Id Kah Mosque


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The iconic yellow tiles of Kashgar's Id Kah Mosque have been a travel destination for centuries. Id Kah Mosque, also spelled as “Eid Kah” or ” Aitiga’er in Chinese” means in Uyghur language, “place for festival”. It  is the biggest mosque in the region and in China. It is also the center of Islamic activities for people in Kashgar and surrounding cities. For many Uyghur in the villages surrounding Kashgar, it is a spiritual journey. For most of us, it is a curious monument of ancient Uyghur culture in the middle of a quickly modernizing city. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

History

The land on which the Id Kah mosque is built was originally used as a cemetery as early as 996 AD. Some history connects the mosque to older structures that dotted this plot of land, it’s a tentative connection at best.

The familiar mosque face we easily recognize today only dates back to the early 19th century. The Id Kah Mosque was officially built in 1442. At that time it was a simple prayer hall by the ruler of Kashgar at the time, Saqsiz Mirza, for the purpose of saying prayers for the souls of his deceased relatives.

The true heart of Kashgar lies not in the People’s Square, a space guarded by China’s second largest Mao ZeDong statue. No, the true heart of this beautiful city is  in the square and alleyways that fall under the shadow of the yellow-bricked Id Kah Mosque.

The entire mosque covers an area of 16,800 sq. meters, making it the largest mosque by land area in China (there is another mosque in Qinghai whose building is actually larger). Inside the Id Kah prayer halls, close to 20,000 worshipers can cram together to worship during the major Muslim festivals. During normal Friday prayers, however, that number is usually between 2,000-5,000.

For those unaware, Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the month-long religious fasting called “Ramadan”.  For the entire month a fast is supposed to be observed from sun-up to sun-down until the final day when they hold a celebration that seems to me to be as big in their culture as Christmas is in America.

People travel long distances to see family, visit friends, and in many cases to visit an important mosque. This is particularly the case where thousands of Uyghur gather to pray at the Id Kah Mosque.

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Client’s Reviews

  • Traveller285

    Traveller285

    Reviewed 25thMarch2013

    The so call largest mosque in China is a completely let down, some guidebooks boasted that it can accommodate 10000-20000 people for the prayer is an outrage exaggeration. It can hardly handle 5000 people even including people staying outside in the courtyard/garden. The praying hall...More

  • Ninjatuner

    Ninjatuner

    Reviewed 14thSeptember2013

    Nothing to see inside. We paid for tickets and were expecting something, we've been to mosques before. The plaza outside is much more interesting.

  • Lankylee

    Lankylee

    Reviewed 9thAugust2018

    A simple historical mosque. It is within town limits but seems away from it. Architecture is not grand. Can be very busy. Lots of shops like via dela rosa and various tracks leading to religious monuments.

  • TariqD18

    TariqD18

    Reviewed 19thAugust2017

    Our hotel was next to the mosque, so we got to enjoy seeing it and the surrounding square and streets our whole time here, but seeing the inside of the mosque itself was very short and simple. The gift carpet from Iran and pulpits were...More

  • whereistheworld

    whereistheworld

    Reviewed 20thSeptember2017

    The Id Kah Mosque is the largest mosque in China... but that's about all it's got going for it. Firstly the entry fee is fairly steep at 45 yuan per person and you get pretty much nothing for it. The grounds are quiet and there...More

  • Fahad_S_Al_Harthi

    Fahad_S_Al_Harthi

    Reviewed 4thJune2011

    The Mosque and the surrounding area charecterize Kashgar and makes it a perfect place to sit, have a sip of tea and watch the people and monitor their lives. Recommended for a visit.

  • Sprava

    Sprava

    Reviewed 30thApril2017

    The mosque looks impressive and the square outside the mosque is a good place to stroll and relax. Restaurants, shops and the night market are nearby. Inside the mosque, the atmosphere is calm and serene.

  • Peter R

    Peter R

    Reviewed 3rdOctober2018

    The only reason that we visited this place was that we were on a tour and this was on the itennary. You make up you own mind about the place.

  • Kaiser T

    Kaiser T

    Reviewed 3rdAugust2016

    The Idgah Mosque proper, and the sprawling open prayer grounds for the annual congregational Eid festival prayers are a must-see for visitors. The grounds can be visited in the evening as well, just for people-watching as large crowds of families and children congregate for relaxation.

  • mohammadl772

    mohammadl772

    Reviewed 24thDecember2015

    I visited kashi (kashgar) few days ago and i enjoyed being in a city that is very rich in history. id Kah Mosque (masjid) is located close to the old city and it represents a nice bukhari style architecture. A must visit if you like...More

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