Mausoleum of Sultan Vais Khan

　　The Mausoleum of Sultan Vais Khan is situated at the northern foot of Mount Abu in Mazar Township, Yining County, about 36 kilometers from Yining city proper. It is accessible via National Highway 218, offering very convenient transportation. This mausoleum is the tomb of the 11th-generation descendant of the famous Genghis Khan in Chinese history. Sultan Vais Khan was the last Mongolian khan in Ili who adhered to Islam, and he occupies an important page in the local history of Ili. Therefore, even after hundreds of years, his tomb remains intact and has become a shrine for Islamic followers of all ethnicities. Covering an area of hundreds of acres, the mausoleum site is exceptionally clean. It is built in the Islamic architectural style, while the tomb itself features a traditional Chinese pavilion-style structure. The tomb’s top is adorned with glazed tiles and an Islamic-patterned crescent moon that shines brilliantly against the blue sky and white clouds. With its unique style, the mausoleum attracts not only Muslim worshippers but also many tourists, experts, and scholars for visits and research.

　　Address: Xiehemiaoli Village, Mazar Township, Yining County

　　Mausoleum of Sultan Vais Khan

　　In Mazar Township at the northern foot of Mount Abu’er, there lies a cemetery covering hundreds of acres, with towering poplars and pleasant scenery. A cluster of sparse woods surrounds several century-old elm trees, which look lush and emerald green from afar. Amidst the greenery stands an ancient Chinese-style pavilion structure—that is the Mausoleum of Sultan Vais Khan. The mausoleum was built by later generations to commemorate Vais Khan, the 10th-generation descendant of Genghis Khan who was completely Turkified. During the Ming Dynasty's Yongle era, Vais Khan ruled the Ili River basin and areas north and south of the Tianshan Mountains, historically known as the “Yili Balik Khanate.” The title “Sultan” (or “Khan”) is a transliteration from Arabic, meaning “monarch” or “ruler,” while “Mazar” refers to the tombs of feudal nobility among Islamic followers.

　　In the early 15th century, the Chagatai Khanate passed to the 10th-generation descendant of Genghis Khan, Nahshī Jihān. In 1418, his younger brother Vais killed him and seized the throne, renaming the khanate “Yili Balik.” After ascending the throne, Vais actively promoted and spread Islam, expanding theocratic rule, while also submitting tribute to the Ming government and maintaining amicable relations as a vassal state. In 1429, Sultan Vais Khan was shot and killed in battle against another Chagatai descendant, Tūshākh Khan, near Bakkabulan by Lake Issyk-Kul. He was buried on the banks of the Borbosun River. After his death, his descendants engaged in continuous power struggles, leading to frequent regime changes and eventually the collapse of the khanate. Vais was the last Mongolian descendant to rule over the Ili River basin and surrounding regions. Having fully embraced Turkic culture due to his Islamic faith, he earned deep reverence among Muslim followers and holds an important place in the local history of Ili. In the late 19th century, his descendants rebuilt the cemetery and assigned dedicated guards, turning it into a renowned mausoleum for religious pilgrims.

　　The Vais Khan Mausoleum we see today is a pavilion-style masterpiece with distinctive Chinese ethnic characteristics among the many famous Islamic tombs in Xinjiang. Twenty meters north of the Vais Khan Mausoleum lies an earthen tomb believed to be that of Vais’s mother. Inside the cemetery, tombs of Islamic followers are arranged in rows from north to south, and the presence of a grand mosque nearby adds to the religious ambiance. The entire cemetery is serene, solemn, and deeply spiritual, attracting numerous worshippers each year, including both Buddhists and Muslims. In December 1990, the Vais Khan Mausoleum was designated as a regional-level cultural relic protection unit by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which allocated special funds for its restoration to its original appearance.