Hanaqa and Saidikamal Mosque Minarets

Hanaqa and Saidikamal Mosque Minarets

The Hanaqa and Saidikamal Mosque Minarets are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Hanaqa and Saidikamal Mosque Minarets

The minaret of the Hanaqa Mosque, first built in the second year of the Xuantong reign (1910), was funded through collective donations led by Uzbek man Aizezi Aj. It stands twenty-two point zero six meters tall and covers an area of nineteen square meters. The minaret was built with money from the wife of Samikjiang, an Uzbek living in Urumqi. The design and construction were carried out by Uyghur craftsman Ziyanuya. The base, body, and top of the minaret are all octagonal. Each side of the body features five sets of brick-carved reliefs—either floral patterns, diamond shapes, or arched window grilles. Viewed from any angle, the structure appears elegant, solemn, and dignified. At the top, there is an octagonal observation pavilion, and the minaret’s spire forms a sharp triangular shape, incorporating elements characteristic of European medieval Gothic church architecture.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units