Yining Shaanxi Grand Mosque

Yining Shaanxi Grand Mosque

Yining Shaanxi Grand Mosque is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yining Shaanxi Grand Mosque

Yining Hui Grand Mosque is situated on the south side of Xinhua East Road in Yining City (opposite the Municipal People's Hospital). It was first built in 1751 (the 16th year of the Qianlong Emperor’s reign), making it one of the earliest mosques in Ili and the largest Islamic mosque among the nine cities of Ili during the Qing Dynasty. The mosque has historically been called the “Ninggu Mosque,” “Ningyuan Mosque,” and “Phoenix Mosque.” Since its imams—Chen Qizhou, [name missing], and Ma Yulin—were all Hui Muslim clerics, and the site served as a central place of worship for the Hui community, it was ultimately named Hui Grand Mosque. Yining Hui Grand Mosque is one of the Cultural Relics Protection Units at the autonomous region level in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Originally covering an area of about 6,000 square meters, Yining Hui Grand Mosque was designed and laid out in imitation of the Huajue Lane Mosque in Xi’an, Shaanxi (a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit). It features typical traditional Chinese architecture infused with Arabic-Islamic elements. The complex includes a mountain gate, main gate, double-layered decorative walls (baizi screen walls) on both sides, and a gate tower. Behind these is the main prayer hall—the focal structure of the mosque—used for sermons and worship. The architectural style adopts traditional Chinese construction methods, resulting in an elegant, solemn, and majestic appearance. The prayer hall is divided into inner, outer, and middle sections, spanning a total area of over 600 square meters and capable of accommodating up to a thousand worshippers.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units