Kashgar · Visitor Guide

Id Kah Mosque (艾提尕尔清真寺, Àitígǎ'ěr Qīngzhēnsì)

Id Kah Mosque (founded 1442) is the largest mosque in China and the spiritual centre of Uyghur Islam, sitting on the central square of Kashgar's old town. Its yellow-tiled gate tower and minaret define the city's skyline, and up to 20,000 worshippers gather here for Eid prayers. The interior is plain by design — the real draw is the scale, the facade, and the evening street life on the square out front.

Last updated: June 17, 2026

Quick Answer

Is Id Kah Mosque worth visiting?

China's largest mosque — ~16,800 m², holds up to 20,000 worshippers, founded 1442. ¥45. Allow 30-45 minutes; avoid Friday noon prayer when it closes to tourists.

Quick facts

Ticket	¥45 (as of 2026). Muslims entering to pray enter free; tourists pay the ¥45 fee.
Hours	Daily ~10:00-20:00 (Xinjiang Time), but closed to non-Muslims during the five daily prayers — especially Friday noon Jumu'ah. Prayer times shift with the sun; confirm the day's schedule at the gate.
Recommended duration	30-45 minutes for the interior and courtyard. Add 30-60 minutes in the evening to watch Id Kah Square fill with people.
Best time to visit	Mornings for a quiet interior, or evening (after 18:00 Xinjiang Time) when the square fills with people. Avoid Friday noon — the mosque closes to tourists for Jumu'ah prayer. Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) give comfortable 15-25°C daytime weather.
How to get there	No metro in Kashgar. The mosque sits on Id Kah Square in the old-town centre — walkable from most old-city guesthouses. Taxi flagfall ¥5 (first 3 km); any ride within the centre is ¥5-10. DiDi works but with 5-10 minute waits.
English signage	partial
Wheelchair accessible	partial
Founded	1442 (expanded 1798)
Area	~16,800 m² (building area)
Capacity	Up to 20,000 worshippers
Status	Largest mosque in China
Ticket	¥45 (as of 2026)
Location	Id Kah Square, central Kashgar

What to expect

You enter from Id Kah Square through the yellow-tiled gate tower — a two-storey portal with a roughly 12-metre minaret that is Kashgar's most recognisable silhouette. Behind it, a tree-shaded courtyard holds an ablution pond, and beyond that the columned prayer hall stretches back about 800 m². The interior is deliberately austere: patterned carpets, wooden pillars, no figurative art. What stays with you is the scale and the thought that up to 20,000 people fill this compound for Eid. Thirty to forty-five minutes covers the whole site.

Founded in 1442 by Saqsiz Mirza, a local Kashgar ruler, and substantially expanded in 1798, Id Kah has been the religious and social centre of the city for nearly 600 years. It is the largest mosque in China and the heart of Uyghur Islam — the call to prayer still sounds from the minaret five times a day, and the square in front has hosted Friday markets, festivals, and gatherings since the Ming dynasty. For centuries this was where Kashgar's public life happened, and in many ways it still is.

Be honest about expectations: the prayer hall is plain, and the facade is the better photograph. Go for the architecture and the evening square, not for museum-grade interiors. Carry your passport — security checks at religious sites in Kashgar are routine. The harder truth is that since the post-2017 crackdowns, religious life here is more tightly controlled than it looks, and what a visitor sees is a managed slice of a working mosque. The part that still feels unscripted is the square at dusk: families out walking, naan carts, children chasing each other, the mosque glowing behind them.

How to get there

Id Kah Mosque sits on Id Kah Square (艾提尕尔广场), central Kashgar. There is no metro anywhere in the city. On foot: 5-10 minutes from the Old City / Gaotai district, about 15 minutes from People's Square (人民广场). By taxi: flagfall ¥5 for the first 3 km, then ¥1.5/km — any ride within the centre is ¥5-10; show 艾提尕尔清真寺 on your phone since most drivers speak limited English. From Kashgar Airport (~10 km, 20-30 min): ¥30-40. From Kashgar Railway Station (~5 km): ¥15-20. DiDi operates but car supply is thin compared with eastern China; allow 5-10 minutes for pickup. City buses exist but are Chinese-only with no English signage or announcements — impractical for most foreign visitors.

Best photo spots

The yellow-tiled gate tower and minaret framed from Id Kah Square — the classic shot, best in late-afternoon light
The arched entrance portal up close, showing the glazed-tile detail and calligraphy
The courtyard ablution pond with poplar reflections and the prayer-hall facade behind it
Id Kah Square at dusk — families, Uyghur dancers, naan carts, and the mosque glowing behind them

Tips

Time your visit around prayer — the mosque closes to tourists for each of the five daily prayers, and Friday noon (Jumu'ah) is the longest closure; ask at the gate for the day's prayer schedule before paying.
Dress conservatively — shoulders and knees covered, shoes off in the prayer hall, women carry a scarf to cover hair. You will be turned away if underdressed.
Go for the square at dusk, not just the interior — the prayer hall is deliberately plain; the evening street life out front is the better half of the visit.
Carry your passport — security checks at Kashgar's religious sites are routine, and you will need it.
Bring ¥45 cash in small bills; Alipay usually works at the ticket counter but card acceptance is patchy, and cash is still king in the old town.

Scams to avoid

Self-styled "guides" loitering at the gate offering mosque "tours" for ¥100-200 — the site is small and self-explanatory; politely decline.
Touts selling "special rooftop access" or "prayer-hall access" for non-Muslims — this is not permitted and the offer is a cash grab.

Frequently asked questions

Is Id Kah Mosque really the largest mosque in China?

Yes. By area (~16,800 m² of buildings) and capacity (up to 20,000 worshippers) it is the largest mosque in China and the largest in Xinjiang. It has been Kashgar's main mosque since 1442.

Can non-Muslims visit the Id Kah Mosque?

Yes, outside the five daily prayer times. Friday noon Jumu'ah is off-limits to tourists; arrive before 11:00 or after 15:00 Xinjiang Time to be safe, and confirm the day's schedule at the gate.

How much does it cost to enter Id Kah Mosque?

¥45 for tourists (as of 2026). Muslims entering to pray enter free. Children are typically charged a reduced rate or free — ask at the counter.

When was the Id Kah Mosque built?

Founded in 1442 by Saqsiz Mirza, a local Kashgar ruler, and substantially expanded in 1798. It is nearly 600 years old and has been rebuilt and enlarged several times since.

How long should I spend at the Id Kah Mosque?

30-45 minutes inside. The interior is plain, so the more rewarding time is 30-60 minutes in the evening watching Id Kah Square come alive with families, dancers, and food vendors.

Is the Id Kah Mosque a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

No. Id Kah Mosque is not on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Kashgar is loosely tied to the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (inscribed 2014), but the mosque itself is not an inscribed component.

What should I wear to visit the Id Kah Mosque?

Cover shoulders and knees, remove shoes before entering the prayer hall, and women should carry a scarf to cover hair. You will be refused entry in shorts, tank tops, or revealing clothing.

What are the opening hours of the Id Kah Mosque?

Roughly 10:00-20:00 Xinjiang Time, but it closes to tourists during each of the five daily prayers, which shift with the seasons. Always confirm the day's prayer times at the gate before paying.

How do I get to the Id Kah Mosque?

It sits on Id Kah Square in central Kashgar. Walk from the Old City (5-10 min) or take a taxi (¥5-10 within the centre). There is no metro anywhere in Kashgar; city buses run but are Chinese-only.

When is the best time to visit the Id Kah Mosque?

Mornings for a quiet interior, or evening after 18:00 Xinjiang Time for the square. Avoid Friday noon (Jumu'ah closure). Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October) have the best weather, around 15-25°C by day.

Other things to do in Kashgar

Karakul Lake

Alpine lake at 3,600m on the Karakoram Highway — Muztagh Ata (7,546m) reflected in turquoise water. Free entry. Kyrgyz yurt stays. 3h from Kashgar.

Kashgar Old City

A maze of mud-brick alleys and Uyghur courtyard houses on the western edge of Kashgar (1,289 m), rebuilt under a 2009-2015 quake-safety program but still lived in. Free to enter; allow 2-3 hours to wander — and go early, because by 10:00 Xinjiang Time the tour buses arrive.

Apak Khoja Tomb (Fragrant Concubine Tomb)

A 17th-century Sufi mausoleum 5 km northeast of Kashgar, clad in blue-green glazed tile and wrapped in the legend of the Fragrant Concubine (香妃) — though her real grave is 3,000 km east in Hebei. Budget ¥30 and about an hour.