Baidula Mosque

　　The Baidula Mosque, situated on Xinhua East Road in Yining City (also called the Madrasa), is the largest venue for religious activities among the Uyghur Muslim community in Yining. It was the first Islamic mosque built in Ili with direct funding from the Qing government. In the past, it was known as one of the three major mosques in Ili, alongside the Hui Grand Mosque and the Tatar Mosque.

　　After the Qing government unified Xinjiang, respecting the religious beliefs of ethnic minorities and safeguarding their right to practice religion, it specially allocated 10,000 taels of silver and instructed the Ili Akhun Bieke, Eluo Muzhabu, to build this mosque for the Muslim population in Ningyuan City. Using these funds and his official authority, along with levying land taxes, grain, materials from various “Hui Tuntian” (Muslim farming settlements), and conscripted labor, and by hiring skilled craftsmen from inland China, the mosque was reportedly completed in the 38th year of the Qianlong reign (1773).

　　After the completion of the Baidula Mosque, Muslims in Ili rejoiced and celebrated the occasion. It is said that a renowned great mullah from Turkey, upon seeing the mosque’s grandeur and its prominent status in northern Xinjiang, bestowed upon it the name “Baidula.” “Baidula” means “Kaaba,” the sacred site of Muslim worship. After its inauguration, the Baidula Mosque became widely renowned, attracting a continuous stream of scholars seeking religious knowledge. At that time, over 200 students studied religion here, and after five years, they were awarded religious titles based on their performance. As a result, the Baidula Mosque was also referred to as the “Madrasa,” meaning an advanced religious school.

　　Originally, the mosque covered an area of about 1,800 square meters and consisted of a minaret, prayer hall, and lecture hall. Over more than 200 years, the Baidula Mosque has undergone continuous renovations and expansions. After its expansion in 1865, it could accommodate 1,500 worshippers. In 1983, the government allocated funds to renovate and redecorate the mosque, giving this renowned ancient site a completely renewed appearance, and it was listed as a key cultural relic protection unit. In recent years, it has hosted numerous domestic and international friendly groups, religious figures, and distinguished scholars for religious observances or sightseeing. In October 1996, the mosque underwent another large-scale expansion and renovation, managed by the Islamic Association, with funding from various levels of government and contributions from local worshippers. Aside from retaining the original minaret, the main hall, which had deteriorated over the years, was demolished and replaced with a new prayer hall designed in Islamic style. The current total area is 6,950 square meters, capable of accommodating 3,000–3,500 people at once, featuring architecture with Arabic and Uyghur influences.