The Id Kah Mosque

The Id Kah Mosque is located on the central square in Kashgar, Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. 'Id Kah' means 'a place of praying and celebrating in festivals'. As the biggest mosque in China, it is a group of old Islamic constructions with strong ethnic style and religious features. It is said that this place was once a cemetery. The present Id Kah Mosque was built in 1442 as a very small structure. Several renovations and enlargements have created it with today's scale and style. It covers 16,800 square meters and consists of the courtyard, the Hall of Prayer, and the gate tower and as well as some other attached structures. The whole mosque is over 140 meters in length and 120 meters in width. Light green is the featured color of the gate, elaborate carvings are everywhere on the gate, representing classic Islamic characteristics. Usually, 1-2 hours will be suggested for visiting.