Puhading Tomb Garden

Puhading Tomb Garden

The Puhading Tomb Garden is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Puhading Tomb is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit and an ancient tomb of Islamic saints in China. Commonly known as "Huaihaitang," or also called "Babayao." It is located within Huaihaitang on the east bank of the Grand Canal, at the southern end of Jiefang Bridge in Yangzhou.

It is said that Puhading was the 16th-generation descendant of Ali, son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He came to Yangzhou to preach during the Xianchun era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1265–1274 AD) and passed away on July 20, 1275, aboard a boat traveling south from Tianjin. In accordance with his wishes, he was buried on a high mound by the ancient canal east of Yangzhou city.

The tomb garden was originally built specifically to bury Puhading, but later some Arabs were also interred there. The garden is a typical example of Arabic-style architecture, initially constructed during China’s Southern Song Dynasty in the 13th century. Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty regarded the tomb garden as a national treasure and issued an edict for its protection.

The Qing government also carried out multiple renovations of the tomb pavilion. The walls of the pavilion feature the “Brief Historical Record of the Saint” stele, erected during the 1908 renovation of the tomb garden. The inscription, carved in Chinese characters, briefly describes Puhading’s missionary work in China.

The entire tomb garden complex is divided into three parts. The first part is the burial area, which houses the tomb of Puhading and gravestones of other Arabs; the second part is the mosque, used as a place of worship for congregants; the third part is the East Suburb Park. Additionally, the garden preserves a collection of Arabic tombstones from the Yuan Dynasty in China.

Transportation

No. 17, South Jiefang Road, Yangzhou City

Buses: Routes 2, 12, and 66

Address: No. 167, Wenchang Middle Road, Guangling District, Yangzhou City

Type: Cemetery/Graveyard

Recommended visiting time: About 1 hour

Phone: 0514-87222241

Opening hours:

8:00–12:00, 13:30–17:30

Ticket information:

Free admission.

Further reading:

· Fifth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units