Tomb of the Hui Kings of Hami

Tomb of the Hui Kings of Hami

The Tomb of the Hui Kings of Hami is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

The Tomb of the Hui Kings of Hami is located in Shazaojing, Huicheng, on the western outskirts of Hami City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It served as the burial ground for the Hui kings of Hami and their families during the Qing Dynasty, commonly referred to as the "Tomb of the Hui King" or "King’s Tomb."

The tomb complex covers an area of approximately 1.3 hectares and is enclosed by walls. It is divided into three parts: The first part is the Grand Iwan (i.e., the Tomb of the Hui King), which houses the burials of the 7th Hui King Bashi’er and his primary and secondary consorts, as well as the 8th Hui King Muhammad, his queen, and 40 other members of the royal family. This tomb is a renowned Islamic structure in Xinjiang, featuring a square base that transitions into a circular dome. It stands 17.8 meters tall with a floor area of 1,500 square meters, exuding grandeur, simplicity, and solemnity. The second part consists of five small wooden pavilion-style iwans arranged from east to west in the southern section, serving as tombs for successive Hui kings. Currently, only two of them are well-preserved. The third part is the Aitika Grand Prayer Hall. This mosque measures 60 meters in length from east to west and 36 meters in width from north to south, covering a total area of 2,280 square meters, and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers. The interior roof of the mosque is supported by 108 carved wooden pillars, while its walls are adorned with floral patterns and ancient Arabic Quranic inscriptions. It is the largest mosque in the Hami region.

In May 2006, the Tomb of the Hui Kings of Hami was approved by the State Council as part of the sixth group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, recognized as an ancient tomb site from the Qing Dynasty to the Republican era.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units