Zharkent mosque, Wooden mosque in Zharkent, Kazakhstan

The Zharkent Mosque is a wooden building in Kazakhstan that blends Central Asian Islamic elements with architecture inspired by Chinese pagodas. The structure measures approximately 28 by 54 meters and stands out in the city with its distinctive architectural style.

The building was constructed between 1892 and 1895 under architect Hon Piquet's direction and was made possible by funding from local merchant Vali Akhun Yuldashev. Craftspeople from the Uighur region contributed their expertise to the detailed woodwork.

The mosque now houses the Architectural and Art Museum, opened by order of the Kazakh SSR Council of Ministers on 24 March 1978. Its decoration mixes Islamic arabesques and Uighur ornament with images of birds, fish, animals and even landscapes and still lifes. The columns of the gallery-aiwan are painted dark red, and large wooden Chinese-style lamps hang at the entrance and in the mihrab.

The mosque complex stands in central Zharkent, Almaty Region, with its main entrance on the north-east side. The site is a state-protected monument and houses the architectural and art museum opened in 1978. The courtyard is enclosed by a 2.3 m stone wall, with gates on the south and north sides.

The Chinese master Hon Pike is said to have worked without payment, having long wanted to build a mosque in the Chinese style but unable to obtain permission in China. The interior ornament also departs from strict convention, with images of birds, fish and animals among the plant motifs and Arabic script.