Emin Minaret
The tallest minaret in China, the Emin Minaret is located 2 kilometers east of Turpan. Built during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the minaret is 44 meters tall and took 19 years to complete. The Minaret architectural style blends traditional Muslim and the local Uyghur ethnic group’s styles. It is a wood and brick construction with a tapered circular shape topped with a dome. It is 14 meters wide at its base and tapers to 2.8 meters at the top. The sun dried bricks are carved into repetitive geometric shapes. There are 14 tall narrow openings in the minaret facing different directions. The 72 step spiraling staircase inside the minaret has a double function as a way to access the top and as an internal support structure. At the top of the stairs is an attic with large windows facing the four cardinal directions. The construction of the minaret was financed by local leaders in honor of a local general; Emin Khoja. The minaret is named after him.
There are two steles at the entrance of the minaret, one in Chinese that explains the reason for the building of the minaret and the other one is written in Uyghur giving thanks to Allah. The Emin Minaret is located in the northeast corner of the Su Gong Ta Mosque. The mosque is rectangular in shape and divided into an inner hall, for use in the winter and outer halls for use in the summer. The inner hall is small and enclosed, while the outer halls are open on the sides. It can accommodate 1,000 worshipers.
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