Id Kah Mosque

Id Kah Mosque located in the center of the Kashgar old city, was built in 1442, which is 140 meters long from north to south and 120 meters wide from east to west. It covers a total area of 16,800 square meters and mainly consists of the Main Entrance, the Lecture Hall, the Prayer Hall, and the courtyard. The Gate Tower at the entrance is stunning, the most brilliant and attractive structure in the complex because of its artistic value and unique shape. The gate is 4.3 meters (14 feet) wide and 4.7 meters (15.4 feet) high. A plaque hangs above the gate while on each side there is a standing 12.5 meter (41 feet) high column minaret built of yellow bricks, which is called "Xuanli Tower". On top of the column minaret stands a "calling tower". The entrance hall has a multi-angled arched roof and on top there is also a small column tower. Seen from a distance, the mosque gate tower is solemn and magnificent, yet simple.ifGSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

Prayer Hall is in the west end of the mosque, separated by a big yard with grid wall. Prayer Hall is divided into 3 parts of inside, outside and the entrance, all are more than a meter above the stylobate; The total length from north to south is 140 meters long, 19 meters deep. So width of large prayer hall, “not only are not included in domestic, is also rare in the world.” (The Chinese Islamic Architecture, page 164). Outside the mosque there are 140 green carved patterns stakes up to seven meters, supporting the white ribbed ceiling.ifGSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

Id Kah Mosque has become the gather place of all Xinjiang Muslims, everyday there are 2000 to 3000 people, during the Jumah on the Friday afternoon, six thousands to seven thousands of male Muslims as pilgrims will gather here for worship. And during Eid Al-Adha, all Muslims from everywhere in Xinjiang come here to worship.ifGSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours

Id Kah Mosque is not only essential and important place for religious activities in Xinjiang region, in ancient times or it was the important institution to spread of Islamic culture and cultivate talented person’s of higher learning, many higher post Islamic clergies and scholars of north and south of Mount Tianshan even central Asia are graduated from here. And there are other influential poet, writer, historian and translator’s also received a rigorous academic training here in the early years. After the founding of China, some respected patriotic religious people in the mosque wh o obey the law were also elected as people’s representatives and CPPCC members, and they also made contributions to Xinjiang’s history and religious studies.ifGSilk Road Adventure & Private Tours - Silk Road China Tours