Located at the center of the city Kashgar, Xinjiang, the Id Kah Mosque (Chinese pinyin: ai ti ga er) is the largest mosque in China. Every Friday it houses nearly 10,000 worshippers and accommodates up to 20,000 people. Built by Saqsiz Mirza in 1442, Id Kah Mosque has a total area of 16,813 square meters. It is a traditional mosque filled with traditional Islamic architectures and customs.
In 1442, the ruler of Kashgar named Saqsiz Mirza ordered the building of the mosque that he would pray to the souls of his deceased relatives at. Restored and expanded several times, the style and decoration of the mosque still remain. In the past, the Id Kah Mosque was not only a religious venue in Xinjiang, but also an important institute for spreading Islamic culture and cultivating talents who made contribution to the research of the history and religion in Xinjiang.
The Id Kah Mosque mainly consisted of 7 parts: the Main Gate, Main Hall, Outside Hall, Doctrine-Teaching Hall, and so on. It was built out of yellow bricks with white plaster, while the Main Gate features distinct and clear lines striking the eye. On both sides of the gate are eighteen-meter high columns that are halfway embedded in the wall of the gate?
Upon entering the Main Hall, you will find that the ceiling of the hall is decorated with fine wooden carvings and colorful paintings. The hall is supported by one hundred carven wooden columns. In the middle of the wall within the main hall, there is a shrine in which a throne is placed.
On Bairam, the biggest Islamic festival, the Uygur people will gather on the square in front of the Id Kah Mosque to celebrate this grand festival. The people are well dressed and cheerful, as well as enthusiastic. When visiting the Id Kah Mosque, you will learn more about Islamic culture and the customs of Islamic people.
