id kah mosque ھېيتگاھ مەسچىتى
The Id Kah Mosque, located in the central square of Kashgar City, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region, is the largest and according to many, the most beautiful mosque in China. In Uyghur language, it translates to "place for festival" or "place of worship".
Islam was first introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers in the mid-7th century. The original mosque was built in 1442 by Saksimirza, the ruler of Kashgar, and since then it has been through continuous reparations and extensions to its present shape and size.
Today, the Id Kah Mosque attracts thousands of worshippers everyday. It serves as the center for Islamic festivals and activities of the entire Xinjiang province, playing host to major religious festivals and celebrations such as the Kurban Festival and the Ramadan Festival.
Islam was first introduced into Northwest China by Arab merchants and travelers in the mid-7th century. The original mosque was built in 1442 by Saksimirza, the ruler of Kashgar, and since then it has been through continuous reparations and extensions to its present shape and size.
Today, the Id Kah Mosque attracts thousands of worshippers everyday. It serves as the center for Islamic festivals and activities of the entire Xinjiang province, playing host to major religious festivals and celebrations such as the Kurban Festival and the Ramadan Festival.