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| Aytga (Id Kah) Mosque, Kashi |
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With an area of 16,800 sq. m., Aytga Mosque is the largest actively used Islamic structure in China. The mosque, built during the reign of Ming Dynasty Emperor Zhengtong (1436-1449), faces east by the city's Central Square on North Jiefang Rd.
The site was once used as a cemetery. In 1442, Saqsiz Mirza, ruler of Kashgar, built a prayer hall there to pray for his deceased kin. Ubul Adibek expanded it into a center of worship in 1538 in memory of his uncle Mirza Wali. It gained its present appearance after several renovations and expansions in the 16th, 18th and 19th centuries.
The entry arch was built with sand-colored bricks to echo the environment. Decorated with relieves, mosaics and colorful arabesques, the structure is known as a "paragon of Islamic buildings in China." |
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