here are some of the notable ones.
- Hezhou Mosque
Address: Tianshan Qu, Wulumuqi Shi, Xinjiang Weiwuerzizhiqu, China, 830001.
- Tangritagh Mosque
Address: 83 Tahe Road, Karamay, Xinjiang 834000.
- Hong Qi Lu Mosque
12 Hongqi Road, Karamay, Xinjiang 834000
- Birinji Zawut Mosque
Address: 63-12 Qianjin Road, Karamay, Xinjiang 834000.
- Yangmaogong Mosque
Address: Yangmaogong S Rd, Midong Qu, Wulumuqi Shi, Xinjiang Weiwuerzizhiqu, China
- Nurluk Mosque
Address: Hetian, Xinjiang 848000.
