Emin Minaret


The Emin Minaret stands by the Uyghur Mosque located in Turfan. It is the largest extant old tower in Xinjiang;
it is the only Islamic tower among the hundred famous towers in China.

The minaret was started in 1777 during the reign of the Qing Emperor Qianlong (1735–1796) and was
completed only one year later. It was financed by local leaders and built to honor the exploits of a local Turfan
general, Emin Khoja, hence the name "Emin". The Emin Minaret is located along the ancient Silk Route,
Nearby is the site of the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves.

At the entrance to the minaret, two steles were set up. On one is a Chinese inscription which explains that the
purpose of building the minaret was to show gratitude to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and to commemorate exploits of Emin Khoja while the
Uigur inscription on the other stele gave thanks to Allah.

The Emin Minaret was constructed by local craftsmen using local materials. The structure itself is made of wood and brick. It is an elegant, circular,
tapered Islamic dome, with a diameter over 40 meters (144 feet) at its base and tapering to 2.8 meters at the top. The exterior is of sun-dried
yellow bricks that narrow in shape as the tower rises. This mixture of Chinese and Islamic features is seen only in minarets in China. The unique
geometric patterns are characteristic of Islamic architecture and have no counterparts in the architecture of China other than in Muslim structures.

Set against the azure sky, silvery Tianshan Mountain and the scarlet Flaming Mountain , Emin Minaret displays a
pristine but dignified air. Only when you look up at the minaret will you find how crystal blue and high the sky of Turpan
is!

The Emin Minaret is on the northeast corner of the Uyghur Mosque, a rectangular structure with an iwan or mihrab, a
pointed-arch niche enclosed on three sides but open to a large covered courtyard on the fourth. The grand mosque
can accommodate 1000 people despite the inconspicuous appearance. The idea behind this is also intriguing; the
mosque is neither so glaring as to defeat the minaret nor too humble as it is a worship center. The circular Emin
Minaret and the square mosque are in sharp contrast without losing harmony.