Built in 1442, the Id Kah Mosque is the main historic
sight in Kashgar and dominates the central square. It
is one of the largest and most active mosques in the
country and attracts close to 10,000 worshippers every
Friday afternoon and almost double that number during
religious festivals. The mosque exemplifies grand Islamic
architecture, with a rectangular entranceway, flanked
by intricately designed, slender minarets. The façade
of the mosque is filled with yellow and white tiling,
interspersed with designs in blues and greens. Inside
the mosque there are charming courtyards and gardens
where worshippers assemble before entering the halls.
The different buildings consist of Hall
of Prayer, Doctrine-Teaching Hall, a gate tower, a pond
and some auxiliary rooms.
The gate is the most eye-catching one. On top of the
gate stands a tower from where the imam will give a
call (azan/adhan) summoning the muslims to attend to
prayers. In the tree-graced courtyard, there is a pond
and on its bank many pottery pots are placed, which
are to be used by the worshipers to do wadhu or clean
themselves. The framework of the main hall is made of
timber with decorative wooden ceiling.
 The
exquisite wooden carvings and colored paintings reveal
the essence of craftsmanship. The hall is supported
by 140 carved wooden pillars. A stepped throne is enshrined
into the central wall. During service, the First Mullah
leads the prayer in the shrine. On Friday's or Corban,
the first Mullah addresses the worshipers ( "Wa'az")
standing on the steps of the throne. After entering
the mosque the people will seat themselves facing the
direction of the Kiblah in proper lines.
The mosque is one of the liveliest places to be during
the Korban and Raza festivities.
In fasting month everyday morning and evening peoles
from the other cities are welcomed to take meal there
for free, and every Kurban and Roza Festivals thousands
of peoples gathering there to play Uyghur's folk dance-
Sama Dance to selebtate their festival .The musicans
play the uyghur musical instruments on the top of the
mosque .
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