Huihuideng Mosque in Weishan County, Dali

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Huihuideng Mosque (回辉登清真寺) is located in Huihuideng Village (回辉登村), Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省). It is one of the largest mosques in Yunnan Province. Originally founded in 1253, the current mosque combines both Chinese and Western architectural styles. It occupies approximately 11 mu, with a total building area of 5,906 square meters. The main prayer hall can accommodate up to 2,500 worshippers and includes facilities such as minaret towers and educational buildings. It serves both religious and educational functions.

• Chinese Name: 巍山县回辉登清真寺
• Postal Code: 672401
• Current Imam: Zhu Jiawu (朱加武)
• Current Mosque Director: Zhu Zhuangxian (朱状先)
• Address: Huihuideng, Yongjian Township (永建乡回辉登), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省)

Historical Background

Early Construction

The mosque was originally established in the 3rd year of Emperor Xianzong’s reign of the Yuan Dynasty (1253). The first prayer hall was built in the 2nd year of the Hongwu reign (1369) during the Ming Dynasty but was destroyed by fire in the early Guangxu period.

Renovation and Reconstruction

After a fire caused by an influx of refugees following the failed Du Wenxiu (杜文秀) uprising in the Qing Dynasty, both the minaret and the prayer hall were destroyed. Between 1894 and 1897 (Guangxu 20–23), a three-story minaret was rebuilt on the original site, and a palace-style prayer hall with a capacity of over 400 people was constructed 5 zhang (~16 meters) west of the original structure.

From 1940 to 1944, as the local population increased, a new two-story palace-style prayer hall (seven-bay by nine-section layout) was added. In 1993–1994, a large-scale renovation joined this hall with a newly built 2,000+ square meter steel-concrete section. A third floor was added above the second, topped with a palace-style tiled roof and a central pavilion-style minaret. Two additional minaret towers over 30 meters high were built on the north and south sides.

In 1999, a three-story, nine-section steel-concrete teaching building was built on the east side, and a similar multi-purpose building was built on the south side. A spacious courtyard with greenery and bonsai was arranged, and the north gate connects directly to the main road.

In 1997 and 2004, the mosque was honored as a Provincial Model Mosque, and in 1997 it was also recognized as a National Model Mosque.

Architectural Layout

Scale and Structure

The current main hall adopts a Sino-Arabic architectural style with reinforced concrete and tiled roofs. A hexagonal pavilion crowns the ridge, and two tall Arab-style spires rise from both front corners. The main hall is 32.9 meters tall and covers 3,574 square meters.
The total area of the mosque is approximately 11 mu, with a total construction area of 5,906 square meters. The entire complex is spacious and well-arranged.

Interior Design

The mosque features a prayer hall that can accommodate over 4,000 people, along with rooms including a Chinese reading room, Arabic reading room, administrative offices, audiovisual room, meeting rooms, reception rooms, and minaret chambers—all distributed across the second and third floors.
On both sides, 28 wooden-structure rooms serve as classrooms and dormitories. The cement-paved courtyard is decorated with carefully arranged flowers and potted plants.

Religious Community and Activities

Huihuideng Village (回辉登村) has a deep religious tradition and has produced many well-known scholars and imams. Former Imam Bao Diankun (宝殿坤, 1884–1976) was a highly respected scholar in Western Yunnan.
Currently, the mosque has 329 ahong (阿訇), more than 20 hajjis (哈吉), and over 80 mullahs (满拉). It also runs an Arabic school. Zhu Zhuangxian (朱状先), the current mosque director, has made significant contributions to both the expansion of the mosque and the development of its education programs.

Location and Transportation

The mosque is located in Huihuideng Village (回辉登), Yongjian Township (永建乡), Weishan County (巍山县), Yunnan Province (云南省).