Altyn Mosque, Islamic prayer center in Yarkant County, China
The Altyn Mosque is a mosque in Yarkand, in Yarkant County, Xinjiang. Its painted ceilings are its noted feature, and the tomb of the poet Amannisa Khan (1526–1560), wife of a local Khan, stands in its sahn. Beyond the mosque lies a cemetery holding the Tombs of the Yarkand Khans, listed as a Chinese major cultural heritage site.
The site contains the tomb of poet Amannisa Khan, who lived from 1526 to 1560 as the wife of a local Khan. Her burial here reflects the importance of this location during a period of regional prosperity.
The mosque serves as a gathering place for the local Muslim community, where people come together for daily prayers and religious observances that mark the rhythm of community life. This spiritual role connects families and neighbors through shared practices that continue across generations.
The mosque stands in Yarkand (Shache) in Yarkant County, with the khan cemetery behind it and Amannisa Khan's tomb in the courtyard. Dress modestly and keep voices low, since the building is an active place of worship. Photography of the painted ceilings is best attempted in daylight coming through the windows.
Amannisa Khan, buried in the mosque's sahn, is credited with compiling the Twelve Muqam, the Uyghur classical music suite. The tomb of this 16th-century poet and musician sits in the courtyard, separate from the painted-ceiling prayer hall, and the Khan family cemetery lies beyond the mosque.
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