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Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China.
The largest ancient tower in Xinjiang.
Emin Minaret, also known as Sugong Tower, is the largest extant ancient Islamic tower in Xinjiang. Standing 2 km (1.24 miles) east of Turpan, Emin Minaret was built in 1777 in honor of a heroic Turpan general named Emin Khoja. This 44-meter (144 feet) high minaret tapers to an Islamic dome without stories inside. In the center of the minaret is a brick-piled pillar with 72 steps around it spiraling to the top. The whole construction was made of grey bricks which were formed 15 different patterns such as waves, flowers or rhombuses, by smart Uygur architects.
Unfortunately, the minaret is no longer open to the public in an effort to preserve the structure, however, you can view the surroundings from the roof of the mosque.
Emin Minaret is a novel and stylish modelling Islam pagodas, it is the largest ancient towers in Xinjiang, all built with grey bricks. Uighur outstanding architects show the uighurs excellent traditional art and architecture through the tower body. The entrance door has two shade is engraved stone tablets in the towers, one is written in Uyghur, one is in Chinese.
Emin Minaret, also known as Sugong Tower, was built in Qing Dynasty(AD 1778-AD 1777). The official name of the tower is Emin Khwaja Minaret, which is referred to as Emin Minaret for short. The Sugong Tower is 36.5 meters high(including the cast iron spire), and the diameter of the tower foundation is 11.2 meters. The tower body is conical from top to bottom. The top of the tower is the dome. The tower body is all made of bricks, and various patterns such as triangular pattern, water ripple pattern, rhombic pattern and nine petals pattern are layered from the bottom to the top of the tower.
Emin Khwaja was an important leader of Xinjiang granted by the Qing government. When the Qing dynasty recovered Xinjiang, Emin Khwaja and his followers surrendered to the Qing dynasty and played an important role in the process of the Qing government's unification of Xinjiang. Later, in a series of separatist activities, they contributed a lot in the victory of the wars. To memorize Emin Khwaja, the Emin Minaret was built. And his son, who built the tower, is called Su Laiman, that’s why this tower is also called Sugong Tower.
In order to commemorate Emin Khwaja’s achievements and express his loyalty to the Qing Dynasty, his son cost a large quantity of money to build the Emin Minaret.
To protect the Sugong Tower, it is forbidden to enter the tower at present. The steps in the tower are very tall, so it is difficult to climb the tower, and the internal lighting of the tower is only through a limited number of slender windows, so it is very dark. After 72 tall steps, the top of the tower is a dome-top gap observation room with an area of about 10 square meters. There are windows on all sides. Standing on the top and looking around, the surrounding farmland and houses are unobstructed.
The whole architecture composed of two parts of pagodas and mosques, the pagoda is grey brick structure, except the top window lattice, and basically it doesn’t need any wood. The towers are round, from bottom to top, gradually becoming smaller. Center of the tower is a circular column made of gray brick. The column winding up with bricks ladder which spread out as spiral. By this ladder, people can step into the top of the tower. At the top of tower, there is a small attic, about 10 square meters, surrounded by the open window.
Under the tower of the mosque is a large mosque still in use, which is capacious and grand. This is a very special style building with local characteristics. It has a capacity of more than one thousand people in the prayer hall; the dome arch, numerous niches, gloomy little preachy room, everywhere showing the Islamic architecture style and strong religious life vitality. They are all built with air-dried adobe buildings. Built with air-dried adobe masonry wall, it is quite common construction method of a long history in the dry Turpan region.
The Emin Minaret is built by bricks. Except for the window frames of the top of the tower, most of the tower is composed of bricks. At the Emin Minaret, you can admire the patterns of the architecture, which are exquisite. And this tower looks more beautiful and magnificent under the blue sky.
Besides the Emin Minaret, there is a mosque. You can also admire the architectural design of the mosque, which is built with a mortise and tenon joint.
Emin Minaret is built to memorize an important leader in Xinjiang, Emin Khwaja. He is very important in the war of protecting of Xinjiang in the Qing Dynasty. And the Qing Government awarded Emin Khwaja for his contribution. Xinjiang is always an important part of China, and Xinjiang culture is diverse and unique with many ethic groups integrating here.
The best time to visit Emin Minaret is spring and autumn with comfortable weather and less crowds. At the Sugong Tower, you can enjoy the beautiful tower under the blue sky. In spring and autumn, the skies are clear and crisp, which is suitable for admiring the Sugong Tower.
Emin Minaret is located near the city center of Turpan(about 4 kilometers), and you can take taxi to the Emin Minaret from Turpan downtown.
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